INTRODUCTION TO

1

WAR OF SPANISH SUCCESSION

• In his will he gave the crown to the French prince Philip of Anjou.

Philip's grandfather, Louis XIV of France, then proclaimed him king of Spain, and declared that France and Spain would be united.

• French power was already feared in Europe and a Grand Alliance of England, Holland, Prussia, and Austria aimed to put the Archduke Charles of Austria on the Spanish throne instead of Philip. War broke out and the French were defeated in several battles. The English general, the Duke of Marlborough (Churchill), and the imperial general, Prince Eugene, commanded the forces of the Grand Alliance.

• The renewed threat of Habsburg world power enabled Louis XIV of France to obtain favourable Peace terms in the Treaty of Utrecht

• His grandson, Philip, became after all king of Spain on the condition that Spain and France would never be united