Time line by Valeria Suarez Guerrero

War of Devolution (1667-1668)

valeria_suarez1 — 2025-04-02 16:22:51 UTC

Louis XIV claimed the Spanish Netherlands and other territories based on the dowry of his wife, Maria Theresa, which he argued had not been paid, "devolving" those lands to him. Louis XIV invaded the Spanish Netherlands and Franche-Comté. Later, the war ended quickly with limited French territorial gains. The ending treaty in 1668 was that Louis XIV retained some captured towns in the Spanish Netherlands, but did not achieve significant territorial gains.

Franco-Dutch War (1672–1678)

valeria_suarez1 — 2025-04-02 16:22:58 UTC

Louis XIV wanted to weaken the Dutch Republic and expand French influence. With support from England, France invaded the Dutch Republic. The Dutch successfully defended their homeland, aided by Spain and the Holy Roman Empire. The ending treaty was from 1678 to 1679, and France gained several territories, including parts of the Spanish Netherlands, Franche-Comté, and some other smaller areas. Still, the war ended with a return to some territorial status quo.

Nine Years' War (1688–1697)

valeria_suarez1 — 2025-04-03 16:10:34 UTC

This war was part of the broader conflict from Louis XIV's expansionist policies and his involvement in the succession crisis of the English throne. Louis XIV's support of James II of England led to the formation of a union against France. France was opposed by a coalition including England, the Dutch Republic, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire. Despite some French successes, the war drained France’s resources. The ending treaty was that Louis XIV was forced to withdraw from some territories, including those he had gained from the Treaty of Nijmegen, but he kept his territorial acquisitions in the Spanish Netherlands.

The Spanish Succession (1701-1714)

valeria_suarez1 — 2025-04-03 16:20:32 UTC

The death of Charles II of Spain without an heir led to a disputed succession. Louis XIV's grandson, Philip of Anjou, was named heir, which alarmed European powers fearing the unification of the French and Spanish crowns. A European alliance including England, the Dutch Republic, and Austria, formed to prevent the union of France and Spain. Despite the early successes, France was eventually pushed into a defensive position. The war ended with several important things and details: Philip V remained King of Spain, but the crowns of France and Spain were never to unite. France ceded territories such as Newfoundland and Nova Scotia to Britain. The Spanish Netherlands, Milan, Naples, and Sardinia were ceded to Austria.

APA citations:

valeria_suarez1 — 2025-04-03 16:22:43 UTC

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998, July 20). War of Devolution | Louis XIV, Spain, France. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/War-of-Devolution

Wikipedia contributors. (2025, February 5). War of devolution. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_Devolution

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (1998a, July 20). Dutch War | William III, Louis XIV. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Dutch-War

Nine years war. (n.d.). National Army Museum. https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/nine-years-war

War of the Spanish Succession | Causes, definition, combatants, battles, & outcome.https://www.britannica.com/event/War-of-the-Spanish-Succession