Louis XV

Louis XV, future King of France, is born to Louis, Duke of Burgundy, and Marie Adélaïde of Savoy, at the Palace of Versailles.

Louis becomes an orphan after the deaths of his parents from measles, leaving him the sole surviving legitimate grandson of King Louis XIV.

Louis XIV dies, and the five-year-old Louis XV becomes King of France. His reign is initially governed by his great-uncle, the Duke of Orléans, as regent.

Louis XV moves the royal court back to the Palace of Versailles, signaling the end of the regency and the beginning of his personal rule.

Louis XV formally assumes personal rule, although he is still heavily influenced by his advisors, particularly the Duke of Bourbon and later Cardinal Fleury.

Louis XV marries Maria Leszczyńska, the daughter of the deposed King of Poland, in a strategic alliance to strengthen French diplomatic ties.

Louis XV involves France in the War of Polish Succession, supporting his father-in-law's claim to the Polish throne, which results in significant military and financial strain.

Louis XV signs the Treaty of Vienna, ending the War of Polish Succession. France gains territories but at a high cost, leading to increased public discontent.

Louis XV enters the War of Austrian Succession, initially aiming to support the Bavarian claimant to the Austrian throne, but the war proves inconclusive and costly.

Louis XV signs the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, ending the War of Austrian Succession. The treaty is seen as a diplomatic failure, further eroding royal authority.

Louis XV begins a long-term affair with Madame de Pompadour, who becomes a significant political influence and patron of the arts, but also a source of public scandal.

Louis XV enters the Seven Years' War, allying with Austria against Prussia and Britain. The war is a disaster for France, leading to significant territorial losses.

Louis XV signs the Treaty of Paris, ending the Seven Years' War. France loses most of its colonial territories, including Canada and India, marking a significant decline in power.

Madame de Pompadour, the king's longtime mistress and influential advisor, dies, leaving a void in the court and a loss of a stabilizing influence.

Louis XV arranges the marriage of his grandson, the Dauphin Louis, to Marie Antoinette, Archduchess of Austria, in an attempt to strengthen ties with Austria.

Louis XV dies of smallpox at the Palace of Versailles. His reign, marked by military failures and declining royal authority, sets the stage for the French Revolution.