Louis XV, king of France: Foreign Affairs

While Louis was king, France was involved in a series of wars. As a result of the king's marriage (1725) to Marie Leszcynska, France took part in the War of the Polish Succession (see Polish Succession, War of the), and eventually obtained (1766) the duchy of Lorraine for its efforts. Louis's diplomacy, which was often conducted secretly by the king's personal agents rather than through his official ministers, involved France in the War of the Austrian Succession against Austria (see Austrian Succession, War of the) and, after a switch of alliances that realigned (1756) France with Austria, in the Seven Years War. The Treaty of Paris (see Paris, Treaty of, 1763), ending the Seven Years War, marked the loss of most of France's colonial empire and a low point in French prestige on the Continent.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Domestic Policies
• Foreign Affairs
• Early Reign
• Bibliography

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