Over the last 3000 years, the great ‘sun kings’ of history have dazzled the world with their ability to build empires and rule them absolutely, but equally, with their shows of excess and opulence. Experts in the public display of power, they have identified their own authority as the basis of their country’s grandeur. The sun kings’ lifestyles, palaces, art, dress and other totems of their success are brought to life with lavish colour illustrations.
