The Reign of Louis XIV

By e.levesque-21

  • Louis XIV Became King

    After Louis's father, Louis XIII, dies, Louis XIV becomes king with the help of Cardinal Mazarin, Richelieu's successor.

  • Mazarin's Greatest Triumph

    At the ending of the Thirty Years' War, Mazarin had his greatest triumph.
  • Period: to

    Violent Anti-Mazarin Riots Tore France Apart

    Nobles would threaten Louis XIV's life, which Louis never forgot.

  • France's Population

    France was the most powerful country in Europe, containing 20 million people.This was ten times many people as the Dutch, and four times as many as England. The army was also better than any other state.

  • Mazarin Died and Louis XIV Takes Over

    Louis, who was twenty-two years old at the time, took control of the government on his own. He weakens the nobles' power by excluding them from the council, but he increases the intendants' power.

  • Louis Invaded the Spanish Netherlands

    Six years after Mazarin's death, Louis invaded the Spanish Netherlands hoping to enlarge France even more. This effort helped him in obtaining twelve towns.

  • Louis Led an Army Into the Dutch Netherlands

    Louis led his army personally against the Dutch after being encouraged by his success.

  • Treaty of Nijmegen

    The war between the Dutch and France ended with the Treaty of Nijmegen. France gained Franche-Comte, which is a region, as well as many towns.

  • The Edict of Nantes is Canceled

    Louis XIV canceled the Edict of Nantes after Colbert's death. This caused thousands of Huguenot artisans and business people to flee the country, therefore losing many skilled workers.

  • The League of Augsburg

    William of Orange, the Dutch prince, became the king of England and joined the League of Augsburg. This league consisted of the kings of Sweden and Spain, the Austrian Hapsburg emperor, and several smaller European states. These countries joined together equaled the strength of France.

  • The Two Greatest Powers in Europe are Ruled by French Bourbons

    Charles II died and Louis XIV's sixteen-year-old grandson, Philip of Anjou, takes over the throne of Spain, so that the two greatest powers in Europe are ruled by French Bourbons. This causes other countries to feel threatened.
  • Period: to

    Wars of the Spanish Succession

    Because countries felt threatened by Bourbons being so powerful, England, Austria, the Dutch Republic, Portugal, and several German and Italian States joined together in an attempt to stop the French and Spanish thrones from joining together. This war, known as the Wars of the Spanish Succession, dragged on until 1714 when the Treaty of Utrecht was signed. Louis's grandson was allowed the throne of Spain as long as the two of them didn't unite.

  • Louis's Death

    Louis died in bed in 1715, and this prompted the people of France to rejoice after Louis had ruined France and made people suffer because of his wars. Throughout Louis's last days he was sad and realized this.