Henry IV becomes a Catholic so as to secure Paris and the throne of France

The Edict of Nantes secures the civil rights of France's Protestants, the Huguenots

A flintlock designed in France (possibly by Marin Le Bourgeoys) becomes the standard firing mechanism for muskets

Henry IV is assassinated in a Paris street by a Roman Catholic, François Ravaillac

After the assassination of Henry IV, his wife Marie de Médicis becomes regent for the 9-year-old Louis XIII

Richelieu begins his public career, becoming a secretary of state to Marie de Médicis

The first English newspaper (Corante) appears, promising reports 'from Italy, Germany, Hungarie, Spaine and France'

Rubens completes a great narrative sequence of twenty-one paintings to celebrate the achievements of Marie de Médicis

Francesco Borromini begins work on his intricate baroque masterpiece, the Monastery of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane (1634-43), in Rome

Pierre Corneille's play Le Cid, popular with Paris audiences, hinges on the conflict between duty and love

The Briare canal, joining the Seine to the Loire, has a staircase of six consecutive locks

Louis XIV inherits the throne of France at the age of four

Mazarin becomes principal minister in France, selected by the queen regent on the death of Louis XIII

The Prince de Condé and the Vicomte de Turenne emerge as brilliant generals in France's wars

In his Principles of Philosophy Descartes gives priority to reason, summed up in his famous phrase cogito ergo sum

With the help of his more robust brother-in-law, Blaise Pascal provides physical proof that atmospheric pressure varies with altitude

A rebellion of nobles against Mazarin, the principal minister of the young Louis XIV, becomes known as the Fronde

Descartes catches a fatal chill, returning home in midwinter from pre-dawn instruction of Queen Christina of Sweden

Charles II is defeated by Cromwell at Worcester and escapes in disguise to France

Turenne defeats Condé in a battle in the Paris suburbs, hastening the decline of the Fronde

The 14-year-old Louis XIV dances in a court ballet as Apollo, wearing a glorious sun costume, and finds that he likes the role

Louis XIV grants New France the status of a royal province and greatly increases the flow of colonists to north America

Louis XIV establishes a royal dancing academy and soon follows it with a music academy

Jean-Baptiste Colbert buys the Gobelin family workshops in Paris and transforms them into a royal factory for Louis XIV

Colbert founds East India and West India companies to ensure a supply of raw materials for France's factories