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1680s-90s Timeline

Early 1683:
Diplomatic tensions and rivalries in Europe were increasing at a rapid pace, and many believed that the continent would soon descend into war. The chief reason for this was the Diplomatic Revolution and its effects. To the surprise of everyone, France and the Habsburgs, including Spain and the Holy Roman Empire, allied in a new coalition called the Catholic League. Poland-Lithuania also joined the new coalition. This Diplomatic Revolution shook up the balance of power immensely, as the two greatest enemies in Europe were now allies. A new alliance was formed in opposition to this, called the Protestant Union. This organization included the countries of Denmark-Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Brandenburg-Prussia. Many Whigs in the English Parliament called on King Charles II to have England join the alliance, but he refused, citing his recent cooperation with Louis XIV in the Franco-Dutch War. Unbeknownst to the Protestants, however, was a secret term of the Catholic alliance. This term stipulated that at a near but unspecified date, France and the Holy Roman Empire would launch a join invasion of the Netherlands and would divide it up in half. The Empire would invade from the East and would take the northern provinces, while the French would be permitted to travel through the Spanish Netherlands and would annex the south.
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