Abstract
Abstract The years between 1660 and 1715 form a distinct period in European history: the period of French expansion under Louis XIV. The decades before had seen the spectacular decline of the two Habsburg princes: the German Emperor and the King of Spain. By the Peace of Westphalia the Emperor had been forced to allow the German princes to create policies of their own; the Spanish king had had to recognize the independence of the Dutch Republic and to accept an unpleasant peace with France in 1659. Louis XIV, who on this very occasion had married a Spanish princess, thus became a potential heir to his father-in-law, Philip IV. In 1661 he decided to govern France on his own. From that time onwards he ruled over his 20 million subjects with the help of a strong, bureaucratic system of government, though one which was not as powerful as is often alleged. His country had enormous resources at its disposal, but, notwith-standing the efforts made by capable ministers such as Colbert, the overall character of its economy was old-fashioned and remained so for a long time.
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