Huygens formulates his principle, stating that every point on a wavefront can be considered a source of secondary spherical wavelets. The envelope of these wavelets determines the position of the wavefront at a later time. This provides a geometric method for predicting wave propagation.

Huygens publishes 'Traité de la Lumière', where he presents his wave theory of light in detail, including Huygens' Principle. He uses this principle to explain phenomena such as reflection, refraction, and double refraction (birefringence) in crystals like calcite.

While initially overshadowed by Newton's corpuscular theory of light, Huygens' wave theory, supported by Huygens' Principle, gradually gains acceptance throughout the 19th century, especially with the demonstration of interference and diffraction phenomena by Thomas Young and Augustin-Jean Fresnel.

Huygens' Principle remains a fundamental concept in optics and is used to describe the propagation of waves in various contexts, including electromagnetism and acoustics. Its legacy continues to influence modern wave physics.