Back Spanischer Erbfolgekrieg ALS Guerra de Succesión Espanyola AN حرب الخلافة الإسبانية Arabic حرب الوراثه الاسبانيه ARZ Guerra de Socesión Española AST İspaniya mirası uğrunda müharibə Azerbaijani ایسپانیا ورارث ساواشی AZB Вайна за іспанскую спадчыну Byelorussian Вайна за гішпанскую спадчыну BE-X-OLD Война за испанското наследство Bulgarian
| War of the Spanish Succession | |||||||||
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| Part of French–Habsburg rivalry; Anglo-French Wars | |||||||||
 Clockwise, from top left:
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Pro-Bourbon Spain |
 Pro-Habsburg Spain | ||||||||
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Total: 550,000 killed and wounded | ||||||||
The War of the Spanish Succession was a European great power conflict fought between 1701 and 1714. The immediate cause was the death of the childless Charles II of Spain in November 1700, which led to a struggle for control of the Spanish Empire between supporters of the French Bourbons and the Austrian Habsburgs. Charles had named as his heir Philip (Bourbon) of Anjou, a grandson of Louis XIV of France, whose claim was backed by France and most of Spain. His rival, Archduke Charles (Habsburg) of Austria, was supported by the Grand Alliance, whose primary members included Austria, the Dutch Republic, and Great Britain. Significant related conflicts include the Great Northern War (1700–1721) and Queen Anne's War (1702–1713).
Although by 1701 Spain was no longer the predominant European power, its global empire still included the Spanish Netherlands, large parts of Italy, and the Americas. The prospect of a personal union between Spain and France threatened the European balance of power, and so the proclamation of Philip, who already had good prospects of becoming king of France, as king of Spain on 16 November 1700, led to war. The French held the advantage in the early stages but were forced onto the defensive after 1706. Although the Allies continued to advance in northern France, by 1709 Philip had cemented his position in Spain, the ostensible cause of the war.
When Emperor Joseph I died in 1711, Archduke Charles succeeded his brother as Holy Roman Emperor. This meant that a Habsburg victory could now also lead to the creation of an unwelcome personal union, in this case with Austria instead of with France. Recognizing this, the new British government decided it was pointless to continue. Without British subsidies, the remaining Habsburg supporters conceded the throne to Philip in the 1713 Peace of Utrecht, in exchange for his renunciation of any claim to France. This was followed by the treaties of Rastatt and Baden in 1714.
Philip was confirmed as king of Spain but renounced his claim and those of his descendants to the French throne. The Spanish Empire ceded much of its Italian territories to Savoy and Austria, along with the Spanish Netherlands, although it remained largely intact outside Europe. Britain received Gibraltar and Menorca and acquired major trade concessions in the Spanish Americas. For the Dutch, despite attaining their long sought-after Barrier Treaty, the war is seen as marking the beginning of their decline as a significant European power. Although Louis succeeded in placing his grandson on the Spanish throne, France was left financially exhausted.
- ^ Dwyer 2014, p. 14.
- ^ Lynn 1994, p. 894.
- ^ Ostwald 2006, p. 128.
- ^ Vault 2016, pp. 98, 540, 625.
- ^ Vault 2016, p. 454.
- ^ a b c Nimwegen 2020, p. 67.
- ^ Bruijn 2011, p. 129.
- ^ Wilson 2016, p. 461.
- ^ Wilson 2016, p. 460.
- ^ Glete 2001, p. 156.
- ^ Ostwald 2000, p. 664.
- ^ Ostwald 2006, p. 135.
- ^ Rasler 1994, p. 129.
- ^ Craig 1964, p. 7.
- ^ Wijn 1956, p. 509.
- ^ a b c d Clodfelter 2008, p. 74.
- ^ Urlanis 1971, p. 187.
- ^ Levy 2014, p. 90.
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