Background  1690 s - 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 Succession

Hapsburg Succession

1698 – 1700: Partition Treaties, Wills, & Royal Drama  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 Partition  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 the sand – Europe takes 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 others  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 of 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 Deaths  1710 : Philip = 5 th 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 2 nd 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 New 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 & Peace  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 & Peace, 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 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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