War of the Spanish Succession

(noun)

A major European conflict of the early 18th century (1701/2–1714), triggered by the death in 1700 of the last Habsburg King of Spain, Charles II. The Austrians, the Dutch and English allies formally declared war against France and its allies in May 1702.

Related Terms

  • treaties of Rastatt and Baden
  • Grand Alliance
  • Asiento

Examples of War of the Spanish Succession in the following topics:

  • The Peace of Utrecht

    • The Treaty of Utrecht, which initiated the end of the War of the Spanish succession, strengthened the balance of power in Europe by securing two major goals: Louis XIV's acknowledgement of the Protestant succession in England and safeguards to ensure that the French and Spanish thrones remained separate.
    • The War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714) was a European conflict triggered by the death of the last Habsburg King of Spain, Charles II, in 1700.
    • The treaty, which was in fact a series of separate treaties, secured Britain's main war aims: Louis XIV's acknowledgement of the Protestant succession in England and safeguards to ensure that the French and Spanish thrones remained separate.
    • In North America, where the War of the Spanish Succession turned into a war over colonial gains, Louis XIV ceded to Britain the territories of Saint Kitts and Acadia and recognized Britain's sovereignty over Rupert's Land and Newfoundland.
    • However, the War of the Spanish Succession brought to an end a long period of major conflict in western Europe: the partition of the Spanish Monarchy had secured the balance of power, and the conditions imposed at Utrecht helped to regulate the relations between the major European powers over the coming century.
  • The Question of Spanish Succession

    • The question of Spanish succession at the turn of the 18th century was linked directly to the question of balance on powers in Europe and led to a major European war that ended the European hegemony of France.
    • The War of the Spanish Succession brought to an end a long period of major conflict in Western Europe.
    • Europe before the outbreak of the War of the Spanish Succession, (c. 1700), source: Wikipedia.
    • Europe after the War of the Spanish Succession (1714), source: Wikipedia.
    • While borders in Europe did not shift dramatically in the aftermath of the War of the Spanish Succession, the relative balance of powers was restored, largely as a result of France losing its hegemonic position.
  • Louis XIV's Wars

    • Three major wars, the Franco-Dutch War, the Nine Years' War, and the War of the Spanish Succession, as well as two lesser conflicts, the War of Devolution and the War of the Reunions, enabled France to become the most powerful state in Europe.
    • However, this success, which came with the price of massive foreign and military spending, kept France on the verge of continuous bankruptcy.
    • However, his claims to the Spanish Netherlands were tenuous: in 1659, France and Spain had concluded the Treaty of the Pyrenees, which ended 24 years of war between the two states.
    • However, with the ailing and childless Charles II of Spain approaching his end, a new conflict over the inheritance of the Spanish Empire would soon embroil Louis XIV and the Grand Alliance in a final war – the War of the Spanish Succession.
    • During Louis's reign, France was the leading European power and it fought three major wars: the Franco-Dutch War, the War of the League of Augsburg, and the War of the Spanish Succession.
  • William of Orange and the Grand Alliance

    • William III's main goals in the conflict over the Spanish succession was to ensure the Protestant accession in England and curb the power of France and Louis XIV.
    • Securing the Protestant succession was soon recognized by the Grand Alliance as one of England's main war aims.
    • However, before the War of the Spanish Succession was even declared, William died.
    • By the same token, Anne continued William's policies and many leading statesmen of William's later years remained in office, which turned out fundamental to the success of the Grand Alliance in the early stages of the war.
    • Explain William's stake in the War of the Spanish Succession and the goals of the Grand Alliance.
  • Empires in Conflict

    • The British and the Dutch vied over the colony of New Netherland, the British and the Spanish fought the War of Jenkins' Ear, and the British and the French fought in a series of wars that concluded in 1763 with the French and Indian War.
    • The war was largely subsumed by the War of the Austrian Succession in 1742.
    • Queen Anne's War (1702–1713) was the second war for control of the continent, and was the counterpart of the War of the Spanish Succession in Europe.
    • King George's War (1744–48) was the North American phase of the War of the Austrian Succession .
    • The Battle of Fontenoy was an engagement in the larger War of the Austrian Succession, which involved most of the powers of Europe.
  • European Wars in the Colonies

    • The British and the Dutch vied over the colony of New Netherland, the British and the Spanish fought the War of Jenkins' Ear, and the British and the French fought in a series of wars that concluded in 1763 with the French and Indian War.
    • The War of Jenkins' Ear (1739–1748) began over Britain's supplying slaves and goods to the Spanish colonies in North America.
    • The war was largely subsumed by the War of the Austrian Succession in 1742.
    • Queen Anne's War (1702–1713) was the second war for control of the continent and was the counterpart of the War of the Spanish Succession in Europe.
    • King George's War, 1744–1748, was the North American phase of the concurrent War of the Austrian Succession.
  • The Spanish Conquest

    • The Inca Empire already faced instability due to the War of Succession, European diseases, and internal revolt when explorer Francisco Pizarro began the conquest of Inca territory.
    • Foremost among these was the Inca Civil War, which is also known as the War of Succession or the War of Two Brothers.
    • Even though the War of Succession made it easier for the Spanish armies to gain control initially, many other contributing factors brought about the demise of Inca rule and the crumbling of local populations.
    • The Spanish system destroyed many of the Inca traditions and ways of life in a matter of years.
    • Although Atahualpa successfully won the Inca Civil War and ruled as emperor, he was soon captured by the Spanish and killed in 1533.
  • The Spanish-American War

    • The Spanish–American War was a three-month conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States.
    • The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States (effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence).
    • Success is credited to sheer numerical superiority in most of the battles, despite the admirable performance of some Spanish infantry units, and spirited defenses in places like San Juan Hill.
    • Liberators of Cuba, soldiers of the 10th Cavalry after the Spanish-American War.
    • Analyze the major events and contributing factors of the Spanish-American War
  • Spain in the Revolutionary War

    • In April 1779, the Spanish joined France in the war, with the Treaty of Aranjuez.
    • In return, the Spanish agreed to join the American War of Independence.
    • The Great Siege of Gibraltar was the first and longest Spanish action in the war, from June 16, 1779 to February 7, 1783.
    • In 1781, the Spanish achieved a decisive victory against the British at the Battle of Pensacola, giving the Spanish control of West Florida.
    • The combined Franco-Spanish invasion of Minorca in 1781 was another Spanish success.
  • The Cuban War of Independence

    • The Cuban War of Independence was an armed conflict against Spain that led to U.S. intervention in Cuba and to the Spanish–American War.
    • The Cuban War of Independence (1895–1898) was the last of three liberation wars that Cuba fought against Spain; the other two being the Ten Years' War (1868–1878) and the Little War (1879–1880).
    • The final three months of the conflict escalated to become the Spanish–American War.
    • The insurrection began on February 24, 1895, with uprisings all across the island, many with limited success.
    • The Spanish-American War was swift and decisive.
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