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__NOTOC__[[File:Europe c. 1700.png|thumbnail|350px|left|Figure 1. Europe at the time of the War of the Spanish Succession.]]The War of the Spanish Succession was a devastating war that occurred from 1702-1715. It embroiled all of the Europe's major powers of Europe, including Britain, France, Austria, Spain, Prussia and other German kingdoms, Italian kingdoms, Portugal, and the Netherlands. The main result of the war is that it prevented France from unifying itself with Spain, after the death of Charles II from the Habsburg dynasty. However, more than resolving this possible unification, it created a new order of power that had global consequences.

====War and its Outcomes of the War====The war was initially sparked by the death of Charles II, the last Habsburg monarch on the throne of Spain(Figure 1). Charles II had promised the throne to Philip, Duke of Anjou, who was the grandson of Louis XIV. With the death of Charles and Philip being proclaimed king in Spain, Louis XIV embarked on taking the rest of the Spanish territories, in particular particularly in Spanish Netherlands. This was seen as an attempt by Louis to unify much of western Western Europe under his controland solidifying France's dominance in Europe. This triggered an alliance between the Dutch, England, Prussia, Hanover, other German states, and Portugal. On the other side, France's Louis was allied with Bavaria, Cologne and the dukes of , Mantua , and Savoy's dukes. However, although Savoy later switched sides. <ref>For more on the background leading up to the war, see: Falkner, J. (2015) <i>The War of the Spanish succession 1701-1714.</i> Barnsley, South Yorkshire, Pen & Sword Military.</ref>

England was ably led in on the battlefield by the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene of Savoy. Due to a falling out, Prince Eugene had switched his alliance from France to the England's one led by England. With perhaps Europe's two most able generals, under Marlborough and Prince Eugene, decisive victories were achieved that reversed French gains, where they . They were forced to retreat from Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy. In particular, the British relied less on its monarchy, and parliament played a more active role in the war. By 1708, France was ready to make terms. HoweverNevertheless, by 1711, things had changedBritish demands proved onerous, as the Duke of Marlborough fell out with Britain wanted Louis to send his own army to depose his English backers and the rise of Archduke Charles, own grandson from the Habsburg's in Austria, changed the situation, where his rise threatened to bring Spain back under him. Additionally, the alliance against France found difficulty fighting throne in Spain. This led to an eventual series of treaties, starting in 1713 (Treaty of Utrecht) and then later the treaties of Rastatt and Badenwar to drag on.

The treaties effectively kept Spain under Louis' grandsonHowever, by 1711, things had changed, where now as the House Duke of Bourbon ruled, although effectively it could not unit Marlborough fell out with Spain. Furthermore, France his English backers and Spain were forced to give up a series the rise of territoriesArchduke Charles from the Habsburg's in Austria changed the situation, including Spanish Netherlands and Naples in Europewhere his rise threatened to bring Spain back under him. In effect, it diminished the New World, Newfoundland was given to appetite in Europe for continuing the British forceswar. EffectivelyAdditionally, the waralliance against France found difficulty fighting in Spain itself, according where the territory and fighting proved more difficult. This led to the parties an eventual series of treaties that accepted ended the treatieswar, kept starting in 1713 (Treaty of Utrecht) and then later the balance treaties of power Rastatt and Baden.<ref>For more on the alliances and war leaders in Europethe war, in particular Marlborough's role, see: Dorrell, where France N. (2015) <i>Marlborough’s other army: the British Army and Spain retain their desire for a Bourbon kingthe campaigns of the First Peninsula War, but that power was not as strong as desired by Louis1702-1712.</i> Century of the soldier 2. Solihull, as it had to give up territoriesHelion.</ref>

==LongThe treaties effectively kept Spain under Louis' grandson, where now the House of Bourbon ruled, although it also meant it could not unite with Spain. Furthermore, France and Spain were forced to give up territories, including the Spanish Netherlands and Naples in Europe. Other smaller territories such as Gibraltar were lost. In the New World, Newfoundland was given to the British forces. Effectively, the war, according to the parties that accepted the treaties, kept the balance of power in Europe, where France and Spain retained their desire for a Bourbon king. Still, that power was not as strong as Louis initially desired, as it had to give up territories. The war could have been more of a disaster for France. Still, by 1711-Term Impact==13 they were in a better position to negotiate.<ref>For more on the treaties related to the war, see: Linda Frey & Marsha Frey (eds.) (1995) <i>The treaties of the War of the Spanish Succession: a historical and critical dictionary.</i> Westport, Conn, Greenwood Press.</ref>

====Long-Term Impact====[[File:Fort-william-the-headquarters-of-the-british-east-india-company-in-kolkata-india.jpg|left|thumbnail|Figure 2. The headquarters of the British East India Company in Fort William. The company benefited from gaining British dominance in places such as India soon after the war.]]While , in principalprinciple, the war maintained a balance in European politics among the powerpowers, the reality was different. First, the new United Kingdom that had formally united Scotland with England had emerged as a global power, in strong part , thanks to the war and its aftermath. Britain gained a number of several key territories, particularly in the New World , such as Newfoundland , and access to trade along and areas where the French had once dominated. Additionally, they controlled Gibraltar, taking it from Spain (and which they still have to this day). However, rather than mainly weakening their main enemy, France, the war significantly weakened the Dutch, where they were straddled by large debts. This now allowed Britain to take over many trade opportunities, in Africa and North America, that they once controlled. The rise of Britain as a commercial and territorial empire had essentially accelerated due to the war's consequences.

For the DutchHowever, rather than mainly weakening their main enemy, France, the war dragged for a long time and significantly weakened the population of three million could not cope with a Dutch, where large debtdebts straddled them. In essenceThis now allowed Britain to take over many trade opportunities in Africa, North America, the Dutch had been very influential and in European affairs particular in India and the 17th century, but after this war east that influence had declined sharply the Dutch once controlled. Britain's rise as their maritime a commercial and territorial empire and trading prowess declined had essentially accelerated due to the debts and cost of the war to them's consequences. In effectfact, despite being on the side that gained rise of the most from British India East Company, for instance, greatly hastened after this time, particularly as the warDutch East India Company's endingfortunes began to wane soon after the war (Figure 2).<ref>For more on the long-term impact on Britain, see: Hattendorf, J.B. (1987) <i>England in the War of the Spanish Succession: a study of the Dutch saw significant losses in their overall influence English view and economic prowessconduct of grand strategy, 1702-1712.</i> Modern European history. New York, Garland Pub.</ref>

For France, the war seemed to go disastrous in the first few yearsDutch, but by the end of the war they were in dragged for a stronger position long time, and despite losses in North America, they did not lose the bulk population of their coloniesthree million could not cope with a large debt. What may have weakened France was more to do with In essence, the monarchy Dutch had been very influential in European affairs in France having become too centralized and strongthe 17th century. This created greater distance between the French government and French peopleStill, where over time after this distance proved devastating war, that influence had declined sharply as their maritime empire, and helped lead trading prowess declined due to the French Revolutionwar's debts and cost. In facteffect, despite being on the side that gained the most from the war's ending, the later Seven Year War Dutch saw significant losses in their overall influence and American Revolution likely contributed economic prowess.<ref>For more to on the decline of Francewar's royal familyeffect on Holland, see: Satsuma, S. The flexibility of (2013) <i>Britain and colonial maritime war in the parliamentary systemearly eighteenth century: silver, howeverseapower, which did not depend on a strong ruler, such as and the system in BritainAtlantic.</i> Woodbridge, maySuffolk ; Rochester, howeverNY, had an effect through demonstrating its effectiveness in conducting campaigns by changing leadership and not not being prone to impulsive monarchsThe Boydell Press. </ref>

==Effects For France, the war seemed to go disastrous in the first few years, but by the end of the war, they were in a stronger position, and despite losses in North America, they did not lose the bulk of their colonies. What may have weakened France was more to do with France's monarchy had become too centralized and strong. Additionally, the war's costs had a long-term consequence, like France, after this war, began to find it more difficult to pay for its conflicts, incurring more debt. This created greater distance between the French government and the French people, where over time, this distance proved devastating and helped lead to the French Revolution. In fact, the later Seven Year War and American Revolution likely contributed more to the decline of France's royal family. The flexibility of the parliamentary system, however, which did not depend on States Today==a strong ruler, such as the system in Britain, may have an effect and influence through demonstrating its effectiveness in conducting campaigns by changing leadership and not being prone to impulsive monarchs.<ref>For more on France in the 18th century, see: Dhondt, F. (2015) <i>Balance of power and norm hierarchy: Franco-British diplomacy after the Peace of Utrecht.</i> Legal history library volume 17. Leiden, The Netherlands ; Boston, Brill Nijhoff.</ref>

The effects of For Spain, the war are evident todaybrought a large territorial loss in Europe, although its overseas empire remained intact. In Gibraltar, Never again did Spain continues arise to want be as influential as it was in European affairs in the territory back, where it is today still a British overseas territory16th and 17th centuries. The rise of Britain after main effect was the war also enabled it to become the largest empire in history. In effectnew ruling house, by dominating sea trade, after the collapse of the DutchBourbons, Britain brought new ideas in government and administration that had a way developed in France, allowing Spain to finance more rapidly modernizing its overseas empirepolitical infrastructure in the 18th century. This meant that after this briefly restored Spanish power, although it never gained its dominance before the war no major global conflict did not involve Britain to some levelin European affairs. Spain also became more centralized, as they now became where King Philip united the dominant trade crowns of Aragon and territorial empire across much of Castile.<ref>For more on Spain after the globewar, see: Roberts, J. Today, this has meant many countries have effectively taken up the legacies M. (1997) <i>The Penguin history of British imperial ruleEurope. In India</i> London, for instanceEngland ; New York, N.Y., legacies on educationUSA, governmentPenguin Books, and language are evidentpg. This is also true in the United States, despite divergence in governance such as in the parliamentary and congressional systems that evolved17. </ref>

====Effects on States Today====The effects of the war helped to lead to are evident today. In Gibraltar, Spain wants the downfall of France's monarchyterritory back, as where it increasingly became isolated from its population and more centralizedis still a British overseas territory. High financial costs The rise of Britain after the war also led to debt that made enabled it difficult for France to recover frombecome the largest empire in history. In France, and elsewhereparticular, Britain was better able to focus on the gradual move toward parliamentary systems began to hastenEast after this war, as devastating wars showed the weakness of monarchy led statesEast India Company arose as a commercial and later territorial power. In effect, by dominating sea trade, after the road to Western EuropeDutch's democracies hastened due collapse, Britain had a way to finance its overseas empire. This meant that no major global conflict did not involve Britain to some level after this war, as the British Empire now became the costliness dominant trade and changes brought about from wars such as the War territorial empire across much of the Spanish Successionglobe. FurthermoreToday, this has meant many countries have effectively taken up the War legacies of the Spanish Succession showed that devastating wars could be created by simply having a monarch die without heirsBritish imperial rule. In India, for instance, legacies on education, government, and language are evident. Creating systems This is also true in other countries that can withstand changes Britain was able to any individual family or households proved expand into as its overseas power increased, including in Africa and Asia.<ref>For more on the legacy of Britain, connecting back to be more attractive as the European Enlightenment continuedWar of the Spanish Succession, see: Satsuma, S. The states we see today (2013) <i>Britain and colonial maritime war in Western Europe reflect the evolutionary changes that were shaped by early eighteenth century: silver, seapower and the warAtlantic.</i> Woodbridge, Suffolk ; Rochester, NY, as its financial and human costs began to lead to different forms of statesThe Boydell Press.</ref>

==Summary==At first, the War of the Spanish Succession appeared The war helped to be similar lead to other wars that dominated Europe in the late 17th century. Howeverdownfall of France's monarchy, the long-term nature of the conflict as it increasingly became isolated from its population and lack of clear resolution for many years more centralized. High financial costs also led to debt that made it being costly difficult for some countries, in particular the Dutch France to recover from. In France and Spain, while others greatly benefited, such as Britain. This helped to shape global affairs that developed elsewhere in the next few centuriesWestern Europe, particularly as Britain came to dominate global trade and world affairs. In the long-term, howeverFrench Revolution became influential, it was the failure of European monarchies gradual move toward parliamentary systems began to easily resolve an issue such hasten, as succession without launching major devastating wars that helped to weaken the influence of monarchies throughout Europeshowed monarchical-led states' weakness. This process had started in Britain earlierIn effect, during the English Civil War, but the War of the Spanish Succession and later Seven Years War helped road to hasten the demise of the French monarchy. Ultimately, the rise of parliaments or representative Western Europe's democracies happened slowly in Europe, but hastened due to the Wars of costliness and changes brought about by wars such as the Spanish Succession were a key step in that process as they created the conditions for monarchies to loose their absolute appealWar.

Furthermore, the Spanish Succession War showed that devastating wars could be created by simply having a monarch die without heirs. Creating systems that can withstand changes to any individual family or household proved to be more attractive as the European Enlightenment continued. The states we see today in Western Europe reflect the evolutionary changes that were shaped by the war, as its financial and human costs began to lead to different forms of states that governed with less dependence on monarchs.<ref>For more on the rise of Western Europe's democracies, and the long road, see: Waltraud Schelkle, Georg Elwert, & Martin Kohli (eds.) (2000) <i>Paradigms of social change: modernization, development, transformation, evolution.</i> Frankfurt/Main, Campus-Verl. [u.a.], pg. 106.</ref> ====Summary====At first, the Spanish Succession War appeared to be similar to other wars that dominated Europe in the late 17th century. However, the long-term nature of the conflict and lack of clear resolution for many years led to it being costly for some countries, particularly the Dutch and Spain, while others greatly benefited, such as Britain. This helped shape global affairs that developed in the next few centuries, as Britain came to dominate global trade and world affairs. In the long-term, however, European monarchies failed to easily resolve an issue such as succession without launching major wars that helped to weaken the influence of monarchies throughout Europe. This process had started in Britain earlier, during the English Civil War, but the War of the Spanish Succession and later Seven Years War helped to hasten the French monarchy's demise. The rise of the French Republic would be another critical step in Europe to removing the influence of monarchies, but the War of the Spanish Succession shaped this process in many ways. Some of Western Europe's last remaining territorial conflicts, such as the debate regarding Gibraltar, is also a legacy from this war. <youtube>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoyeET_F6i0</youtube> <div class="portal" style="width:85%;">====Related DailyHistory.org Articles====*[[Why Did American Colonists Become United Against England?]]*[[Why did the Congress of Vienna fail to stop future European wars?]]*[[What did Prussia’s victory in the Franco-Prussian War mean for Europe?]]*[[Why did the Italian Renaissance End?]]*[[American Revolution Top Ten Booklist]]</div>====References====<references/> [[Category:Wikis]][[Category:Spanish History]][[Category:Military History]][[Category:18th Century History]][[Category:British History]] Updated December 3, 2020