The Ascendancy of France 1598-1715 #867895

At the dawn of the seventeenth century, France stood at a turning point. Emerging from decades of religious conflict and civil war, the kingdom began its ascent under Henry IV, whose Edict of Nantes sought to heal the wounds of a fractured nation. From this foundation of reconciliation and reform, France embarked on a century of dominance, reaching the height of its power under Louis XIV. First published in 1897, The Ascendancy of France, 1598-1715 by Henry Offley Wakeman offers a sweeping narrative of this transformation, tracing the forces that shaped France’s rise as the preeminent power in Europe.
     Wakeman examines the political and military strategies that solidified France’s supremacy, from the calculated statesmanship of Cardinal Richelieu, who laid the foundations of absolute monarchy, to the territorial ambitions of Louis XIII and Louis XIV. He follows France through the great conflicts of the era, including the Thirty Years’ War, the Wars of the Grand Alliance, and the War of the Spanish Succession, illustrating how diplomacy and warfare reshaped the European balance of power. The grandeur of Versailles, the economic policies of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, and the consolidation of royal authority all take center stage, revealing the mechanisms behind France’s unprecedented influence.
     Beyond the battlefield and courtly intrigue, Wakeman explores the intellectual and cultural heights of the period, capturing the flourishing of literature, philosophy, and artistic expression that defined the reign of Louis XIV. Yet beneath this brilliance, the strains of absolutism, economic hardship, and religious persecution foreshadow the challenges that would eventually lead to decline.
     The Ascendancy of France, 1598-1715 remains a compelling study of an era that shaped modern Europe, blending meticulous research with engaging storytelling to bring to life the figures and events that defined the rise of France as a dominant force in history.