Louis XV (15 February 1710 – 10 May 1774), known as
Louis the Beloved (
Louis le bien aimé), was a monarch of the
House of Bourbon who ruled as
King of France from 1 September 1715 until his death. He succeeded his great-grandfather
Louis XIV at the age of five. Until he reached maturity in 1723, his kingdom was ruled by
Philippe II, Duke of Orléans as
Regent of France; the duke was his maternal great-uncle, as well as first cousin twice removed patrilineally.
Cardinal Fleury was his chief minister from 1726 until the Cardinal's death in 1743, at which time the young king took sole control of the kingdom.