War of the Spanish Succession

The War of the Spanish Succession, 1701 to 1714, was a European great power conflict. The death of Charles II of Spain in November 1700 without children led to a succession crisis between Philip of Anjou, whose claim was supported by his grandfather, Louis XIV of France, and Archduke Charles of Austria, backed by the Grand Alliance. Related conflicts include the Great Northern War and Queen Anne's War in North America.

Although no longer dominant in Europe, the Spanish Empire remained a global power when Charles died in 1700. This meant its acquisition by France or Austria threatened the European balance of power, and Philip's proclamation as king on 16 November 1700 triggered war. However, who ruled Spain was arguably less important than the division of its territories, an issue increasingly prominent as the war progressed.

By 1709, although the Grand Alliance had forced France onto the defensive, Philip had secured his position in Spain. When Archduke Charles succeeded his brother as Holy Roman Emperor in 1711, the new British government began negotiating their withdrawal from the war. The loss of British military and financial support forced their allies to agree to the 1713 Peace of Utrecht, followed by the treaties of Rastatt and Baden in 1714.

Philip was confirmed as King of Spain but renounced his rights in the French royal line of succession. Most Spanish possessions in Italy were ceded to Savoy or to Austria, the latter also acquiring the Austrian Netherlands. Britain retained the key ports of Gibraltar and Menorca and now replaced the Dutch Republic as the leading European naval and commercial power, the latter thereafter declining as a major force. Although France was left financially exhausted, the installation of a Bourbon on the Spanish throne achieved its long-envisioned goal of breaking the Habsburg monarchy's encirclement of its borders.