| Louis XIV | Versailles | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1623–24 | Louis XIII has a hunting lodge built near the village of Versailles, 10 miles southwest of Paris | ||
| 1631–34 | The hunting lodge is replaced by a small stone and brick château; a garden with parterres is created | ||
| 1638 | Birth of the future Louis XIV at Saint-Germain-en-Laye | ||
| 1643 | Death of Louis XIII; his son becomes King Louis XIV, with the Queen Mother Anne of Austria as regent and Cardinal Jules Mazarin as prime minister | ||
| 1660 | Marriage of Louis XIV to Maria Theresa of Austria | ||
| 1661 | Death of Mazarin; beginning of the personal reign of Louis XIV Jean-Baptiste Colbert is appointed as intendent of finances | 1661 | Beginning of work to embellish the château and its surroundings |
| 1664 | Colbert becomes superintendent of buildings | 1664 | Construction of the Menagerie (zoo) and the first Orangery First festival at Versailles: Pleasures of the Enchanted Isle |
| 1666 | Death of the Queen Mother | 1666 | Construction of the Grotto of Tethys (destroyed in 1684) |
| 1667–68 | War of Devolution against Spain; conquests in Flanders and Franche-Comté | 1668 | Second festival |
| 1668–74 | Building of the Enveloppe around three sides of the old château | ||
| 1669–70 | Construction of the Porcelain Trianon | ||
| 1672 | Beginning of the Dutch War; crossing of the Rhine | 1673 | Completion of the Labyrinth (dismantled in 1774) |
| 1674 | Second conquest of Franche-Comté | 1674 | Third festival |
| 1678 | End of the Dutch War | 1679 | The Château of Marly is built as a retreat for the King and selected guests |
| 1680 | Completion of the Ambassadors’ Staircase (demolished in 1752) Construction of the South Wing, the Stables, and the Kitchen Garden |
||
| 1682 | Versailles is designated as seat of government and official residence of the Court | ||
| 1683 | Death of Queen Maria Theresa; secret marriage of Louis XIV to Madame de Maintenon Death of Colbert |
1684 | The Hall of Mirrors is completed Construction of the North Wing |
| 1685 | Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, prompting the exodus of many French Protestants | 1686 | Completion of the new Orangery |
| 1687 | The Porcelain Trianon is replaced by the Marble Trianon (today’s Grand Trianon) | ||
| 1688–97 | War of the League of Augsburg | ||
| 1700 | Louis XIV’s grandson Philippe becomes King of Spain | 1701 | The King’s Bedchamber is moved to the center of the palace |
| 1701–14 | War of the Spanish Succession | 1710 | Completion of the new Royal Chapel |
| 1715 | Death of Louis XIV; his great-grandson becomes King Louis XV, with Philippe, Duke of Orléans, as regent | 1715 | The Court leaves Versailles for Paris (to return in 1722) |
