1630. Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, marches into Germany to the assistance of the Protestants, who ware nearly crushed by the Austrian armies. He gains several great victories, and, after his death, Sweden, under his statesmen and generals, continues to take a leading part in the war. 1640. Portugal throws off the Spanish yoke: and the House of Braganza begins to reign. 1642. Commencement of the civil war in England between Charles I. and his parliament. 1648. The Thirty Years' War in Germany ended by the treaty of Westphalia. 1653. Oliver Cromwell lord-protector of England. 1660. Restoration of the Stuarts to the English throne. 1661. Louis XIV. takes the administration of affairs in France into his own hands. 1667-1668. Louis XVI. makes war in Spain, and conquers a large part of the Spanish Netherlands. 1672. Louis makes war upon Holland, and almost overpowers it, Charles II. of England is his pensioner, and England helps the French in their attacks upon Holland until 1674. Heroic resistance of the Dutch under the Prince of Orange. 1674. Louis conquers Franche-Comte. 1679. Peace of Nimeguen. 1681. Louis invades and occupies Alsace. 1682. Accession of Peter the Great to the throne of Russia. 1685. Louis commences a merciless persecution of his Protestant subjects. 1688. The glorious Revolution in England. Expulsion of James II. William of Orange is made King of England. James takes refuge at the French court, and Louis undertakes to restore him. General war in the west of Europe. 1691. Treaty of Ryswick. Charles XII. becomes King of Sweden. 1700. Charles II. of Spain dies, having bequeathed his dominions to Philip of Anjou, Louis XIV.'s grandson. Defeat of the Russians at Narva, by Charles XII. 1701. William III. forms a "Grand Alliance" of Austria, the Empire, the United Provinces, England, and other powers, against France. 1702. King William dies; but his successor, Queen Anne, adheres to the Grand Alliance, and war is proclaimed against France. CHAPTER XI. -- THE BATTLE OF BLENHEIM, 1704. "The decisive blow struck at Blenheim resounded through every part of Europe: it at once destroyed the vast fabric of power which it had taken Louis XIV., aided by the talents of Turenne, and the genius of Vauban, so long to construct."--ALISON.