Joseph Joffre was the Commander-in-Chief of France during World War 1, a position he had held since 1911. France had been a major European power for most of the 17th and 19th centuries under kings Louis XIV and Napoleon I. However, defeat in the Franco-Prussian War in 1870 ended French dominance and led to the loss of Alsace-Lorraine territory. While Joffre's initial Plan XVII for invading Germany failed, he was considered the 'Savior of France' for his calm leadership and regrouping of forces at the Battle of the Marne.