King Louis XIV of France ruled with opulence, grandeur, and very little soap and water. Despite living in the Palace of Versailles, one of the most elaborate royal residences in history, Louis reportedly bathed only three times in his entire life.

Like many 17th-century Europeans, he believed water could spread disease. Instead, he relied on heavy perfume, powders, and frequent changes of richly embroidered clothing to mask the realities of royal hygiene.

Fashion was another way Louis displayed his power. He made wigs a status symbol across Europe and turned high-heeled shoes into a mark of privilege. Red heels, in particular, became so closely tied to his court that only favored nobles were allowed to wear them.

He also controlled nearly every aspect of court life. Nobles were expected to watch him wake up, eat, and dress, transforming the monarchy into a kind of one-man theater. 

Royal luxury did not always mean cleanliness, and Versailles, for all its glitter, lacked even basic indoor plumbing.