BackgroundBackground

1690s - all Europe awaited imminent death of Charles II, king of Spain

Charles II childless, and has no cousins in immediate Spanish Hapsburg line so question arises of who will inherit Spanish throne

and vast territory! both Louis XIV and Austrian emperor Leopold I can

make almost equal claim to throne both monarchs have a Hapsburg princess as a mother

and Hapsburg princess as a wife (Maria Theresa – Louis XIV, but she has specifically

renounced claims to Spanish throne)

Europe, pre-War of the Spanish Europe, pre-War of the Spanish SuccessionSuccession

Hapsburg SuccessionHapsburg Succession

1698 – 1700: Partition 1698 – 1700: Partition Treaties, Wills, & Royal Treaties, Wills, & Royal

DramaDrama 1698, William III and Louis XIV sign treaty to divide up

Hapsburg domain held by Charles II sign partition treaty accepting right of young Joseph

Ferdinand of Bavaria to all of Spain’s territory except Italy to be split between Hapsburgs and Bourbons (Milan to

Austria, rest to French) but…Charles II not dead yet

outraged at blatant carving up of his territory responds with will naming Joseph Ferdinand as heir

to all of Spanish possessions son of Leopold I’s daughter and her Bavarian prince

husband but Joseph Ferdinand dies, 1699

Further Treaties of Further Treaties of PartitionPartition

1699 – William & Louis come up with second partition treaty more generous to Hapsburgs son of Austrian emperor

(Archduke Charles) to get everything except Italy and Lorraine (to France)

ticks Charles II off again, so he changes his will again! leaves everything to Bourbon prince Philip, grandson of

Louis XIV then Charles dies a month later

ignoring the most recent partition treaty, Louis XIV accepts grandson’s inheritance and treats him as Philip V of Spain Austrians don’t accept this, though, and begin preparations

for war!

1701 – 1702: A line in 1701 – 1702: A line in the sand – Europe the sand – Europe

takes sidestakes sides as of 1701, fight was only between France and Austria

(Louis XIV vs Leopold I) each fighting on behalf of successors, each of whom

have been identified in Charles II’s will if crown is not accepted by grandson of Louis XIV (Philip

V), throne will go to Archduke Charles, Leopold I’s son

but, conflict soon draws in other European powers because Louis XIV begins taking an aggressive stance in

order to defend his grandson’s claim

France vs. Austria…and France vs. Austria…and othersothers

1702, England and Holland enter war in support of Austrian emperor in response to French aggression along with many states within Germany, especially

Prussia

but, Bavaria joins war on France’s side, along with Spain, Portugal and Savoy reluctant allies, acting mainly out of fear of Bourbons (would change sides in 1703, when tide shifted in

favour of Imperial forces)

1702 – 1706: Fortunes 1702 – 1706: Fortunes of Warof War

basic aims of war: each side trying to take control of territories which make up Spanish Hapsburg lands

Austrian generals incredibly successful: Prince Eugene of Savoy rapidly seizes northern Italy, Duke of Marlborough advances into Spanish Netherlands

1711 – 1712: Royal 1711 – 1712: Royal DeathsDeaths

1710: Philip = 5th in line of succession to French throne; Archduke Charles is next in line for Austrian throne (Leopold dies, 1705, new emperor Joseph I is Charles’

brother) 1712: Philip 2nd in line of succession to French throne,

because Louis XIV’s son dies 1711, along with 2 grandsons, 1712

2-year-old is French heir (later Louis XV) Archduke Charles is now Emperor Charles VI

Joseph I died childless, 1710

Deaths, Problems, and Deaths, Problems, and New StrategiesNew Strategies

Charles VI, Emperor of Austria problem for Allies! strategy all along has been to place Charles on the

Spanish throne but now it’s unacceptable for him to be both Spanish

king and Austrian Emperor! other problem! Philip V of Spain cannot be

allowed to inherit French throne! May 1712, persuaded to renounce all claims to France

new political changes allow for peace negotiations to re-open, which are MUCH more favourable to France than previous terms

1713 – 1714: Treaties & 1713 – 1714: Treaties & PeacePeace

1713: TREATY OF UTRECHT Peace between France, Great Britain, Netherlands

Treaty of Rastatt, 1714, ended war between France and Austria

Philip V guaranteed throne of Spain and Spanish overseas colonies

Gibraltar ceded to Great Britain by Spain from France, Britain receives Newfoundland, Nova

Scotia, Hudson Bay territory Louis XIV recognizes Protestant succession, promises

to give no further support to exiled Stuarts same promise made in 1697, but broken during

WOSS

1713 – 1714: Treaties & 1713 – 1714: Treaties & Peace, cont’dPeace, cont’d

1714: TREATY OF BADEN Peace between France and Holy Roman Empire Spanish Netherlands become Austrian

Netherlands, Spanish territories in northern Italy ceded to Charles VI of Austria

elector of Brandenburg is made king of Prussia

Stasbourg and Alsace officially ceded to France

Pragmatic SanctionPragmatic Sanction

1713, issued one week after signing of Treaty of Baden declared that Hapsburg inheritance is indivisible, and can

pass through FEMALE heirs line of succession: son, daughter, then daughters of Joseph

I by 1720, every major European state accepts the Sanction

(France, Spain, Great Britain, Holland, Russia, Prussia) but doesn’t matter once Charles VI dies and is succeeded by

Maria Theresa…

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