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1610

Louis XIII is only nine years old when his father dies and he is crowned king of France and Navarre. His mother, Marie de Medicis, governs the kingdom as regent. She does not manage affairs very well. In addition, her pro-Italian and pro-Spanish policy bothers many, beginning with the young king…

1618

The Thirty Years’ War is a political and religious conflict that first set the German Protestant princes against the power of the Catholic Emperor. It then takes on European dimensions as the kings and princes of the different kingdoms intervene in the conflict. This war tears Europe apart. It…

1624

Armand Jean du Plessis de Richelieu is very involved in affairs of the state. He shares with King Louis XIII the same ideas of grandeur for France.

1642

A naturalized French citizen in 1639, Giulio Mazzarini places himself at the service of King Louis XIII and of Cardinal de Richelieu, his mentor and friend. He is appointed Cardinal de Mazarin and later succeeds Richelieu as Chief Minister.

1643

The future Sun King is crowned at five years of age. During the regency of Anne of Austria, widow of Louis XIII and mother of Louis XIV, Mazarin rules France. Despite strong opposition, he remains Chief Minister until his death.

1648

The Fronde is the last great period of political turmoil the French monarchy faces before the Revolution of 1789. It constitutes a complex mixture of serious economic crises, parliamentary protests, mass revolts and conflicts with the nobles. Peace is re-established in Paris in 1652; the return…

1659

The treaty puts an end to the war between France and Spain that began in 1635. The reconciliation of the two main powers in Europe, the work of Cardinal de Mazarin, results in the marriage of the young Louis XIV with Maria Theresa, daughter of the king of Spain. After the Peace of the Pyrenees,…

1661

The day after the death of his Chief Minister, Louis XIV, then 22 years old, begins his personal reign. Breaking with royal tradition, he rules with a reduced Council and is directly involved in affairs of the State.

1661

Jean-Baptiste Colbert is named Minister of Finances of France. Louis XIV and Colbert adopt mercantilism: an economic system that aims at developing foreign trade to enrich the nation. They also favour the interventionist economic policy which increases State participation in the economy. They…

1674

During the XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries, millions of African slaves are deported to South America, the Caribbean Islands and North America. The slave trade is primarily aimed at providing cheap labour for the Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English and French colonies, particularly for working in…

1685

Louis XIV wants to unify his subjects under one common religion and takes measures to suppress Protestantism. He revokes the Edict of Nantes, issued by Henry IV in 1598, granting religious freedom to the Protestants. The revocation provokes the exodus of 150,000 to 200, 000 Huguenots. Among them…

1689

In 1689, numerous European States, including England and Holland, ally themselves to confront France. They are worried about the ambitions of Louis XIV and his increasing conquests. The battles spread into the American colonies of France and England.

1693

France goes through a serious economic crisis due to bad climatic conditions that destroy the crops. Epidemics ravage the kingdom killing almost 10 percent of the population.

1697

The Treaty of Ryswick settles the War of the League of Augsburg. Louis XIV recognizes William III as King of England. The treaty also stipulates that the territorial borders of France and England in America (mainly the trading posts) be returned to where they had been before the war.

1701

The succession to the Spanish throne triggers a war in which France and Spain face off against a European coalition. Armed conflict extends all the way to North America where New France and the British colonies confront each other. The British troops try in vain to conquer Montreal and Quebec.…

1713

The Treaty of Utrecht brings an end to the War of the Spanish Succession and is a setback for the French. France agrees to give up all of its claims to the areas around Hudson Bay, Newfoundland, and Acadia. Thirty years of peace follow the signature of the Treaty of Utrecht.

1715

After the death of Louis XIV, his great-grandson, who is only five years old, succeeds him to the throne. Philippe d’Orléans, nephew and son-in-law of the dead king, rules on behalf of the young monarch. During the regency, the Duc d’Orléans implements several reforms.

1723

The taking of power by Louis XV At age 13, Louis XV officially takes power. He takes little interest in political matters and successively delegates the management of the kingdom to the Duc de Bourbon, Cardinal André-Hercule de Fleury and the Duc de Choiseul. The dominance of France in Europe…

1744

The lack of a male heir after the death of Emperor Charles VI of Austria in 1740 leads to a race for succession. France and England both support a different candidate for the imperial throne. In 1744, after 30 years of peace, France is again at war with England. Once again, the conflict spreads…

1756

Unlike the other conflicts, the hostilities between England and France begin in the colonies in 1754. The Seven Years’ War breaks out in Europe in 1756. Several countries ally themselves with either France or England according to their interests. The Treaty of Paris is signed in 1793 ending the…

1774

The reign of Louis XVI, grand-son of Louis XV, is marked by important reforms, especially with regard to human rights. His desire for political, economic and social change repeatedly comes up against hostility and resistance from the noble families.

1776

Following a series of conflicts between Great Britain and the thirteen British colonies of North America, the latter decides to break away from the United Kingdom. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence, primarily written by Thomas Jefferson, is signed.

1783

The Treaty of Paris of 1783 (not to be confused with the Treaty of Paris of 1763!) officially recognizes the independence of the United States of America seven years after the Declaration of Independence. It formally ends the American Revolutionary War between the former British colonies and…

1788

In 1788, France faces a serious economic crisis. The countryside is particularly affected and the peasants are reduced to begging. In addition to agricultural disaster there are severe financial, political and social problems.

1789

The Revolution marks a watershed in the history of France. It constitutes the end of the Ancient Regime, the fall of the monarchy and the proclamation of the Republic. The French Revolution leads to the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, a document ratified by…

1793

Louis XVI and his wife Marie-Antoinette of Austria are convicted of “treason” and executed by guillotine in the Place de la Révolution in Paris (present day Place de la Concorde).

1799

Napoleon Bonaparte becomes First Consul of the new French government in November 1799. On May 18, 1804, he has himself proclaimed Emperor of the French, under the name Napoleon 1. Napoleon Bonaparte has many victories and military alliances. He succeeds in having the Empire reign over most of…

1952 - Montreal (Quebec)

1964 - Tegucigalpa, Honduras

1942 - Montreal, Quebec