The House of Bourbon acceded to the French throne with Henry the IV in 1589 and occupied it with the exception of the year 1792 to 1814/15 until 1848. They can be counted amongst Europe's most important ruling dynasties. The three volume series analyses their activity on the field of domestic, economic, financial, social and foreign policy. The effects in the areas of court and cultural life, art, literature, painting, music and architecture are also described. Thus the work can be viewed as a history of France under the Bourbon rule.The first volume contains the description of the rise of the lords of bourbon until obtaining the crown of Navarra in 1555. The period of religious and civil war in the 16th century, the St. Bartholomew Day's Massacre 1572, the edict of Nantes as well as the domestic and foreign policy projects of Henry IV up to his death 1610 are presented. Central to the information on Louis XIII are the difficulties and conflicts of the 30 Years-War. Finally the sun king Louis XIV (1643 - 1715), his method of governing, his foreign policy and many wars, the functions of his court as instruments of power and France's position within Europe are presented.