text: The Nine Years' War, which lasted from 1688 to 1697, initiated a period of decline in 
  Louis's political and diplomatic fortunes. It arose from two events in the Rhineland. First, 
  in 1685, the Elector Palatine Charles II died. All that remained of his immediate family 
  was Louis's sister-in-law, Elizabeth Charlotte. German law ostensibly barred her from 
  succeeding to her brother's lands and electoral dignity, but it was unclear enough for 
  arguments in favour of Elizabeth Charlotte to have a chance of success. Conversely, the 
  princess was demonstrably entitled to a division of the family's personal property. Louis 
  pressed her claims to land and chattels, hoping the latter, at least, would be given to her.[76] 
  Then, in 1688, Maximilian Henry of Bavaria, Archbishop of Cologne, an ally of France, 
  died. The archbishopric had traditionally been held by the Wittelsbachs of Bavaria, but the 
  Bavarian claimant to replace Maximilian Henry, Prince Joseph Clemens of Bavaria, was at 
  that time not more than 17 years old and not even ordained. Louis sought instead to install 
  his own candidate, Wilhelm Egon von Fürstenberg, to ensure the key Rhenish state 
  remained an ally.[77] 