Nine Years' War

In this episode, we focus on the Nine Years’ War, the far-reaching conflict from 1688 to 1697 that set Louis XIV’s France against the Grand Alliance of European powers determined to contain French expansion. The episode explores how the war spread across Europe, Ireland, North America, and Asia, blending land campaigns, naval battles, colonial warfare, and religious-political tensions into a costly global struggle. Although France won several tactical victories, the fighting settled into a grinding stalemate that drained armies, treasuries, and civilian populations alike. We also examine how the Treaty of Ryswick ended the war by restoring territories and recognizing William III as king of England, while leaving unresolved the Spanish succession crisis that would soon pull Europe back into war.