Editing History of France (section)

=== Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) ===
{{Main|Thirty Years' War}}
The religious conflicts that plagued France also ravaged the Habsburg-led Holy Roman Empire. The Thirty Years' War eroded the power of the Catholic Habsburgs. Although [[Cardinal Richelieu]], the powerful chief minister of France, had mauled the Protestants, he joined this war on their side in 1636 because it was in the [[national interest]]. Imperial Habsburg forces invaded France, ravaged [[Champagne (province)|Champagne]], and nearly threatened Paris.<ref name="autogenerated6">{{Cite book |last=Wilson |first=Peter H. |title=Europe's Tragedy: A History of the Thirty Years' War |date=2009 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-6740-3634-5}}</ref>

Richelieu died in 1642 and was succeeded by [[Cardinal Mazarin]], while Louis XIII died one year later and was succeeded by [[Louis XIV]]. France was served by some very efficient commanders such as [[Louis II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé]] and [[Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne]]. The French forces won a decisive victory at [[Battle of Rocroi|Rocroi]] (1643), and the Spanish army was decimated; the Tercio was broken. The [[Truce of Ulm (1647)]] and the [[Peace of Westphalia]] (1648) brought an end to the war.<ref name="autogenerated6"/>

France was hit by civil unrest known as [[The Fronde]] which in turn evolved into the [[Franco-Spanish War (1635–1659)|Franco-Spanish War]] in 1653. Louis II de Bourbon joined the Spanish army this time, but suffered a severe defeat at [[Battle of the Dunes (1658)|Dunkirk]] (1658) by Henry de la Tour d'Auvergne. The terms for the peace inflicted upon the Spanish kingdoms in the [[Treaty of the Pyrenees]] (1659) were harsh, as France annexed Northern Catalonia.<ref name="autogenerated6"/>