Timeline of 30 Most Important Events of Absolutism & Constitutionalism


1596- Wars are fought within France with the Huguenots beginning a conflict between them and the French government.

1613- Nobles tired of the Time of Troubles in Russia elect Czar Michael Romanov, Ivan the Terribles’ grandnephew.

1614- Louis XIII comes of age to take over the throne for France.

1618- Thirty Year’s War begins.

1624- Louis XIII elects Cardinal Richelieu as his chief minister, who ran the government of France thereafter.

1642- Death of the French Cardinal Richelieu.

1642- The English Civil War begins.

1643- King Louis XIV begins his 72-year reign on the French throne.

1645- Death of Michael Romanov.

1648- The Peace of Westphalia ends the Thirty Year’s War.

1667- Louis XIV begins four different wars to expand France’s territory to the Rhine River and the frontier along the northeast and east of the country.

1682- Peter the Great ascends to the throne of Russia after the reign of the Romanov family.

1685- The revocation of the Edict of Nantes by King Louis XIV of France.

1688- Deposal of James II in the Glorious Revolution

1688- Mary and William of Orange accept the English Bill of Rights and took the throne of England.

1700- Louis XIV tries to get his grandson, Phillip of Anjou on the Spanish throne starting the War of the Spanish Succession.

1709- Peter the Great, through the use of Westernization, reorganizes his army and successfully defeats Sweden in their first battle, gaining access to the Baltic Sea.

1713- Louis XIV forced to accept the Treaty of Utrecht ending the War of the Spanish Succession. His son didn’t get Spanish throne.

1721- Peter the Great gains access to the Baltic Sea and the new location is to be the site of the new capital of Russia, St. Petersburg, and the “Window to the West.”

1725- Peter the Great dies.

1740- Frederick II (Frederick the Great) inherits the throne of Prussia from his father, Frederick William I.

1740- Maria Theresa inherits the throne of Austria and other Habsburg lands.

1740- Prussia takes Silesia form Austria starting the War of the Austrian Succession.

1756- Seven Year’s War begins.

1759- Great Britain had established itself as the greatest sea power in the world.

1759- Fighting between British and France erupts in North America during the Seven Year’s War, where it was called the French and Indian War.

1760- King George III ascends to the throne of England.

1763- In this year the Treaty of Paris was signed ending the Seven Year’s War.

1772- The three powers of Prussia, Austria, and Russia began to take advantage of Poland’s weak position, and began to divide the country amongst them.

1786- Frederick the Great dies.