At what age did Louis XV inherit the throne?

• A. 7
• B. 5
• C. 3
• D. 9

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is how royal succession works when a new monarch is a child. When a king inherits the throne as a minor, another adult rules in his name until he is old enough to govern.

Louis XV became king in 1715 after the death of Louis XIV, and he was five years old at that time. Because he was so young, a regent—Philippe d’Orléans—governed France on his behalf until Louis XV reached an age of majority and could rule in his own right. That majority was reached a few years later (around age thirteen), but the moment of accession was at age five. So the correct age is five. The other ages would place accession at dates that don’t match the historical event of Louis XIV’s death and Louis XV’s ascent.