Absolute Enlightenment

This is an idea I've had for a while rolling around in my brain, decided to write it all down in very sketchy quality. Basically, the premise is that, through some kind of miracle or another, Prince William, Duke of Gloucester survives to adult age without being retarded or disabled and succeeds Queen Anne.

July 1708, Wrangelska Palatet, Stockholm

This was it. Their first time meeting each other. William, Prince of Wales, waited with his entourage nervously in the Grand Hall of the magnificent palace, trembling. He had courted women before, something he loved doing, but this was the woman he was going to spend the remainder of his life with, and he'd only seen her in portraits and spoken to her through letters. He was a handsome young man of twenty, and she a beautiful young lady of the same age, and they were both the heirs to their kingdoms thrones, so they were largely in common grounds. However, William still felt remote from her and felt they should spend time getting to know each other. But he knew that being in a happy marriage was a luxury - the unions were for purely political reasons. He liked politics though; it was his favourite subject and one at which he excelled in. He just didn't understand why it had to always be the same, it couldn't change or differ from the norm. He was in the middle of once again contemplating this when he heard footsteps from the stairway above his head and he rushed out to the hall to meet his fiance.

She's beautiful! thought William I just hope she is as agreeable as she looks!

And indeed she was. They were proclaimed and blessed in Stockholm by the letters patent of Princess Ulrika Eleonora's brother Charles XII, King of Sweden, who was away at war, before sailing back to England. They arrived in the Medway that July and were married on the 13th of August at Westminster Abbey. William then took Ulrika on a tour of England from Kent to Oxford, from Bath to Chester. Following this honeymoon, the couple got groovay; their first child, Elizabeth was born in March 1707, and their second child was born in December of that year - it was a boy! They named him George and the country celebrated. Then, in the January of 1708, they were offered by Anne a large apartment in Kensington Palace, which they accepted. The public loved Ulrika, mainly because she would venture outside of the Palace Gardens to talk with the locals and feed to the birds, much to the horror of her husband's staff, such was her naivety having grown up in the relatively different city of Stockholm.

In 1712, Anne took ill with pneumonia, something that was practically uncurable and, despite specialist care, died that July. With this, William was coronated on August 13, exactly seven years after his marriage. His full title, as proclaimed in Parliament that New Year's Day, was;

His Majesty William the Fourth, of Great Britain, France and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith.

His title, and that of his Queen, was to change quite drastically in 1718, but let's not worry about that for now. The King had more pressing matters to attend to.

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But yea, anyway, whadaya'll think? Comments are always always welcome :)
 
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This looks promising, I suppose this means that Charles Frederick becomes King of Sweden instead of the OTL Frederick I. Interesting butterflies will undoubtedly ensue, subscribed.
 
This looks promising, I suppose this means that Charles Frederick becomes King of Sweden instead of the OTL Frederick I. Interesting butterflies will undoubtedly ensue, subscribed.


Thanks for the interest and subscription :)
And yes he would eventually end up on the throne, although I was thinking of a little detour whereby Ulrika and William are King and Queen of Sweden until the nobles grow unhappy with a foreign ruler and threaten to revolt, meaning the two would relinquish the throne to Charles Frederick of Holstein-Guttorp on some sort of conditions that Sweden would then obviously have to break. Or would that not work?
 
The first major happening of William's long reign was the signing of the Treaties of the Balance of Europe, three treaties officially ending the War of the Spanish Succession. They were; the First Treaty of Utrecht, between Spain and Great Britain, the Second Treaty of Utrecht, between France and Great Britain, and the Peace of Baden, between the Holy Roman Empire, France and Great Britain. Two more treaties are sometimes included; the Secret Treaty of Orleans between Habsburg Austria and France and the Treaty of Baden between the Kingdoms of Savoy, France and the Holy Roman Empire. Around ten more treaties between various nations were also conducted in this year, giving it the name The Year of Peace'.

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FIRST TREATY OF UTRECHT

Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the Most Illustrious and Most Potent Prince William, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. and the Most Serene and Most Potent Prince Philip the Fifth, the Catholic King of Spain, concluded at Utrecht the 2/13 Day of July, 1713.

WILLIAM, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. To all and singular to whom these presents shall come, greeting. Whereas a certain treaty of peace and friendship, between us and our good brother PHILIP the Fifth, Catholic King of Spain, was concluded and signed at Utrecht the 2/13 day of this present month, by our ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiaries, who were provided on each part with sufficient authority, in the form and words following:
Whereas it has pleased the Supreme Ruler of all things, after a most grievous war, which for so many years has laid desolate almost the whole Christian world with blood and slaughter, of his divine clemency to dispose the minds of the Princes engaged in the dispute to the thoughts of peace and concord, after they had been so long inflamed with the rage and fury of arms: and whereas the Most Illustrious and Most Mighty Lord William, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, &c. and the Most Serene and Most Mighty Prince Philip the Fifth, by the grace of God, Catholic King of Spain, &c. wish for nothing more heartily, and endeavour nothing more earnestly, than that the ancient bonds of alliance and friendship between the British and Spanish nations should not only be renewed, but also more strongly knit together by fresh engagements of amity and interest on both sides, and transmitted indissoluble to all posterity; in order at last to finish happily so wholesome and so very desirable a work, they have nominated on each side their ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiaries, and have instructed them with sufficient orders; that is to say, the King of Great Britain on his part, the Right Reverend John, by divine permission, Bishop of Bristol, Keeper of the Privy seal of England, Privy Counsellor to His Royal Majesty, Dean of Windsor, and Register of the most noble Order of the Garter; and the most noble, most illustrious, and most excellent Lord Thomas Earl of Strafford, Viscount Wentworth of Woodhouse, and of Staineborough, Baron of Raby, Privy Counsellor to His Royal Majesty, His ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the High and Mighty Lords the States General of the United Provinces, Colonel of His Majesty's royal regiment of dragoons, lieutenant general of His Majesty's armies, First Commissioner of the Admiralty of Great Britain and Ireland, and Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter*. And the Catholic King on his part, the most illustrious and most excellent Lord Francis Maria de Paula, Tellez, and Giron, Duke of Ossuna, Count of Urvegna, Marquis of Pennafiel, Grandee of Spain of the first class, High Chamberlain of the King, great notary of the kingdoms of Castile, one of the Commanders, and Grand Clavero of the Order of Callatrava, and likewise commander of the Order of St. Jago, one of the grandees of the chamber to the Catholic King Philip the Fifth, General Commander in his armies, and Captain of the first troop of his Majesty's life guards; and the most illustrious and most excellent Lord Isidore Cazado de Azevedo de Rosalez, Marquis of Monteleone, Viscount of Alcazar Real, Counsellor of his Catholic Majesty in the supreme council, one of the Honourable Chamberlains of the King: which ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiaries have consented and agreed to the following conditions of peace and friendship, to the same effect as there which were made at the courts of London and Madrid, by ministers on each side.

ARTICLE I

That there be a Christian universal peace, and a perpetual and true friendship, between the Most Illustrious and Most Mighty Prince William, Queen of Great Britain, and the Most Serene and Most Mighty Prince Philip the Fifth, Catholic King of Spain, and their heirs and successors, and also the kingdoms, states, dominions, and provinces of both parties, wheresoever situated, and their subjects; and that the same be so sincerely preserved and cultivated, that neither party do, under any colour whatever, endeavour to attempt any thing to the destruction or detriment of the other, or yield any aid, by what name soever it be called, to there who attempt the same, or who endeavour to do any damage, neither may or ought they to help them by any means. On the contrary, their Royal Majesties shall be obliged the one to promote the advantage, honour, and interest of the other, and to direct their councils to that end with all care, that by mutual proof of friendship, the peace which is now made may daily receive new additions of strength.

ARTICLE II

But whereas the war which is so happily ended by this peace, was at the beginning undertaken, and was carried on for so many years with the utmost force, at immense charge, and with almost infinite slaughter, because of the great danger which threatened the liberty and safety of all Europe, from the too close conjunction of the kingdoms of Spain and France. And whereas to take away all uneasiness and suspicion, concerning such conjunction, out of the minds of people, and to settle and establish the peace and tranquility of Christendom by an equal balance of power (which is the best and most solid foundation of a mutual friendship, and of a concord which will be lasting on all sides) as well the Catholic King as the Most Christian King have consented, that care should be taken by sufficient precautions, that the kingdoms of Spain and France should never come and be united under the same dominion, and that one and the same person should never become King of both kingdoms. And to this end his Catholic Majesty has for himself, his heirs, and successors, most solemnly renounced all manner of right, title, and pretension to the crown of France, in the form and words following;

THE KING OF SPAIN - DON PHILIP, by the grace of God, King of Castille, Leon, Arragon, the Two Sicilies, Jerusalem, Navarre, Granada, Toledo, Valentia, Galicia, Majorca, Seville, Sardinia, Corduba, Corsica, Murcia, Jaen, the Algarves, Algezira, Gibraltar, the Canary Islands, the East and West Indies, the islands and terra firma of the ocean, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, Brabant, and Milan, Count of Habspurg, Flanders, Tirol, and Barcelona, Lord of Biscay and Molina, &c. By the account and information of this instrument and writing of renunciation and relinquishment, and that it may remain for a perpetual remembrance, I do make known and declare to kings, princes, potentates, commonwealths, communities, and particular persons, which now are, and shall be in future ages: That it being one of the principal positions of the treaties of peace, depending between the crowns of Spain and of France, with that of England, for the rendering it firm and lasting, and proceeding to a general one, on the maxim of securing for ever the universal good and quiet of Europe, by an equal weight of power, so that many being united in one, the balance of the equality desired, might not turn to the advantage of one, and the danger and hazard of the rest; it was proposed, and insisted on by England, and it was agreed to on my part, and on that of the King my grandfather, that for avoiding at any time whatever the union of this monarchy with that of France and the possibility that it might happen in any case, reciprocal renunciations should be made by me, and for all any descendants, to the possibility of succeeding to the monarchy of France, and on the part of those princes, and of all their race, present and to come, to that of succeeding to this monarchy; by forming a proper project of abdication of all rights which might be claimed by the two royal houses of this, and of that monarchy, as to their succeeding mutually to each other; by separating, by the legal means of my renunciation, my branch from the royal stem of France, and all the branches of France from the stem of the blood royal of Spain; by taking care at the same time, in pursuance of the fundamental and perpetual maxim of the great balance of power which is so necessary in Europe. If an event occurs whereby the heir to both dominions is of the same person, the Duke of Savoy, and his sons and defendants, being males, born in constant lawful marriage, are to enter upon the succession of this monarchy of the French Kingdom; and in default of his male line, the Prince Amadeo of Carignan, and his sons and descendants, being males, born in constant lawful marriage; and in default of his line, Prince Thomas, brother of the Prince of Carignan, his sons and descendants, being males, born in constant lawful marriage, who, as descendants of the Infanta Donna Catharina, daughter of Philip the Second, and being expressly called, have a clear and known right, supposing the friendship and perpetual alliance, which the Duke of Savoy, and his descendants, are to solicit and obtain from this crown; it being to be believed, that by this perpetual and never-ceasing hope, the needle of the balance may remain invariable, and all the powers, wearied with the toil and uncertainty of battles, may be amicably kept in an equal poise.

THE DUC D'BERRIE; Most High and Most Powerful Prince Charles, Son of France, Duke of Berry, of Alençon and of Angoulesme, Viscount of Vernon, Andely and Gisors, Lord of the castellanies of Rignac and Merpins desires, which moved the Most Christian King Philip of Spain's grandfather, and Philip of Spain himself, to procure an end to the bloody and obstinate war, which has afflicted Europe so many years, and to give a due relief to our vassals, who were overwhelmed with such labours and fatigues, as were not to be supported but by their invincible courage and constant love and fidelity, made us use all possible endeavours to obtain a general peace with the powers confederated against the two crowns, preferring that to our interest: and whereas, having begun to treat of peace with the King of England, it was agreed between the three crowns of Spain, France, and England, that I should, in my own and my descendants name, renounce the right which we have or might have to the crown of France, together with the rest —and in the form contained in the act, the tenor whereof is as follows:
"Charles, Son of France, by the Royal Inclusion," &c.
[The Renunciation is inserted above.]
And whereas the renunciation and the act above inserted, being by my command communicated to the States of my kingdom, who, for the greater validity of the said renunciation and act, were assembled in this place, were received and approved by them in all its parts, and they; by their representation of the ninth of November last, did desire me, in my royal wisdom, to command that the exclusion of the Houses of France and Austria, and the order of succession in the House of Savoy after all my descendants (which are contained in the abovementioned act of renunciation) should be established as a fundamental law: and whereas, because this method is as useful and necessary to the benefit of the general peace of Europe, the quiet and comfort of my vassals, as to the common good of these kingdoms, my counsellors did therefore advise me to it, I thought it good, and determined to command, as I do command, that every thing contained in the abovementioned act be observed, fulfilled, and executed for ever, as it is contained therein: and in consequence of the said act, I and all my descendants are for ever excluded from the succession to the crown of France, so that we never can succeed to the said crown, under any pretence, at any time, or on any accident or occasion whatsoever; and all the Princes of the Blood of France, and all of their race, either in being or that shall be, are by the said act excluded reciprocally from the monarchy of Spain; and all the princes, as well males as females, of the House of Austria, that are either now in being or that shall be, are in the same manner excluded, so that neither the one nor the other can ever in any case, either yet thought of, or not thought of, succeed to the monarchy of Spain, or to the provinces that now are or hereafter may be united to it: and in case of failure of my royal person, and of my lawful descendants, as well male as female, I do declare, that the Duke of Savoy ought to succeed to this monarchy, and his sons, and male descendants, coming from the male line in constant and lawful wedlock; and in failure of his male line, the Prince Amadeus of Carignan, and his sons, and male descendants from the same line, born in constant and lawful wedlock; and on failure of his male line, Prince Thomas, brother of the Prince of Carignan, his sons, and male descendants from the same line male, born in constant lawful wedlock; all whom, as descending from the Infanta, the Lady Catharine, daughter of Don Philip the Second, and by this express vocation have an evident and acknowledged right to the succession of this monarchy. It is my will that this order of succession be for ever observed, fulfilled, and executed, according to the letter, as is above contained, notwithstanding the law of partition, commonly called Partida, which speaks of the form and manner of succeeding in these kingdoms, and notwithstanding any other laws, ordinances, statutes, or customs whatsoever, which are or may be contrary thereunto,

THE DUC D'ORLEANS Monseigneur Philippe le duc d'Orléans le Moyne le Fevre de France desires, which moved the Most Christian King Philip of Spain's grandfather, and Philip of Spain himself, to procure an end to the bloody and obstinate war, which has afflicted Europe so many years, and to give a due relief to our vassals, who were overwhelmed with such labours and fatigues, as were not to be supported but by their invincible courage and constant love and fidelity, made us use all possible endeavours to obtain a general peace with the powers confederated against the two crowns, preferring that to our interest: and whereas, having begun to treat of peace with the King of England, it was agreed between the three crowns of Spain, France, and England, that I should, in my own and my descendants name, renounce the right which we have or might have to the crown of France, together with the rest —and in the form contained in the act, the tenor whereof is as follows:
"Phillipe, Le Moyne, Le Fevre, by the Royal Inclusion," &c.
[The Renunciation is inserted above.]
And whereas the renunciation and the act above inserted, being by my command communicated to the States of my kingdom, who, for the greater validity of the said renunciation and act, were assembled in this place, were received and approved by them in all its parts, and they; by their representation of the ninth of November last, did desire me, in my royal wisdom, to command that the exclusion of the Houses of France and Austria, and the order of succession in the House of Savoy after all my descendants (which are contained in the abovementioned act of renunciation) should be established as a fundamental law: and whereas, because this method is as useful and necessary to the benefit of the general peace of Europe, the quiet and comfort of my vassals, as to the common good of these kingdoms, my counsellors did therefore advise me to it, I thought it good, and determined to command, as I do command, that every thing contained in the abovementioned act be observed, fulfilled, and executed for ever, as it is contained therein: and in consequence of the said act, I and all my descendants are for ever excluded from the succession to the crown of France, so that we never can succeed to the said crown, under any pretence, at any time, or on any accident or occasion whatsoever; and all the Princes of the Blood of France, and all of their race, either in being or that shall be, are by the said act excluded reciprocally from the monarchy of Spain; and all the princes, as well males as females, of the House of Austria, that are either now in being or that shall be, are in the same manner excluded, so that neither the one nor the other can ever in any case, either yet thought of, or not thought of, succeed to the monarchy of Spain, or to the provinces that now are or hereafter may be united to it: and in case of failure of my royal person, and of my lawful descendants, as well male as female, I do declare, that the Duke of Savoy ought to succeed to this monarchy, and his sons, and male descendants, coming from the male line in constant and lawful wedlock; and in failure of his male line, the Prince Amadeus of Carignan, and his sons, and male descendants from the same line, born in constant and lawful wedlock; and on failure of his male line, Prince Thomas, brother of the Prince of Carignan, his sons, and male descendants from the same line male, born in constant lawful wedlock; all whom, as descending from the Infanta, the Lady Catharine, daughter of Don Philip the Second, and by this express vocation have an evident and acknowledged right to the succession of this monarchy. It is my will that this order of succession be for ever observed, fulfilled, and executed, according to the letter, as is above contained, notwithstanding the law of partition, commonly called Partida, which speaks of the form and manner of succeeding in these kingdoms, and notwithstanding any other laws, ordinances, statutes, or customs whatsoever, which are or may be contrary thereunto,

AND THE SIGNERS OF THIS TREATY hereby decree that through express permission of their leaders they are ambassador plenipotentiary to Europe for that their nation and the whole of their subjects agree to never accept the thrones of France or of Spain, and that they shall never support one who aims to do so.

THE KING LOUIS, by the grace of God, King of France and Navarre; to all present and to come, greeting. The prosperities which it has pleased God to heap upon us during the course of our reign, are so many motives to us to apply ourselves, not only for the time present, but also for the future, to the happiness and tranquillity of the people whereof Divine Providence has entrusted to us the government. His impenetrable judgments let us only see, that we ought not to place our confidence neither in our forces, nor in the extent of our dominions, nor in a numerous posterity, and that these advantages, which we receive from his goodness alone, have no other solidity than what it pleases him to give them. But as it is however his will, that the Kings, whom he chuses to lead his people, should foresee afar off the events able to produce disorders, and the most bloody wars; that they should make use of the lights which his divine wisdom pours upon them; we fulfil his designs, when, in the midst of the universal rejoicings of our kingdom, we look upon as a possible thing, a sad futurity, which we pray God to avert for ever. At the same time that we accept the will of the late King of Spain; that our most dear and most beloved son the Dauphin renounces his lawful right to that crown in favour of his second son the Duke of Anjou, our most dear and most beloved grandson, instituted by the late King of Spain, his universal heir; that this Prince, known at present by the name of Philip the Fifth, King of Spain, is ready to enter his kingdom, and to answer the earnest wishes of his new subjects. This great event does not hinder us from carrying our views beyond the time present, and when our succession appears the best established, we judge it to be equally the duty of a King, and of a Father, to declare for the future our will conformably to the sentiments which these two qualities inspire in us. Wherefore, being persuaded that the King of Spain, our grandson, will always preserve for us, for our House, for the kingdom wherein he is born, the same tenderness, and the same sentiments whereof he has given us so many proofs, that his example, uniting his new subjects to ours, is going to form a perpetual amity, and the most perfect correspondence between them; we should think likewise that we do him an injustice, whereof we are incapable, and occasion an irreparable prejudice to our kingdom, if we should hereafter look upon as a stranger, a Prince, whom we grant to the unanimous requests of the Spanish nation.
For these causes, and other great considerations us hereunto moving, of our special grace, full power, and royal authority, we have resolved, declared, and ordained, and by these presents, signed with our hand, we do resolve, declare, and ordain, we will, and it is our pleasure, that our most dear and most beloved grandson the King of Spain do preserve for ever the rights of his birth, in the same manner as if he made his actual residence in our kingdom; wherefore our most dear and most beloved only son the Dauphin, being the true and lawful successor and heir of our crown, and of our dominions, and after him our most dear and most beloved grandson the Duke of Burgundy, if it should happen (which God forbid) that our said grandson the Duke of Burgundy should come to die without male children, or that those which he should have in good and lawful marriage should die before him, or if the said male children should not leave any male children after them, born in lawful marriage, in such case our said grandson the King of Spain, making use of the rights of his birth, is to be the true and lawful successor to our crown, and to our dominions, notwithstanding he should be at that time absent, and residing out of our said kingdom; and immediately after his decease, his heirs male begot in lawful marriage, shall come into the said succession, notwithstanding that they may be born, or that they may dwell out of our kingdom; we will that for the abovesaid causes, neither our said grandson the King of Spain, nor his children, being males, be deemed and reputed less able and capable to enter upon the said succession, or upon others which may fall to them within our said kingdom. On the contrary, we intend that all rights, and generally other things whatever, which may at present or for the future belong and appertain to them, be and remain preserved whole and entire, as if they did reside and dwell constantly within our kingdom to the time of their decease, and as if their heirs had been natives and inhabitants of the kingdom; having for this purpose, as far as there is or shall be need, enabled and dispensed with them, as we do enable and dispense with them by these presents. And so we give it in command to our beloved and trusty counsellors, the members of our court of parliament, and chamber of our accounts at Paris, presidents and treasurers general of France, in the office of our exchequer established in the same place, and to all other our officers and justices to whom it shall appertain, that they cause these presents to be registered, and our said grandson the King of Spain, his children and descendants, being male, born in lawful marriage to enjoy and use the contents thereof, fully and peaceably, any thing to the contrary notwithstanding; to which, by our grace and authority as abovesaid, we have derogated and do degrogate; for this is our pleasure. And that this may be a matter firm and lasting for ever, we have caused our seal to be put to these presents. Given at Versailles, in the month of December, in the year of our Lord 1700, and of our reign the 58th. Signed LEWIS; and on the fold, By the King, Phelipeaux. And sealed with the great seal on green wax, with strings of red and green silk.
Registered, the King's attorney general being heard, and requiring the same, in order to their being executed according to their form and tenor, pursuant to the act of this day. At Paris, in parliament, the first of February, 1701.
(Signed) Dongois.
His said Catholic Majesty hereby renews and confirms the most solemn renunciation above mentioned, made on his part; and as it has obtained the force of a general and fundamental law, he engages again, in the most sacred manner possible, that he will observe, and take care that the same be observed inviolably, and he will likewise use his utmost diligence, and provide with the greatest earnestness, that the aforesaid renunciations may be irrevocably observed, and put in execution, as well on the part of Spain as on the part of France, forasmuch as while they subsist in their full force, and are faithfully kept on both sides, as also the other transactions relating thereto, the crowns of Spain and France will be so separated and divided from each other, that they can never hereafter be united in one.

ARTICLE III

That there be a perpetual amnesty on both sides, and oblivion of all things which have been in an hostile manner committed in any place, or by any way, on one side and on the other, during the late war. So that neither on account thereof, nor by reason or under pretence of any other matter, shall the one any way do or suffer to be done any enmity to the other, or give any molestation, directly or indirectly, under colour of right, or by way of fact.

ARTICLE IV

All and singular the prisoners on each side, of what state or condition foever they be, shall, immediately after the ratification of this present treaty, be restored to their former liberty, without any ransom, paying only such debts as they may have contracted during their being prisoners.

ARTICLE V

Moreover, for giving a greater and more lasting strength to the peace which is restored, and to this friendship, which is never to be violated, and for cutting off all occasions of distrust, which may at any time arise from the established right and order of the hereditary succession to the crown of Great Britain, and the limitation thereof by the laws of Great Britain (made and enacted in the reign of the late King William the Third, of glorious memory, and in the reign of the Queen Anne of recent glorious decease) to the issue of the above-named Queen and therfore to the issue of the present King, William the Fourth, and in failure thereof to the Most Serene Princess Sophia, Electress Dowager of Brunswick, and her heirs in the Protestant line of Hanover. That therefore the said succession may be well and securely preserved according to the laws of Great Britain, the Catholic King sincerely and solemnly acknowledges the above-mentioned limitation of the succession to the kingdom of Great Britain; and declares and engages, on the faith and word of a King, and on the pledge of his and his successors honour, that the same is, and shall for ever be approved and accepted by him and his heirs and successors; and, under the same tie of the word of a King and his honour, the Catholic King does promise, that no person besides the said Queen, and her successors, according to the order of limitation, established by the laws and statutes of Great Britain, shall ever be acknowledged or reputed by him, or by his heirs and successors, to be King or Queen of Great Britain.

ARTICLE VI

The Catholic King doth further promise, as well in his own name as in that of his heirs and successors, that they will not at any time disturb or molest the said King of Great Britain, his heirs and successors, of the Protestant line, as aforesaid, being in possession of the crown of Great Britain, and the dominions subject thereunto; neither will the aforesaid Catholic King, or any of his successors, give at any time any aid, succour, favour, or counsel, directly or indirectly, by land or by sea, in money, arms, ammunition, warlike instruments, ships, soldiers, seamen, or in any other manner whatever, to any person or persons, whosoever they be, who on any cause or pretence should hereafter endeavour to oppose the said succession, either by open war, or by encouraging sedition and forming conspiracies against such Prince and Princes, who are in possession of the throne of Great Britain, by virtue of the acts of parliament there made, or against that Prince or Princess to whom the succession to the crown of Great Britain shall belong, according to the acts of parliament, as above said.

ARTICLE VII

That the ordinary distribution of justice be restored and open again through the kingdoms and dominions of each of their Royal Majesties, so that it may be free for all the subjects on both sides, to prosecute and obtain their rights, pretensions, and actions, according to the laws, constitutions, and statutes of each kingdom. And especially if there be any complaints concerning injuries or grievances, which have been done contrary to the tenor of the treaties, either in time of peace, or at the beginning of the war lately ended, care shall be taken that the damages be forthwith made good, according to the rule of justice.

ARTICLE VIII

That there be a free use of navigation and commerce between the subjects of each kingdom, as it was heretofore, in time of peace, and before the declaration of this late war, in the reign of Charles the Second, of glorious memory, Catholic King of Spain, according to the treaties of friendship, confederation, and commerce, which were formerly made between both nations, according to ancient customs, letters patents, cedulas, and other particular acts; and also according to the treaty or treaties of commerce which are now, or will forthwith be made at Madrid. And whereas, among other conditions of the general peace, it is by common consent established as a chief and fundamental rule, that the exercise of navigation and commerce to the Spanish West Indies should remain in the same state it was in the time of the aforesaid King Charles the Second; that therefore this rule may hereafter be observed with inviolable faith, and in a manner never to be broken, and thereby all causes of distrust and suspicion concerning that matter may be prevented and removed, it is especially agreed and concluded, that no licence; nor any permission at all; shall at any time be given, either to the French, or to any nation whatever, in any name, or under any pretence, directly or indirectly, to sail, to traffic in, or introduce negroes, goods, merchandizes, or any things whatsoever, into the dominions subject to the crown of Spain in America, except what may be agreed by the treaty or treaties of commerce abovesaid, and the rights and privileges granted in a certain convention, commonly called El Assiento de Negros, whereof mention is made in the twelfth article; except also whatsoever the said Catholic King, or his heirs or successors, shall promise by any contract or contracts for the introduction of negroes into the Spanish West Indies, to be made after that the convention or the Assiento de Negros above-mentioned shall be determined, but no other assistance of trade be attempted between these Kingdoms until they do approach oneanother with said offer.

ARTICLE IX

It is further agreed and concluded as a general rule, that all and singular the subjects of each kingdom shall, in all countries and places, on both sides, have and enjoy at least the same privileges, liberties, and immunities, as to all duties, impositions, or customs whatsoever, relating to persons, goods, and merchandizes; ships, freight, seamen, navigation and commerce; and shall have the like favour in all things as the subjects of France, or any other foreign nation, the moss favoured, have, possess, and enjoy, or at any time hereafter may have, possess, or enjoy.

ARTICLE X

The Catholic King does hereby, for himself, his heirs and successors, yield to the Crown of Great Britain the full and entire propriety of the town and castle of Gibraltar, together with the port, fortifications, and forts thereunto belonging; and he gives up the said propriety to be held and enjoyed absolutely with all manner of right for ever, without any exception or impediment whatsoever. But that abuses and frauds may be avoided by importing any kind of goods, the Catholic King wills, and takes it to be understood, that the above-named propriety be yielded to Great Britain without any territorial jurisdiction and without any open communication by land with the country round about. Yet whereas the communication by sea with the coast of Spain may not at all times be safe or open, and thereby it may happen that the garrison and other inhabitants of Gibraltar may be brought to great straits; and as it is the intention of the Catholic King, only that fraudulent importations of goods should, as is above said, be hindered by an inland communications. it is therefore provided that in such cases it may be lawful to purchase, for ready money, in the neighbouring territories of Spain, provisions and other things necessary for the use of the garrison, the inhabitants, and the ships which lie in the harbour. But if any goods be found imported by Gibraltar, either by way of barter for purchasing provisions, or under any other pretence, the same shall be confiscated, and complaint being made thereof, those persons who have acted contrary to the faith of this treaty, shall be severely punished. And His Britannic Majesty, at the request of the Catholic King, does consent and agree, that no leave shall be given under any pretence whatsoever, to Moors, to reside or have their dwellings in the said town of Gibraltar; and that no refuge or shelter shall be allowed to any Moorish ships of war in the harbour of the said town, whereby the communication between Spain and Ceuta may be obstructed, or the coasts of Spain be infested by the excursions of the Moors. But whereas treaties of friendship and a liberty and intercourse of commerce are between the British and certain territories situated on the coast of Africa, it is always to be understood, that the British subjects cannot refuse the Moors and their ships entry into the port of Gibraltar purely upon the account of merchandising. His Majesty the King of Great Britain does further promise, that the free exercise of their religion shall be indulged to the Roman Catholic inhabitants of the aforesaid town.

ARTICLE XI

Moreover the Catholic King doth in like manner for himself, his heirs and successors, yield to the crown of Great Britain the whole island of Minorca, and doth transfer thereunto for ever, all right, and the most absolute dominion over the said island, and in particular over the town, castle, harbour, and fortifications of the bay of Minorca, commonly called Port Mahon, together with the other ports, places, and towns situated in the aforesaid island. But it is provided, as in the above-written article, that no refuge or shelter shall be open to any ships of war of the Moors in Port Mahon, or in any other port of the said island of Minorca, whereby the Spanish coasts may be infested by their excursions: and the Moors and their ships shall only be allowed to enter the island aforesaid on account of traffic, according to the agreement of treaties. The King of Great Britain promises also on his part, that if at any time it shall happen that the island of Minorca, and the ports, towns, and places therein situated, be by any means hereafter alienated from the crown of his kingdoms, the preference shall be given to the crown of Spain, before any other nation whatever, of redeeming the possession and propriety of the aforesaid island. His Royal Majesty of Great Britain moreover engages, that she will take care, that all the inhabitants of the said island, both ecclesiastical and secular, shall safely and peaceably enjoy all their estates and honors, and the free use of the Roman Catholic religion shall be permitted: and measures shall be taken for preserving the aforesaid religion in that island, provided the same be consistent with the civil government and laws of Great Britain. Those likewise who are now in the service of his Catholic Majesty, shall enjoy their honors and estates, though they continue in the said service , and it shall be lawful for any person, who is desirous to leave the said island, to sell his estate, and pass freely with the value thereof into Spain.

ARTICLE XII

Moreover the Catholic King doth in like manner for himself, his heirs and successors, yield to the crown of Great Britain the whole islands of Ibiza and Formencara, and doth transfer thereunto for ever, all right, and the most absolute dominion over the said island, and in particular over the town, castle, harbour, and fortifications of the bay of Ibiza, commonly called Port Ibiza, together with the other ports, places, and towns situated in the aforesaid island. But it is provided, as in the above-written article, that no refuge or shelter shall be open to any ships of war of the Moors in Port Ibiza, or in any other port of the islands, whereby the Spanish coasts may be infested by their excursions: and the Moors and their ships shall only be allowed to enter the island aforesaid on account of traffic, according to the agreement of treaties.

ARTICLE XIII

The Catholic King doth furthermore hereby give and grant to her Britannic Majesty, and to the company of her subjects appointed for that purpose, as well the subjects of Spain, as all others, being excluded, the contract for introducing negroes into several parts of the dominions of his Catholic Majesty in America, commonly called El Pacto de el Assiento de Negros, for the space of thirty years successively, beginning from the first day of the month of May, in the year 1713, with the same conditions on which the French enjoyed it, or at any time might or ought to enjoy the same, together with a tract or tracts of land to be allotted by the said Catholic King, and to be granted to the company aforesaid, commonly called La Compañia de el Assiento, in some convenient place on the river of Plata (no duties or revenues being payable by the said company on that account during the time of the above-mentioned contract, and no longer); and this settlement of the said society, or those tracts of land, shall be proper and sufficient for planting, and sowing, and for feeding cattle for the subsistence of those who are in the service of the said company, and of their negroes; and that the said negroes may be there kept in safety till they are sold; and moreover, that the ships belonging to the said company may come close to land, and be secure from any danger.

ARTICLE XIV

Whereas the late Queen of Great Britain has continually pressed and insisted with the great earnestness, that all the inhabitants of the principality of Catalonia, of whatever state or condition they may be, should not only obtain a full and perpetual oblivion of all that was done in the late war, and enjoy the entire possession of all their estates and honours, but should also have their ancient privileges preserved safe and untouched; the Catholic King, in compliance with the said late Queen of Great Britain, hereby grants and confirms to all the inhabitants of Catalonia whatsoever, not only the amnesty desired, together with the full possession of all their estates and honors, but also gives and grants to them all the privileges which the inhabitants of both Castilles, who of all the Spaniards are the most dear to the Catholic King, have and enjoy, or may hereafter have and enjoy.

ARTICLE XV

And whereas the Catholic King, at the request of his Royal Britannic Majesty, has been pleased to yield the kingdom of Sicily to his Royal Highness Victor Amadeus Duke of Savoy, and by the treaty this day entered into between his Royal Catholic Majesty, and his Royal Highness of Savoy, does make a cession of the said kingdom, her Royal Majesty of Great Britain aforesaid promises and engages that she will take great care that in default of the heirs male of the House of Savoy, the possession of the aforesaid kingdom of Sicily shall revert again to the crown of Spain; and her abovesaid Royal Britannic Majesty doth further consent, that the kingdom of Sicily may not, under any pretence, or in any manner whatever, be alienated or given to any prince or state, unless to the Catholic King of Spain, and to his heirs and successors. And whereas the Catholic King hath made known to her Royal Britannic Majesty, that it would be both reasonable in itself, and acceptable to him, that not only the subjects of the kingdom of Sicily, although they may reside in the dominions of Spain, and be in the service of his said Catholic Majesty, but also the Spaniards and other subjects of Spain, who may perhaps have estates and honors in the aforesaid kingdom of Sicily, should, without any diminution, entirely enjoy their said estates and honors, and should in no wife, under pretence of personal absence out of the said kingdom, be troubled or disquieted: And whereas the abovesaid Catholic King freely promises likewise on his part, that he will consent, that the subjects of the said kingdom of Sicily, and other subjects of his said Royal Highness, if they should chance to have estates and honors in Spain, or other the dominions belonging to Spain, shall in like manner, without any diminution, entirely enjoy the same, and that they shall in no wife he troubled or disturbed under pretence of personal absence; therefore his Royal Britannic Majesty promises, that she will endeavour, and will give instructions to his ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiaries at Utrecht, that they interpose the most effectual good offices, that the Catholic King and his Royal Highness may mutually agree concerning this matter, and may take care and provide for the same, in such manner as shall be most commodious on both sides.

ARTICLE XVI

Their Royal Majesties on both parts renew and confirm all treaties of peace, friendship, confederation, and commerce, made heretofore, and concluded between the crowns of Great Britain and Spain, and the said treaties are hereby renewed and confirmed, in as full and ample manner as if they were now particularly here inserted; that is to say, as far as they are not found to be contrary to the treaties of peace and commerce which were the last made and signed. And especially by this treaty those agreements, treaties, and conventions, are confirmed and strengthened, which relate as well to the exercise of commerce and navigation in Europe, and elsewhere, as to the introduction of negroes into the Spanish West Indies, and which either are already made, or will forthwith be made between both nations at Madrid. And whereas it is insisted on the part of Spain, that certain rights of fishing at the island of Newfoundland belong to the Guipuscoans, or other subjects of the Catholic King, his Britannic Majesty consents and agrees, that all such privileges as the Guipuscoans and other people of Spain are able to make claim to by right, shall be allowed and preserved to them.

ARTICLE XVII

His Most Catholic Majesty agress that, at the request of His Royal Britannic Majesty, the Territory of Florida, in the Viceroyalty of New Spain in the New World is lawfully ceded completely and utterly to the Kingdom of Great Britain. The laws there are no longer of Spanish concern and they retain no extra rights in the region other than an allowance to fish in the West and Southern Coast's Seas.

ARTICLE XVIII

Whereas in the convention for making a suspension of arms from the 11/22 day of the month of August last past, for four months, between the King of Great Britain and the most Christian King; which the Catholic King also approved by his consent, and does hereby further approve; and which by another convention was prolonged to the 11/22of the month of April of this present year, among other conditions it is expressly stipulated, in what cases the ships, merchandizes, and other moveables taken on one side and the other, should either become prize to the captor, or be restored to the former owner; it is therefore agreed, that in those cases the conditions of the aforesaid suspension of arms shall remain in full force, and all things relating to such captures, made either in the British and Northern seas, or elsewhere, shall be well and truly executed according to the tenor thereof. But if it happen through inadvertency, or imprudence, or any other cause, that any subject of either of their aforesaid Royal Majesties do or commit any thing, by land, sea, or on fresh waters, in any part of the world, whereby this present treaty be not observed, or whereby any particular article of the same hath not its effect, this peace and good correspondence between the Queen of Great Britain and the Catholic King shall not therefore be interrupted or broken, but shall remain in its former strength, force, and vigour. And that subject only shall be answerable for his own fact, and shall suffer such punishment as is inflicted by law, and according to the prescriptions of the law of nations. But if (which God forbid) the disputes which are composed should at any time be renewed between their said Royal Majesties, and break out into open war, the ships, merchandizes, and goods, both moveable and immoveable, of the subjects on both sides, which shall be found to be and remain in the ports and dominions of the adverse party, shall not be confiscated, or suffer any damage, but the space of six months, on the one part and on the other, shall be granted to the said subjects of each of their said Royal Majesties, in order to their selling the aforesaid things, or any other their effects, or carrying away and transporting the same from thence, whitherfoever they please, without any molestation.

NOTE - The Kings, Princes, and States, mentioned in the following articles, and all others who shall be nominated on either side, by common consent, before the ratifications are exchanged, or within six months after, shall, for a mark of mutual friendship, be included and comprehended in this treaty, their Royal Majesties aforenamed being persuaded that they will approve all the settlements made and established by it.

ARTICLE XIX

LISBON - Whatsoever shall be contained in the treaty of peace next entered into between his Sacred Royal Majesty of Spain, and his sacred Royal Majesty of Portugal, with the previous approbation of her Royal Majesty of Great Britain, shall be deemed an essential part of this treaty, in the same manner as if it was transcribed here word for word. Moreover her Sacred Royal Majesty of Great Britain offers herself to be a surety or guarantee of the aforesaid agreement of peace, which she promises to fulfil according to the substance and words thereof, to the end that it may be observed the more sacred and inviolable.

TURIN - The treaty of peace this day entered into between his Royal Catholic Majesty and his Royal Highness the Duke of Savoy, is specially included in and confirmed by this treaty, as an essential part thereof, as fully as if it was inserted therein word for word, her Royal Majesty of Great Britain expressly declaring that she will be obliged by the terms of the promise and guaranty therein made.

STOCKHOLM, PARMA, FLORENCE - The moss Serene King of Sweden, together with his realms, dominions, provinces, and rights, and the most Serene Princes the Great Duke of Tuscany, and the Duke of Parma, together with their people and subjects, and the liberties and advantages of their subjects in matters of trade, shall be included in this treaty in the most effectual manner

VENICE - The most Serene Republic of Venetia, for the sake of the neutrality which during the war they exactly observed between the parties in hostility, and for the sake of many acts of humanity performed by it (the dignity, power, and security of the estates and dominions thereof remaining ever inviolable) shall be particularly comprehended and included in this treaty, in the best manner possible, as a common friend, and one to whom their Royal Majesties, at all times, desire to repay the offices of a faithful friendship, according to the exigencies of the said republic.

GENOA - It has been thought good to comprehend in the present treaty, the most Serene Republic of Genoa, which, by a constant neutrality during the war, hath cultivated the ancient friendship with the crowns of Great Britain and Spain, that the benefit of this peace may be extended to every thing that concerns that republic, and the subjects thereof may in all things, and every where, fully enjoy the same liberty of commerce hereafter, as they enjoyed formerly, and during the life of Charles the Second Catholic King of Spain.

ARTICLE XX

His Most Christian Majesty agrees that, on advice from his ambassadors and from other Kings of Europe, that the following actions are needed to take place; the passing of Sardinia to Tuscany, and of Elba to Genoa, and of the Eastern Coast of Naples to Venetia, and to Parma half of the Duchy of Milan and to Venice the other half and Savoy the North, and to Sweden the islands of Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean, and to Portugal the island of Hispaniola and a slither of Chile in Brazil. Hispania itself is left untouched, as is the Colonies in South America and the Philippines, as well as the island of Majorca in the Mediterranean. To Britain, the town of Gibraltar, the Bahamas, the Territory of Florida and the islands of Ibiza and Minorca and Formentara are ceded by Spain.



*AWhig, and much more forceful than OTL.

Did I just write half of this?? And I've still gotanother three treaties to go, but they'll probably be overviews.
 
THE SECOND TREATY OF UTRECHT - By the treaties' provisions, the Louis XIV's grandson Philippe, duc d'Anjou was recognized as King of Spain (as Felipe V), thus confirming the succession as stipulated in the will of the late King Carlos II. However, Philippe was compelled to renounce for himself and his descendants any right to the French throne, despite some doubts as to the lawfulness of such an act. In similar fashion various French princelings, including most notably the Duc de Berri (Louis XIV's youngest grandson) and the duc d'Orléans (his nephew), renounced for themselves and their descendents any claim to the Spanish throne.

In North America, France ceded to Great Britain its claims to the Hudson Bay Company territories in Rupert's Land, Newfoundland, and Acadia. France retained Cape Breton Island.

In Europe, it led to Calais being ceded by France to Great Britain, and the ceding of Toulon to Genoa and the Grand Duchy of Alsace being created.

800px-Europe%2C_1700_-_1714.png


Europe before the War of the Spanish Succession.​
 
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Since Slottet Tre Kronor (the royal castle) burned 1697, the court was housed in Wrangelska Palatset (Wrangel's palace) from 1697 until 1754, when Stockholms slott (the new royal castle) was finished.

90_3.jpg
 
Does this mean that Britain and Sweden are allies? If so, I doubt that Denmark will re-enter the Great Nordic War after Poltava 1709, and if Denmark does not, Hannover (which is not in personal union with Britain and thus much weaker) will probably not, and if those two stay out, Prussia will probably stay out too.

This means that Sweden's only enemy of concern is Russia. The army that fought the Danes at Helsingborg 1710 (which was then moved to the continent to fight Saxony, Denmark, Prussia and Hannover and lost there) can be used against Russia, which might prevent the fall of Riga, especially if the entire Swedish navy can be concentrated against Russia instead of being pulled out of the eastern Baltic to fight the Danes.

The Great Nordic War might have a very different conclusion. Even after Poltava, Sweden still held Estonia, Livonia, Polish Livonia and Courland. The Russians were only in control of Ingria.
 
By the way, in July 1708, King Karl XII is doing battle at Holowczyn (then in Poland-Lithuania, now in Byelorussia), not far from Minsk, against the Russians.
 
Does this mean that Britain and Sweden are allies? If so, I doubt that Denmark will re-enter the Great Nordic War after Poltava 1709, and if Denmark does not, Hannover (which is not in personal union with Britain and thus much weaker) will probably not, and if those two stay out, Prussia will probably stay out too.

This means that Sweden's only enemy of concern is Russia. The army that fought the Danes at Helsingborg 1710 (which was then moved to the continent to fight Saxony, Denmark, Prussia and Hannover and lost there) can be used against Russia, which might prevent the fall of Riga, especially if the entire Swedish navy can be concentrated against Russia instead of being pulled out of the eastern Baltic to fight the Danes.

The Great Nordic War might have a very different conclusion. Even after Poltava, Sweden still held Estonia, Livonia, Polish Livonia and Courland. The Russians were only in control of Ingria.

OH THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS!
And thankyou for pointing out those inaccuracies, I'll change them now :)
 
Holding court at Wrangelska Palatset would be Hedvig Eleonora, the Kings grandmother (age 72 but healty at the time, she lived until 1715), but the Kings approval by letter from Poland would of course be required. I think Ulrika Eleonora would be removed from the succession if she married a foreign ruler, but I will have to check the succession laws and probable other candidates to be sure.
 
If Ulrika Eleonora abdicates as heir when marrying a foreign ruler, which I find plausible, then Karl Fedrik of Holstein-Gottorp (born 1700) is next in line for the throne of Sweden.

OTL, he married the daughter of Peter the Great, Anna, 1725 and became the father of Catherine the Greats husband, Karl Peter Ulrich or Peter III.
 
If Ulrika Eleonora abdicates as heir when marrying a foreign ruler, which I find plausible, then Karl Fedrik of Holstein-Gottorp (born 1700) is next in line for the throne of Sweden.

OTL, he married the daughter of Peter the Great, Anna, 1725 and became the father of Catherine the Greats husband, Karl Peter Ulrich or Peter III.

That's right, although I was thinking of it landing on the head of William and Ulrika, but with the local Dukes unhappy, it returning to Sweden and making Karl Fredrik King.
And it's interesting to think that I could do something with Russia earlier on than I thought... :)
 
I'm curious as to the reason behind ceding Britain Ibiza and Formentera in addition to Menorca. Doesn't this weaken the Spanish grip on Majorca somewhat, being flanked by British islands? Not to mention that control of Ibiza makes it easier for Britain to throttle Spanish access to Palma (capital of Majorca).

I'm not complaining. Just curious.

More interested to see Calais swap hands. That was...unexpected...
 
I'm curious as to the reason behind ceding Britain Ibiza and Formentera in addition to Menorca. Doesn't this weaken the Spanish grip on Majorca somewhat, being flanked by British islands? Not to mention that control of Ibiza makes it easier for Britain to throttle Spanish access to Palma (capital of Majorca).

I'm not complaining. Just curious.

More interested to see Calais swap hands. That was...unexpected...

It wad designed to be unusual - Calais will probably fall to France within the Seven Years War, and I was planning on it becoming a small city-state with dependency on the British Crown surviving to the modern day :p

And that was the plan of the British, to increase British influentalism in the Med ;)
And I'm glad for your curiosity. Thank you :)
 
Either write "Wrangelska palatset" or "Wrangel's palace", th emix now makes no sense. The literal translation of "Wrangelska" is "Wrangelish". The palace was built by Field Marshal Count Carl Gustaf Wrangel. :)

Depending on wether you have Karl XII killed or not in the Great Nordic War (if Britain is allied with Sweden, an invasion of Norway is not needed if Denmark does not enter the war), I guess Ulrika Eleonora could inherit the throne.

In 1708, most would expect Karl XII to return after the wars, find a wife and sire heirs, upon which Ulrika Eleonora would be pushed far down the order of succession - so being the heir in 1708 would mean little to the people then - she might not even abdicate because of this.

If you have Karl XII killed without his own heirs, then Ulrika Eleonora would become Queen of Sweden, and William her Prince Consort, while William would be King of Britain and Ulrika Eleonora his Queen Consort there. I guess the couple would need to travel back and forth between the two realms.

Naming their children heirs to the throne in Britain, and Karl Fredrik as the heir of Ulrika Eleonora would probably satisfy most people - the Swedes would not want a boy raised in Britain as King.

Karl XII might even approve and jsut not get married, even if he does survive. He seemed pretty much uninterested in the whole thing and is one of the few rulers around which there are no rumours of extra-martial relations and bastards.
 
It wad designed to be unusual - Calais will probably fall to France within the Seven Years War, and I was planning on it becoming a small city-state with dependency on the British Crown surviving to the modern day :p

And that was the plan of the British, to increase British influentalism in the Med ;)
And I'm glad for your curiosity. Thank you :)

Britain OTL took Menorca because it wanted a vaguely central port (it didn't have Malta yet) from which to base itself as it policed the Med. It has that here too. The best reason I can think of for taking Ibiza too is because you want to make the Spanish grip on Majorca untenable, but this is a peace treaty not the middle of the war, so if they wanted Ibiza...why not just demand Majorca too?

Am interested to see the ramifications of this all coming up. I am similarly interested by your plans for Calais, though I'd have thought that if it could survive as an independent city-state, it could survive as a British outpost? Surely by being annexed to the British state (as it was 300 years before) it's actually more protected than as a neutral state? British or neutral, the French aren't going to rest until it's been reincorporated into France, after all...It'll be interesting to see how committed the British are to holding it, too, as their response to being in personal union with Hanover was to rapidly grow tired of having to commit money and troops to defending territory when the British modus operandi was instead to always be on the offensive.

Still, looking forward to the next updates...
 
Either write "Wrangelska palatset" or "Wrangel's palace", th emix now makes no sense. The literal translation of "Wrangelska" is "Wrangelish". The palace was built by Field Marshal Count Carl Gustaf Wrangel. :)

Depending on wether you have Karl XII killed or not in the Great Nordic War (if Britain is allied with Sweden, an invasion of Norway is not needed if Denmark does not enter the war), I guess Ulrika Eleonora could inherit the throne.

In 1708, most would expect Karl XII to return after the wars, find a wife and sire heirs, upon which Ulrika Eleonora would be pushed far down the order of succession - so being the heir in 1708 would mean little to the people then - she might not even abdicate because of this.

If you have Karl XII killed without his own heirs, then Ulrika Eleonora would become Queen of Sweden, and William her Prince Consort, while William would be King of Britain and Ulrika Eleonora his Queen Consort there. I guess the couple would need to travel back and forth between the two realms.

Naming their children heirs to the throne in Britain, and Karl Fredrik as the heir of Ulrika Eleonora would probably satisfy most people - the Swedes would not want a boy raised in Britain as King.

Karl XII might even approve and jsut not get married, even if he does survive. He seemed pretty much uninterested in the whole thing and is one of the few rulers around which there are no rumours of extra-martial relations and bastards.

Changed.

Okay...

Hmmm....

Right...

Interesting...

So, if I have Karl XII killed in about 1718, and not at war, and I have Ulroka Eleanora as Queen, and then when she dies about 1755 Karl Fredrik becoming King. Would that work?

And I have another question. If I have William die about 1745 and Ulrika in 1755, assuming I could make Ulrika keep the throne of Great Britain, would she become Queen of Great Britain and Swrden?

Thankyou for everything, by the way :)
 
Britain OTL took Menorca because it wanted a vaguely central port (it didn't have Malta yet) from which to base itself as it policed the Med. It has that here too. The best reason I can think of for taking Ibiza too is because you want to make the Spanish grip on Majorca untenable, but this is a peace treaty not the middle of the war, so if they wanted Ibiza...why not just demand Majorca too?

Am interested to see the ramifications of this all coming up. I am similarly interested by your plans for Calais, though I'd have thought that if it could survive as an independent city-state, it could survive as a British outpost? Surely by being annexed to the British state (as it was 300 years before) it's actually more protected than as a neutral state? British or neutral, the French aren't going to rest until it's been reincorporated into France, after all...It'll be interesting to see how committed the British are to holding it, too, as their response to being in personal union with Hanover was to rapidly grow tired of having to commit money and troops to defending territory when the British modus operandi was instead to always be on the offensive.

Still, looking forward to the next updates...

Thankyou :)
And I see what you mean about Majorca now... Should I change it so that Britain only keeps Menorca or what? My area of history is really more Ancient and British Empire 1815 onwards...

On Calais, I also see what you mean. Although it was purely because it would have very interesting ramifications to the present day. I see what you mean about the unwillingness to defend its dependencies, but wouldn't Calais, seeing as it is considerably closer to Britain, have different opinioms about it? If I could populate it with British aristocrats and make it a holiday town, could I coax the rich Parliament into protecting it? :p
 
You missed an 's' in 'palatset' ;)

OTL, Karl Fredrik was probably the rightful heir - Ulrika Eleonora claimed that her sister, Karl Fredrik's mother, had not gotten the permission of the Riksdag to marry, and that he was thus removed from the succession, while he claimed that her father and his maternal grandfather, Karl XI, introducing absolute monarchy had negated that need - only the King's approval had been necessary.

When she was crowned Queen, he demanded to be styled as "His Royal Highness" and be named heir, instead Ulrika Eleonora named her husband, Fredrik of Hessen, as heir. Since she cannot name William as heir of Sweden in this case, I think she and Karl Fredrik could come to agree that she being Queen and him named heir is fair enough (he was born 1700 and still very young when Karl XII died OTL).

Karl Fredrik had a party in the riksdag, funded by Russian money, to name him King. The time after Karl XI and XIIs absolute monarchy was filled with corruption and waste - the Riksdag sessions became so long that people needed money to sustain themselves during it, and France and Russia paid the members of the Riksdag hefty bribes for their influence.

It is quite possible that Ulrika Eleonora would not feel the need to abolish absolute monarchy in Sweden when she has the support of William's Great Britain (and the Great Nordic War probably was not as large a disaster as OTL, since the Alliance with Great Britain would keep Denmark-Norway, Hannover and Prussia out).

Here's my suggestion.

An alliance is constructed between Great Britain and Sweden upon the marriage in July 1708. This means the Swedish navy can concentrate in the eastern Baltic, and the nascent Russian navy might suffer a defeat. The famine in Sweden 1709-1711 will be less hard since imports will be open.

Sweden still loses at Ljesnaja 1708 and Poltava 1709. Karl XII flees to the Ottoman Empire.

The army raised to fight the Danes in Scania 1710 is shipped over to Riga and prevents the city from falling to the Russians in 1710. I am guessing that upon hearing that a new army was raised and that the Ottomans would not attack Russia, Karl XII would ride through Europe as he did 1714 and arrive to take command in Riga in summer 1710 - and probably defeat the Russian army outside Riga and then the army outside Reval. The rest of the 1500 men with him in the Ottoman Empire would arrive to Stralsund in early 1711.

Then the situation is as follows.

Russia has Ingria, and probably a substantial army there. Sweden has a small army in Finland, and a slightly larger one in Estonia. The Ottoman-Russian relations probably keep detoriating (OTL Peter invaded the Ottomans 1712 and probably had to bribe his way out after being surrounded, barely escaping alive). It is hard to say if Peter would venture to attack the Ottomans if he controls neither Reval nor Riga, and have a Swedish army in Estonia.

My guess? Karl XII was never one for defensive action, and the army was trained and focused on the offensive. It was hard to supply an army in Estonia or Livonia, so I think the Swedes would attack the Russians in Ingria 1711. How this goes, if the Ottomans get involved, if the Swedes can get credits through access to the financial institutions in London, is anyone's guess. If you want to, you can have Karl XII killed, but the Swedes win the battle. Ulrika Eleonora could then accept Peter's peace proposal where he keeps the mouth of the Neva and his new city, while Sweden keeps the rest of its Baltic Empire. If Sweden loses the battle, and the Ottomans are quiet, I suppose Peter could continue the war to take Estonia and Livonia too, and over-run Finland.
 
Thankyou :)
And I see what you mean about Majorca now... Should I change it so that Britain only keeps Menorca or what? My area of history is really more Ancient and British Empire 1815 onwards...

On Calais, I also see what you mean. Although it was purely because it would have very interesting ramifications to the present day. I see what you mean about the unwillingness to defend its dependencies, but wouldn't Calais, seeing as it is considerably closer to Britain, have different opinioms about it? If I could populate it with British aristocrats and make it a holiday town, could I coax the rich Parliament into protecting it? :p

It's up to what you want for your TL. I would suggest that Britain just keep Menorca, but if you want to show that Britain not only wants to control the Med but also cripple the Spanish Mediterranean presence then give Britain the entire Balearics...but then you would need to explain why the British want that. But it is your TL after all, so do what you want. You can after all have Britain take Majorca in a future war if you change your mind, or Britain have to give it back to Spain (if they really lost hard at sea).

As for Calais...hmm. Again, it's your TL and people here are generally happy to overlook stuff like this for an interesting story, so don't feel obliged to change it but...the weights are strongly stacked against the taking (and keeping) of Calais. It doesn't have the same importance to Britain as it did 300 years ago, when it was the major entry point of British goods to Europe and thus generated huge revenues in trade - Britain now trades where it wants to so it doesn't need an economic gateway like that anymore. And you have to consider that France is going to really, really badly want Calais back - it will attack and attack and attack to regain that city, and will likely be willing to trade most of its empire in return for regaining it (the same applies for how willing France would be to cede it to Britain in the first place).

I don't want to say it's impossible, but at this stage in history, I'd say Britain regaining Calais is...unlikely...so long as France is a major power. Actually keeping Calais would probably require the French to really fall apart in the long term as a strong opponent.
 
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