Louis XIV

Louis Birth

Sep 5, 1638

Birth of Louis XIV, a son of Louis XIII and his wife Anne (Ana) of Austria

Louis XIV

Period: Sep 5, 1638 to Sep 1, 1715

Louis XII Death

May 14, 1643

Death of Louis XIII, accession of Louis XIV, regency of his mother - having set aside the will of Louis XIII -with Mazarin as ,first minister'

Peace of Westphalia

Jun 10, 1648

Peace of Westphalia (or of Münster where France had presided, while Sweden had presided at Osnabrück) between France and the Austrian Habsburgs France obtains sovereignty over bishoprics of Metz, Toul and Verdun and gains the City of Breisach and the Landgravates of Upper and Lower Alsace

Louis XIV crowned and consecrated at Rheims

Dec 3, 1654

Louis XIV takes part in war against Spain on northern, north-eastern and eastern frontiers of France

Peace of the Pyrenees between France and Spain

Jun 10, 1659

France has Roussillon and Cerdagne (ceded in 1493) returned and gains land in the Spanish Netherlands. From Spain's ally Lorraine France obtains the duchy of Bar and military routes across the duchy to keep Communications open with bishoprics ceded in 1648 and with Alsace.

Death of Mazarin

Mar 9, 1660

Louis governs (on Mazarin's advice) without a first minister; cabinet and conseil government develops and the civil service is increasingly bureaucratised.

Marriage of Louis XIV with Maria Teresa, Infanta of Spain

Jun 9, 1660

she renounces her right to the Spanish throne against a promised dowry (which was never paid)

Military reforms

Jun 10, 1661

Beginning of military reforms; these continue throughout reign with improvement in discipline and Organisation, abolition of venality, introduction of new weapons, and fortresses built on new principles.
Tax gathering by tax-fanners introduced experiment ally; contracts bought back the next year hut System re-established in 1680.

Louis XIV extends the advantages held by the Dutch in respect of French tariffs

Apr 4, 1671

Louis XIV extends the advantages held by the Dutch in respect of French tariffs since 1678 to Britain, Denmark-Norway and the free Baltic cities of the Empire.
Louis XIV withdraws his promise of freedom of worship in the principality of Orange.

Death of Louis' wife Maria Teresa.

Dec 13, 1683

Louis XIV ends

Dec 13, 1693

Louis XIV ends the regale dispute with the papacy, setting aside the Gallican articles.
Saint-Simon arrives at court; begins notes for his memoirs, 1694.
Establishment of French factory in Senegal.

Louis XIV accepts the will of Carlos II

Nov 16, 1700

Greater freedom of trade permitted to Dunkirk, Marseilles and Bordeaux.
France buys the unexpired portion of hbe asiento held by a Portuguese company.

Peace negotiations between Louis XIV and the emperor

Mar 6, 1714

Treaty of Rastadt ,whereby emperor gives up claim to Metz, Toul, Verdun and Alsace and lets France keep Landau.

Louis XIV's illness

Aug 7, 1714

Louis XIV's illness and final arrangements for the governorship and education of his heir, his great-grandson Louis.

Death of Louis XIV

Sep 1, 1715