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Birth of Louis XIV
to King Louis XIII and Queen Anne of Austria. His birth was seen as miraculous due to the long childless period of his parents' marriage. -
Ascension to the throne
Became king at age four upon his father's death in 1643. His mother, Anne of Austria, served as regent, and Cardinal Mazarin was the chief minister. -
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Regency and the Fronde
A series of civil wars in France where nobles and parlements revolted against royal authority. This period deeply influenced young Louis XIV, instilling a lifelong distrust of the nobility and a desire for absolute control. -
Versailles
Expanded the hunting lodge at Versailles into a grand palace, which became the seat of power and a symbol of his absolute rule. The court at Versailles helped control the nobility by involving them in elaborate rituals and court life. -
End of Mazarin’s Influence
After Cardinal Mazarin's death in 1661, Louis declared he would rule without a chief minister, assuming absolute control over the state. -
Centralization of power
Louis XIV reformed the administration to centralize power, reduce the influence of the nobility, and strengthen the monarchy. He relied on loyal and capable ministers such as Jean-Baptiste Colbert, who reformed the economy and improved state finances. -
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War of devolution
nvaded the Spanish Netherlands, leading to territorial gains but also forming alliances against France. -
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Franco-Dutch war
Fought against the Dutch Republic, resulting in the Treaty of Nijmegen which granted France additional territories. -
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War of the reunions
Further territorial expansion through the policy of "reunions" of lands previously part of France. -
Revocation of the edict of Nantes
Ended religious tolerance for Protestants, leading to persecution and a significant emigration of skilled workers, which hurt the economy. -
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War of the league of Augsburg
Also known as the Nine Years' War, fought against a coalition of European powers. Ended with the Treaty of Ryswick, which saw France relinquishing some gains but maintaining its territorial integrity. -
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War of the Spanish succession
Fought over the succession to the Spanish throne. The war ended with the Treaty of Utrecht, which curtailed French ambitions and imposed heavy costs on France, both in terms of territory and finances -
Death of Louis XIV
Louis XIV died on September 1, 1715, after 72 years on the throne, leaving a mixed legacy of grandeur and economic trouble.