Born from the desire of Louis XIV and his Secretary of State for War, Louvois, to provide a building capable of housing soldiers who were disabled or too old to serve, the Hôtel des Invalides was completed in 1674. The project, entrusted to the architect Bruant, is part of that charitable and social trend of the 17^th century and it proved to be an example for many other European countries. It was one of the most important achievements of Louis XIV after Versailles.