Great-grandson of Louis XIV and King of France for 58 years (1715-1774). He ascended to the throne at the age of 5 after the deaths of his older brother, father, grandfather (Le Grand Dauphin) and of Louis XIV himself, and the kingdom was ruled by the Regent Philippe d'Orléans until the latter's death in 1723 (Louis' coronation happened in 1722).
If Louis XIV was "Le Grand", Louis XV (15 February 1710 – 10 May 1774) was "Le Bien-Aimé" (the Well-Beloved), at least at first. He started well enough after a war with England and Austria but it all went wrong when he ceded hard won territory back to the latter. He even went so far as to seek with an alliance with Austria, marrying his grandson Louis to Marie-Antoinette of Austria.
His popularity with the common man waned as well because of his promiscuity which led to all sorts of wild rumors, especially around his final favorite and mistress Jeanne du Barry. Things got worse later in his reign when France lost North America and India to the British in the Seven Years' War. This made him a morose and bitter man. He also had an attempt made on his life by Robert-Francois Damiens, a domestic servant who would receive so horrific an execution that even Louis XV himself thought it was excessive. In his old age, he abolished Parlements which his grandson and successor Louis XVI re-established. This would have some dire consequences.
He died of smallpox at age 64.
Appears in the following works:
- The Rose of Versailles is set during the last years of his reign and features his death and Louis XVI's ascent to the throne, as it's set during the life of Marie-Antoinette.
- Le Chevalier d'Eon
- Sensation Comics:Wonder Woman: While he himself does not appear, one of Glamora Treat's flings dresses as Louis XV for a costume party at which she is dressed as Madame de Pompadour.
- Marie Antoinette (1938) - Portrayed by John Barrymore.
- Louis XV, le Soleil noir (Louis XV - The Black Sun, 2009) - Portrayed by Stanley Weber.
- Fanfan la Tulipe (1952) - Portrayed by Marcel Herrand. He is a villain who tries to rape and then kidnaps the Love Interest of the protagonist.
- In the 2003 remake (where he's portrayed by Didier Bourdon), he's a mix of Armchair General and Clueless Boss, with none of the villainy from the 1952 film.
- Napoléon (1955) - Portrayed by Maurice Escande. Briefly seen taking the decision to buy Corsica (Napoléon Bonaparte's birthplace).
- La Tour, prends garde! (1958) - Portrayed by Jean Lara.
- Que la Fête Commence (Let Joy Reign Supreme, 1975) - He's mentioned but never seen in this film, which focuses on the regency of Duke Philippe of Orléans when Louis was a minor.
- Beaumarchais (1996) - Portrayed by Michel Serrault. He hires the protagonist as a spy and he sends him on a mission in England.
- Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001) - He's seen from behind. Since the attacks from the Beast of Gévaudan occurred under his reign, he usually gets at least mentioned, or briefly seen, in the works related to these attacks such as this one.
- Marie Antoinette (2006) - Portrayed by Rip Torn.
- Barbie and the Three Musketeers (2008) - Voiced by Mark Hildreth. He's a young prince in this version, with his Evil Uncle Philippe (Tim Curry!) scheming to take the throne for himself.
- Jeanne du Barry (2023) - Portrayed by Johnny Depp. The film is about Louis' most famous paramour. Of note, Depp spoke his lines in French. With his American accent.
- Doctor Who (2006, "The Girl in the Fireplace" – Portrayed by Ben Turner.
- Marie Antoinette (2022-) - Portrayed by James Purefoy.
- Appears as a young child of two in the Girls of Many Lands book Cécile: Gates of Gold, nicknamed Anjou (from his dukedom). The story mostly focuses on Cécile but she bonds with him and his older brother Bretagne, as they enjoy seeing the dogs she cares for for the Madame. When a measles outbreak occurs, his nursemaid Madame de Ventadour along with Cécile and two other servants bar themselves from the doctors who all have bloodletting done to them by the insistent court doctors and die. This is actually how Louis XV succeeded his great-grandfather—his grandfather, father and older brother all died before Louis XIV passed, and "Anjou"'s survival prevented a succession crisis.
- Card Shark - He is touted as the main character's father, but averted when the truth outs.
