Always Has Been: Chapter 1: Peace of Rueil (1653)

The Peace of Rueil was signed in 1653, ending the Fronde, a series of civil wars in France. This agreement marked a significant point in the consolidation of royal power under King Louis XIV, who later commissioned the opulent Palace of Versailles. The treaty initiated a period of stability that fostered the Grand Siècle, a cultural renaissance characterized by flourishing arts and architecture. This era defined a distinctive French identity and profoundly influenced European cultural expressions, leaving a lasting legacy.