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Louis XIV is Born
Louis XIV's was born on September 5, 1638. His mother was the Habsburg queen, Anne of Austria; and his father was king of France (at the time), Louis XIII. -
Death of Louis XIII
On May 14, 1643, King Louis XIII of France died due to tuberculosis at the royal estate, the Saint-Germain-en-Laye, in Paris. His son, Louis XIV, inherited the crown. At this point in time, there was no absolute ruler. -
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The Fronde
The Fronde was a civil war in France. During these conflicts, the royal family was forced to flee from Paris. This instilled a lifelong fear of rebellion into Louis XIV, and this fear motivated him to become a powerful leader. The Fronde was suppressed in 1653 by Mazarin. -
Louis XIV Becomes the Absolute Ruler
Following Mazarin's death in 1661, Louis XIV surprised his court with a declaration that he would take control and rule without a chief minister. This marked the beginning of Louis XIV's absolute rule. Following that declaration, Louis XIV started to work tirelessly on centralizing and tightening control of France and its colonies overseas. -
The Palace of Versailles is Constructed
Beginning in 1661, the Palace of Versailles was constructed at the hunting lodge in Versailles. The price for the construction of the palace was almost the same price for building a modern airport. This was one of the factors of France's economic decline. The Palace still stands to this day, though it is as cursed and extravagant as it was during construction. -
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War of Devolution
To characterize his aggressive approach to foreign policy, King Louis XIV launched the War of Devolution, the first of a series of military conflicts. He invaded the Spanish Netherlands, which he claimed to be his wife's inheritance. He gained some small frontier lands in Flanders, and that was all he gained. -
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The Franco-Dutch War
Dissatisfied with his gains during the War of Devolution, Louis XIV launched another war to gain more territory. In this war, he gained more territory from Flanders and Franche-Comté. At the height of his power and influences, Louis XIV established "chambers of reunion," annexing the dispute cities and towns along France's borders. -
The Edict of Fontainebleau
The Edict of Fontainebleau was established after King Louis XIV cancelled the Edict of Nantes. It was significant because it was one of the factors that led to France's economic problems. The Edict of Fontainebleau stated that Protestant teachings should be disbanded, Protestant churches should be destroyed, and Protestant clergy should be expelled. Roughly 1,000,000 people from France were French Protestants. Because of the Edict, around 200 to 800 thousand of them fled from France. -
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The Grand Alliance Fights Back
England, the Holy Roman Empire, Spain, and other smaller countries formed the Grand Alliance as a response to another expansionist campaign made by Louis XIV. This ensuing war was fought on both of the hemispheres; France left with most of its territory intact, but the resources were lessened down. -
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War of Spanish Succession
In this war, Louis XIV defended Phillip V's inheritance of Spain and its empire. At this point, France's economy was at a low, and the war plunged it at debt and turned its people against the crown. In the end of the war, the Treaty of Utrecht was signed, allowing Phillip V to rule over Spain so long as Spain and France's thrones don't unite. -
Death of Louis XIV
4 days before he became 77 years old, Louis XIV died due to tuberculosis. Amidst the cheers of the populace, King Louis XIV's body was borne to the Saint-Denis basilica.
