| 1589 |
|
Henry IV first Bourbon King of France |
| 1598 |
|
Edict of Nantes allows Calvinism in France |
| 1608 |
|
Permanent French colony founded in Canada by Samuel de Champlain |
| 1610 |
|
Henry IV of France assassinated by Catholic fanatic |
| 1624 |
|
Cardinal Richelieu builds up French power |
| 1642 |
|
Cardinal Richelieu dies and Cardinal Mazarin takes over |
| 1643 |
|
Louis XIV ("Sun King") becomes King of France at 5 years old |
| 1650 |
|
Death of René Descartes (philosopher and mathematician) |
| 1659 |
|
French frontiers enlarged after treaty with Spain |
| 1661 |
|
Louis XIV sole ruler of France after Cardinal Mazarin dies |
| 1662 |
|
Death of Blaise Pascal (mathematician and philosopher) |
| 1667 |
|
Louis XIV starts series of wars to expand French borders |
| 1673 |
|
Death of Molière (dramatist) |
| 1680 |
|
Louis XIV annexes Alsace for France |
| 1682 |
|
French claim large American possessions in Louisiana |
| 1685 |
|
Edict of Nantes revoked - Protestant Huguenots flee France |
| 1699 |
|
Death of Jean Racine (dramatist) |
| 1701 |
|
Grand Alliance of England, Netherlands and Austria against France |
| 1704 |
|
English under Duke of Marlborough defeat French at Blenheim |
| 1713 |
|
Treaty of Utrecht - peace unfavourable to French |
| 1715 |
|
Louis XIV dies and Louis XV succedes |
| 1729 |
|
Voltaire starts to preach ideas of political freedom |
| 1738 |
|
Lorraine ceded to France |
| 1759 |
|
General James Wolfe takes French Quebec for English |
| 1763 |
|
Treaty of Paris confirms English domination in Canada |
| 1774 |
|
Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette succede to French throne |
| 1778 |
|
Deaths of Voltaire and Rousseau (Enlightenment philosophers) |
| 1783 |
|
Montgolfier brother becomes first men to fly (in hot-air balloon) |
| 1788 |
|
Food riots in France after poor harvest |
