text: Some historians point out that it was a customary demonstration of piety in those days to 
  exaggerate one's sins. Thus they do not place much emphasis on Louis's deathbed 
  declarations in assessing his accomplishments. Rather, they focus on military and 
  diplomatic successes, such as how he placed a French prince on the Spanish throne. This, 
  they contend, ended the threat of an aggressive Spain that historically interfered in 
  domestic French politics. These historians also emphasise the effect of Louis's wars in 
  expanding France's boundaries and creating more defensible frontiers that preserved 
  France from invasion until the Revolution.[132] 
  
  Territorial expansion of France 
  under Louis XIV (1643–1715) is 
  depicted in orange. 
  
  Arguably, Louis also applied himself indirectly to "the alleviation of the burdens of [his] 
  subjects." For example, he patronised the arts, encouraged industry, fostered trade and 
  commerce, and sponsored the founding of an overseas empire. Moreover, the significant 
  reduction in civil wars and aristocratic rebellions during his reign are seen by these 
  historians as the result of Louis's consolidation of royal authority over feudal elites. In their analysis, his early reforms centralised 
  France and marked the birth of the modern French state. They regard the political and military victories as well as numerous 
  cultural achievements as how Louis helped raise France to a preeminent position in Europe.[133] Europe came to admire France 
  for its military and cultural successes, power, and sophistication. Europeans generally began to emulate French manners, values, 
  goods, and deportment. French became the universal language of the European elite. 