1611. The first dated armorial French book-plate, that of Alexandre Bouchart, by Leonard Gaultier.
1613. The second dated armorial French book-plate, that of Melchior de la Vallée.
1638. The system of showing the heraldic colours, metals, and furs on engravings by conventional lines and dots was adopted about this date, and has been in use ever since.
1643. Louis XIV., King, son of the above, died September 1, 1715.
1685. October. Revocation by Louis XIV. of the Edict of Nantes, followed by the flight of thousands of French Protestants (or Huguenots) to Great Britain, Holland, and America.
1715. Louis XV., King, great-grandson of the above, died of small-pox, May 10, 1774.
1774. Louis XVI., King, grandson of the above.
1789. July. Surrender and destruction of the Château de la Bastille in Paris. This marks the actual commencement of the French Revolution.
1790. June. Abolition of all titles and armorial bearings.
1793. Louis XVI. beheaded January 21, and was, according to Legitimist reckoning, succeeded by his young son, Louis XVII., who, however, never reigned, and is supposed to have died in prison on June 8, 1795. The government was Republican in name until