This timeline details all the main wars that happened during the 17th Century
Autumn 1568 to January 1648
The Dutch Revolt (Eighty Years War)
Fought between: Dutch Republicans, England, France, Nassau against Spanish Empire, Holy Roman Empire
Location: Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany
Result: Dutch Republic gained independence from Spain
Location: Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany
Result: Dutch Republic gained independence from Spain
February 1587 to 18th August 1604
Anglo-Spanish War
Fought between: England, Dutch Republic, France against Spanish Empire
Location: Atlantic Ocean, Canary Islands, England, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, France, Spain, Spanish Empire
Result: a return to the status quo
Location: Atlantic Ocean, Canary Islands, England, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, France, Spain, Spanish Empire
Result: a return to the status quo
23rd May 1618 to 15th May 1648
Thirty Years War
Fought between: Protestant Forces (Sweden, France, Dutch, German States) against Catholic Forces (Holy Roman Empire, Spanish Empire, Hungary, Croatia)
Location: Germany and its border countries
Result: Peace of Westphalia
Location: Germany and its border countries
Result: Peace of Westphalia
22nd August 1642 May 1646
Fought between: English Royalists against English Parliamentarians
Location: England
Parliamentarian victory
Location: England
Parliamentarian victory
Spring 1648 to January 1649
Fought between: English Royalists against English Parliamentarians
Location: England
Result: Parliamentarian victory, King Charles I executed
Location: England
Result: Parliamentarian victory, King Charles I executed
February 1649 to 3rd September 1651
Third English Civil War
Fought between: English Royalists against English Parliamentarians
Location: England and Scotland
Result: Parliamentarian victory, Charles II escaped, Scotland governed by England
Location: England and Scotland
Result: Parliamentarian victory, Charles II escaped, Scotland governed by England
May 1672 to August 1678
Franco-Dutch War (Dutch War)
Fought between: France, England, Sweden against Dutch Republic, Holy Roman Empire, Spain, Denmark, Norway
Location: Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Italy, Catalonia, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea
Result: Treaty of Nijmegen, territorial changes on both sides
Location: Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Italy, Catalonia, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea
Result: Treaty of Nijmegen, territorial changes on both sides
June 1675 to April 1678
King Philip’s War
Fought between: New England Colonists against Native Americans
Location: States of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Maine
Colonial victory
Location: States of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Maine
Colonial victory
26th October 1683 to 15th October 1684,
War of the Reunions
Fought between: France against Spanish Empire, Holy Roman Empire, Genoa
Location: Spanish Netherlands, Spain, Genoa
Result: Truce of Ratisbon – France gained land
Location: Spanish Netherlands, Spain, Genoa
Result: Truce of Ratisbon – France gained land
August 1688 to September 1697
King William’s War (Part of the War of the Grand Alliance)
Fought between: England against France
Location: North America
Result: status quo
Location: North America
Result: status quo
September 1688 to September 1697
War of the Grand Alliance (Nine Years War)
Fought between: Dutch Republic, England, Holy Roman Empire, Scotland (non Jacobite), Spain, Sweden against France, Jacobite Scotland and Ireland
Location: French border countries, Scotland, Ireland, North America
Result: Treaty of Ryswick – territorial changes
Location: French border countries, Scotland, Ireland, North America
Result: Treaty of Ryswick – territorial changes
12th March 1689 to 3rd October 1691
Williamite War in Ireland (Part of the War of the Grand Alliance)
Fought between: England, Scotland (non Jacobite), Dutch Republic against France, Irish Jacobites
Location: Ireland
Victory for King William III.
Location: Ireland
Victory for King William III.
16th April 1689 to Spring 1692
Jacobite Uprising (Part of the War of the Grand Alliance)
Fought between: England, Scotland (non Jacobite), Dutch Republic against France, Scottish Jacobites
Location: Scotland
Jacobites defeated
Location: Scotland
Jacobites defeated
First published 2015; updated and republished Jan 13 2022 @ 12:16 pm – Updated – [last-modified]
Harvard Reference for this page:
Heather Y Wheeler. (2015 – 2022). Wars, 17th Century.