Highlights from the War of

Spanish Successio

n1702-1713Louis XIV’s last war.

For thirty years, Louis XIV and William III had maintained a

balance of power in Europe.

At various times, England and Spain had allied themselves with these powers. Also, lesser states attached themselves to alliances

to further their countries’ interests.

William III, especially, pulled a “fast one” on Louis XIV when he was given the throne of England during the Glorious Revolution--giving William a “checkmate” to

Louis XIV’s ambitions.

Many smaller states also placed themselves in this mess by various

alliances and diplomatic maneuvering.

While France and England dominated European Politics,

Spain declined…

But its golden age of culture

and literature

continued. . .

In Spain, the last Hapsburg monarch, Charles II was a product

of years of inbreeding.

He was mentally deficient, drooling, hunchbacked. His face reflected all the

hideous in-breeding, approved by various Papal dispensations, for many years.

He should have died in his youth, but he continued living.

William of Holland and Louis XIV of France did not want the

Hapsburg empire to be united as it had been

under Charles V.

As Charles weakened and approached death, William and Louis agree that the Hapsburg

domains should be split between France and Austria.

All this was done while Charles II was still alive!

It turns out that Charles II found out about this. He was so angry with William that he changed his will to benefit the

French, instead of the Hapsburgs. The will said that all of Spain and its territories should be left to the grandson

of Louis XIV.

If Louis XIV refused this on behalf of his grandson, then the throne

was to go to the son of the Habsburg emperor (Leopold) in Vienna, the archduke Charles.

Louis debated accepting this for his grandson, knowing that Spain was a strange and alien land for a French prince. But the temptation to have a Bourbon Prince on the

throne of Spain was just too good to resist.

He accepted the throne, causing a huge uproar among the powers. This meant that a Bourbon would

now sit on the throne of Spain AND France.

One diplomat even cried out that “The Pyrenees are no more”

In England, William was furious at Louis XIV.

He acted immediately by forming an alliance with Austria (the

Hapsburgs had been cut out of the will), Brandenburg, Portugal and Savoy. Let’s look closely at the

countries involved. . .

This alliance was called the Grand Alliance. William

would died two years later, in 1703. His

sister in law (Mary’s sister) Anne inherited

the throne. The Grand Alliance held…

… and Anne took up her brother- in- law’s

war.

Your handout has many of the details concerning this war---but

here are some highlights:

Battle of Blenheim (1704)…

Prince Eugene of Savoy, who in his youth had helped save Vienna from the Turks

These deaths profoundly alter the outcome of the war. A mood for peace prevails. Louis XIV, is a

broken man.

Louis dies September 1, 1715. In

Paris, people cheer his death. He spent too much and fought too

many wars. France is

broken, but still great.

The English emerge as the clear victors.

• They gain Gibraltar and control the mouth of the Mediterranean

• They gain territory in the New World• Their navy is strong, and will

continue to dominate the seas.• They repudiate the claims of the

Stuart ancestors of James II and assure the line of Protestant rulers.