War 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. 

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.

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.