War of the Spanish Succession

War of the Spanish Succession Summary

The War of the Spanish Succession divided Europe for over 13 years, from 1701 to 1714. The war pitted the rivaling houses of Bourbon and Habsburg against each other, along with their allies and supporters. Each house wanted a different relative of the deceased Spanish King Charles II to ascend to the throne; the French House of Bourbon wanted Philip V, the Duke of Anjou, to inherit Spain, while the Holy Roman Empire's House of Habsburg claimed Charles III for the throne.

Fig. 1- War of the Spanish Succession Map (1703).

War of the Spanish Succession Causes

However, it is essential to note that entire nations did not go to war for the love of either Philip V or Charles III. Underlying the entire War of the Spanish Succession was the European Balance of Power, an unwritten trust between European nations that all should be done to prevent a single power from taking over large portions of their continent.

To that end, the Holy Roman Empire and France were at risk of tipping the balance of power far into their favor by absorbing Spain (and its territories in Southern Italy). Furthermore, Charles II refused to divide his country upon his death. Any land gains by France or the Holy Roman Empire would directly threaten each other. The nations of Europe saw that war was inevitable; the only decision was which side to join.

War of Spanish Succession Timeline

The timeline below offers a brief progression of events related to the War of the Spanish Succession:

• November 1st, 1700: Charles II of Spain dies, leaving no direct heir. Philip V, Duke of Anjou, immediately succeeds him.
• September 7th, 1701: The Treaty of the Hague is signed, reestablishing the Grand Alliance of England, the United Provinces, and the Holy Roman Empire.
• September 16th, 1701: King Louis XIV denies William of Orange's claim to the English throne following King James II's death.
• 1701: Military engagements between Austrian and Bourbon forces begin in Italy, starting the war.
• October 23rd, 1702: The Battle of Vigo Bay.
• 1703: Both Portugal and Savoy declare for the Grand Alliance.
• September 11th, 1709: The Battle of Malplaquet
• 1713-1715: Peace of Utrecht, ending the War of the Spanish Succession.

War of the Spanish Succession History

As a significant conflict, the War of the Spanish Succession would be defined not by victories and heroism in great battles (of which there were many), but by the political maneuvers that orbited those military engagements. Outnumbered and outgunned, French King Louis XIV, grandfather of the incumbent Spanish ruler Phillip V, pursued a defensive strategy early on during the war. King Louis XIV utilized each costly battle as a bargaining chip for peace during negotiations to end the war.

The War of the Spanish Succession Unfolds

Spanish King Charles II died on November 1st, 1700, at 38. Immediately, Philip of Anjou inherited the Spanish throne, effectively uniting the two countries. Charles II's death was neither unexpected nor unplanned. Negotiations had transpired for years between the nations of Europe, discussions of who would inherit which lands.

Fig. 2- Portrait of Spanish King Charles II.

The Spanish-controlled territories in the Mediterranean sparked the most debate. The Holy Roman Empire's diplomats worked hard to win the Italian territories but to no avail. Eventually, King Louis XIV was persuaded by an advisor that war with Austria was inevitable and that France might as well take all of Spain's territories before then. Charles II had wished not to see his kingdom divided, after all.

Warring began in the hotly contested region of Southern Italy, but the main battlefronts formed along France's eastern borders. Both sides were evenly matched at the onset of the war. The Allies' (HRE, England, and United Provinces) victory at the Battle of Vigo Bay led to Portugal abandoning France. Still, French land victories and the newfound support of Bavaria offset any losses. The early stage of the war culminated in the 1704 Battle of Blenheim, France's last-ditch offensive into the east to sack the Austrian capital of Vienna.

Fig. 4- Battle of Malplaquet.

From 1704 to 1709, the Allies' armies, often led by the martial excellence of the Duke of Marlborough or Eugene of Savoy, pressed hard against France. The Bourbons suffered great defeats in the Spanish Netherlands but were remarkably resilient against assaults from England through Portugal. This middle stage of the war closed with the Battle of Malplaquet, a narrow victory for the Grand Alliance. Losses were surprisingly heavy on both sides, however, and the battle would be remembered as one of the bloodiest of the 18th century.

By 1709, the last stage of the war had arrived, one of grinding diplomatic negotiations and general exhaustion. The War of the Spanish Succession drained monarchies of their treasuries and kingdoms of their men. Beginning in secret, France and England discussed peace terms as early as 1710. Pleased with their prior gains and unimpressed with continued losses, the United Provinces soon loosened their involvement in the Grand Alliance.

War of the Spanish Succession Outcome

The Peace of Utrecht, Treaty of Rastatt, and Treaty of Baden all contributed to the end of hostilities during the War of the Spanish Succession. All parties made concessions during the negotiations; notably, France ceded many North American territories to Britain, the most apparent winner of the War of the Spanish Succession.

Fig. 3- Philip V was declared the King of Spain in November 1700.

In the end, Philip V retained (or claimed, depending on whether you're a Bourbon or a Habsburg) the Spanish throne. Still, under strict stipulations: Spain had to cede nearly all of its Mediterranean possessions and maintain its status as a strictly separate political entity from France. King Louis XIV's gambit to takeover Europe had fumbled, and in 1715 the French king died of smallpox.

War of the Spanish Succession Significance

The War of the Spanish Succession was at a close, but what happened? As a war nestled deep within the Early Modern Period, known as the Age of Exploration, naval supremacy proved to be more critical than ever. In terms of logistics, economy, transportation, and martial ability, the European maritime empires had a clear gold medalist by the end of the War of the Spanish Succession: Great Britain. But it was not solely because of British victories that they became the premier maritime empire in the modern era, but also their rivals' defeats.

Fig. 5- The Battle of Vigo Bay.

The United Provinces of Netherlands broke the bank to afford its involvement in the War of the Spanish Succession. Spain never fully recovered from the setbacks incurred during and preceding the war for its throne. France had been humbled (yet again), and a weakened Portugal would soon lose its capital of Lisbon to a devastating earthquake in 1755.

The Holy Roman Empire's weaknesses were bare, as its polities, such as Prussia and Austria, exhibited significant autonomy during the war, separate from their empire. By 1714, a Frenchman sat on the Spanish throne, but Great Britain achieved true victory during the War of the Spanish Succession.