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The Third Treaty of Versailles

On December 30th, French and Austria completed the 3rd Treaty of Versailles. It was a re-commitment of the previous two treaties regarding the current war, with a few additional amendments.

France would maintain financial subsidies to Austria and commit an additional 35,000 forces to the war against Prussia.

Austria maintains their commitment to allowing a French Client state in the Netherlands to be nominally headed by Phillip Duke of Parma. France, who had previously been allowed to occupy Ostend and Nieuport, would also be granted permission to occupy Dunkirk.

Austria will assist in provided up 3,000 voluntary sailors, and/or permit French recruitment of that number for French vessels operating in the Mediterranean. Austria will also commit a 6 ship squadron consisting of the Santa Barbara (70), and five frigates to Mediterranean operations against British fleets and shipping.

France agrees to a Naval Defensive pact against the Ottoman Empire, should they begin to make aggressive moves against Austria

After Prussia is defeated, Austria will remain in the war if the Prussian allied German provinces are yet to be defeated, and consent to French bargaining over Hanover during the peace. The western warring German Provinces currently being Hanover, Hesse-Kassel, Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel, and Schamburg-Lippe

On the defeat of Prussia, France will obtain the Canton of Neuchatel, presumptive of it being passed on to Switzerland. The Duchy of Cleaves west of the Rhine will be incorporated into the proposed client state made from the former Austrian Netherlands. Saxony will, as in the prior treaties attain Magdeburg and Halberstadt, as well as Cottbus and Halle and other lands bordering the Electorate of Saxony as specified.

As per the prior treaty Austria will attain Silesia, the County of Glatz and the Duchy of Crossen. Russia will attain East Prussia. Sweden will attain Prussian Pomerania. Prussia shall be reduced the Magravate of Brandenburg and all other Prussia lands will be divided among various German Princes.

The Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin formally enters into the alliance against Prussia and will attain some lands bordering their Duchy as specified.


Spain finds a seat at the Table

In a secret part of the treaty signed at the same time, newly crowned Charles III of Spain made a treaty of Maria Theresa and Louis XVI. In exchange for financial compensation, Austria would give up all claims on the Italian Duchies he desired to hold for his sons. Charles also agreed not to join Naples and Sicily to Spain, and if Phillip should preside over the Netherlands, his third son Ferdinand would hold them in regency until of age.

Spain while remaining neutral was receptive to the Family compact idea proposed by France, and alarmed at Britain’s conquest of Louisberg and concerned they might move on Spanish colonies at some future point if they succeeded against France. He would see Spain and France rise at the cost of the British. While he still desired to wait and see how the war would continue to develop, he committed to start making preparations for war, if France would assist in a conquest of Portugal if they do not abandon the British and to take Gibraltar from the British. Spain would also assist in anti-British policies in the Mediterranean between Spain, Naples and Sicily preceding any formal declaration.

Over the months of January, February and March in 1759; the new Treaty would see its way to affirmation by Russia and Sweden.

Thus ends the year of 1758 during the Nine Years War.