French and Indian War
Louis XIV Battles King William III in North America
Unable to defeat Britain in Europe, King Louis XIV sends his men to America to defeat Briton. The goal is to acquire more land for France.
American historians refer to the first of the wars between the French and the English to break out in North America as King William’s war. This war coinsided with the European War of the Grand Alliance also known as the “Drawn Battle”.
In Europe, the battle raged between the advancing Protestantism and the resisting Catholicism. Louis XIV led a crusade with a promise from King James II of England to support him against the Turks and to devastate the Palatinates. In England, King James II was overthrown. William, Prince of Orange, became William III of England and filled in until he would become King.
With King James II out of power, Louis XIV feared William would lead troops across the continent and invoke a revolt in Ireland. William III and the Grand Alliance blocked Louis’ from attempting to build a larger empire for France.
Signatures for Peace
In 1697, England, Spain, and the Netherlands signed the Treaty of Ryswick. This was a major setback for Louis XIV who lost most of what he conquered in 1679. The Dutch gained commercial concessions and the independence of Savoy was recognized. And to add further pain to Louis, William III became the King of England.
Since Louis XIV was unable to defeat the British in Europe, he took the war to America. Along the Hudson Bay, battles began to rage between the British and the French. From the Mohawk River to the St. Lawrence River, the Iroquois and French battled.
Louis XIV put Denonville in charge of the American battles, but Louie soon learned that the battles were too much for Denonville. Louis needed a new and experienced governor to battle for him. He immediately thought of Frontenac.
Louis de Baude Frontenac was the godson of Louis XIV. Louis had sent Frontenac to New France in 1672 as governor. While governor he built a fort at the junction of the St. Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, and Rideau Canal.
Frontenac had good business sense and knew how to lead, but his personality got him into trouble. He frequently quarreled with colony officials about their business practices with the Indians. King Louis was unable to control his godson’s temper so he called him back to France. After seven years, Louis realized the accusations against Frontenac were unfounded and sent him back to New France in order to establish a new French power.
In 1689, the Iroquois became unsettled. The British ordered the Iroquois to sneak into Montréal and rid Canada of the French. The Iroquois attacked during the night. They killed many men, women, and children. The prisoners were tortured and burned alive. The attack later became know as the Lachine Massacre.
New France Lacked Military Strength
Frontenac knew what King Louis XIV expected him to do and it was not going to be easy. He now had the responsibility to run the British out of French territory and to expand the French empire to the west. He knew he did not have the troops to match Britons and expressed it to Louis. Louis refused to give New France more military help. King William’s War begins with the Anglo-Dutch colonists and their Iroquois allies against Frontenac and a handful of spiritless soldiers.
Callieres, the governor of Montreal, traveled to France to ask King Louie to help in the expansion of New France by sending more forces, money, and supplies. Louis also turned him down.
Callieres realized that the plan before him was one of boldness and speed. He explained to Louis that New York would be easy to take with forces in Canada. The attack must take place at night and one of surprise. Callieres believed the entire battle would take a month, which meant that by the end of the month King Louis would be ruler of northeastern America. In 1697, King William’s War ended with neither side accomplishing what they set out to do.
Source
Leckie Robert, A Few Acres of Snow: the Saga of the French and Indian Wars. Ontario, Wiley Publishers, 2000.
