The 30 Years' War started in the year 1618 when (future) Holy Roman emperor Ferdinand II tried forcing Catholicism in the H.R.E. in an absolute manner, causing the Protestant groups in the H.R.E. to revolt.

After the initial conflict between the Catholic and Protestant parties in the H.R.E., many other nations around Europe joined the war for various reasons, including territory, wealth and independence from certain leaders. For example, some territories in Italy wanted freedom from the Papal states, the French joined the war to lessen the influence of the Hapsburgs, and many other nations joined the war for their own political gain.

After three decades of conflict, the 30 Years' War ended with the Treaty of Westphalia, a series of peace treaties used to give every nation what they wanted/deserved after the war, after much negotiation.

The War of Devolution started when Louis XIV said some land in the Spanish Netherlands belonged to his wife, Maria Theresa, because of local inheritance rules. He used this as an excuse to take more land for France, knowing Spain was weak and its king, Charles II, was young. The war was part of France’s long fight with Spain for power.

The War of Devolution ended with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle ("Treaty of Aachen") in 1668. France kept some forts in the Spanish Netherlands, like Lille, but had to return most of the land because England, the Dutch Republic, and Sweden pressured them to stop.

During the war, France’s army, led by Marshal Turenne, used smart planning and new battle tactics to quickly capture important Spanish forts. This showed that France had a powerful and modern military, making it one of the strongest forces in Europe at the time.

Early Triumph and Disappointments: Louis XIV's forces quickly overran parts of the Dutch Republic in 1672, but the Dutch struck back by flooding lands surrounding Amsterdam, constructing a defensive "Water Line" that halted the French advance.

The Nine Years' War was fought between France, led by King Louis XIV, and a group of countries including England, the Netherlands, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire. They were trying to stop France from becoming too powerful in Europe.

One important event during the war was the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. King William III of England defeated King James II of England, which helped strengthen Protestant control in England and Ireland.

The war ended with the Treaty of Ryswick in 1697. This treaty made peace between France and the other countries. France had to give back some lands it took, and it agreed that William III would be the rightful King of England.

The Spanish Succession was caused by the death of Charles ll of Spain, who did not have an heir to rule after him. This led to a dispute between the Bourbons and the Habsburgs over who would rule over Spain, or if it should be divided to maintain the balance of power in Europe.

Spain, France, the Holy Roman Empire, England, and the United Provinces of the Netherlands were the main countries involved in this war. The reason they were involved is because of the complex web of alliances and because the war was not only about the Spanish throne, but also to prevent any single power, particularly France, from becoming too dominant in Europe.

The Treaty of Utrecht was a series of treaties that involved France and Spain making peace with various European powers. This ended with the Bourbon Philip V as the king of Spain