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Based on teh discussions here. Interst seems to have vaned in that, but Ive written the first segment, for all its worth. If there is furthermore no interst by the "Collective" to contribute ideas, Ill just usurp the TL ;) But well see. Here's the first installment.


It's a Royal Knockout!


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Part 1: The War of the Spanish Partition

In 1698, the issue of Spanish Succession had long loomed over Europe. At this point, the majority of Europe had been nearly constantly at war with France and the Ottoman Empire. France was the 300 pound gorilla of the time: In the just recently finished War of the Grand Alliance (also called the Nine Years War of War of the Palatinate Succession) it stood alone against the HRE with nearly all its states, including Austria and Brandenburg-Prussia, Great Britain, Spain, Sweden, Savoy and the Dutch Republiuc, and while not decisively so, for the most part it had won. It was the time of the Sun King, Louis XIV, in France, and the kingdomr eally was at the zenith of its power. Yet in the long run, while France won nearly all wars of the time (and as said, for Europe it it was a near-constant fight against French dominance), it gained relatively little compaed to what it could have won, and compared to the ressources invested. Louis XIV was overly aggressive, and often di dnot even bother with the most basic formalities of the time, like declaring a proper casus belli. He did not need to, after all, he was the Sun King! But of course, it made France few friends.

Of course Louis XIV did have a reason for his aggressive behaviour. As good standing as France was, it felt itself encircled by the Habsburgs, with Spain to the west and the HREGN to the East. The prospect of Habsburg reunification (and with Charles II childless that prospect had hung over Europe for decades now) thus made France understandably nervous. On the other side, the Habsburg position also was well understandable. There was after all a reason they had intramarried for so long: Psychologically (so to say), they considered their domains the domains of ONE House, House Habsburg. That, in a certain sense, came even before considerations of those realms. Hence, going after the territories of the other branch once it has died out was not just a matter of politcial expansionism, and idneed would not be seen as a matter of expansion at all – more as a matter of defending Habsburg domains. This was also why Austria, despite being clearly in the inferior position vis a vis France rejected time and time again all compromises IOTL, because it felt itself so much to be in the right.

Both France and Austria had a claim to the throne of Spain: In France, the Dauphin, because Louis XIV was married to Maria Theresa of Spain, Daughter of King Philip IV of Spain (and hence sister of his successor, Charles II). In Austria, the Emperor Leopold because his mother was Maria Anna of Spain, daughter of King Philip III of Spain (father and precedessor of Philip IV). As in such cases succession was carried by proximity of blood, the Dauphin, as the nephew of the last king, had the dynastically senior claim. However, by Maria Tehresia’s marriage treaty, she renounced all rights to the Spanish Succession. Yet however, that was seen as invalid, as Spain never fulfilled its end of the treaty, paying her dowry. Of course, though, Austria insisted that the renouncment still was valid.

Thus, the issue was well worth a war for both sides, yet with the destructive War of the Grand Alliance just ended, neither side really wanted one. This time, Austria showed way less diplomatic skills, as as said they felt it was their godgiven right to inheirt all of the Spanish Empire. However, this was a prospect Austria’s allies in the wars so far, the Sea Powers (England and the Netherlands) did not like at all. For reasons of the balance of power, they wanted Austria and Spain seperated. As it was, so did France. Ideally, France wanted a French or at least Bourbon Spain, but breaking the Habsburg encirclement was still better than nothing. Hence, England and France in 1698 signed the First Partition Treaty. In it, a compromise candidate was found: Joseph Ferdinand, Heir of Bavaria. His mother’s mother was another sister of Charles II, Margaret Theresia. Margaret Theresia had married Emperor Leopold, but had bore him no sons, only a daughter, Maria Antionia, who in turn ahd married the Prince-Elector of Bavaria. And the offspring of that marriage was Joseph Ferdinand.

If you now need a graph, Wiki has one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:War_of_the_Spanish_Succession_family_tree.jpg

It was the weakest claim to the Spanish throne, certainly, but comparatively weak Bavaria made for a good compromsie candidate. In Compensation, the Dauphin was to receive Sicily, Naples and Lorraine (the Duke of Lorraine would be compensated by Milan), and Emperor Leopold was to receive the Spanish Netherlands, the last remnaint of the Burgundian inheritance. Needless to say, neither Spain nor Austria were very happy with foreign powers dividing up Spanish lands. But eventually, both sides realised that they would have no hope at all in a war against both France and the Sea Powers. Hence, Charles II eventually did name Joseph Ferdinand as Prince of Asturias (equivalent to Prince of Wales in England), and heir of all the Spanish possessions. It was a futile gesture, but at least it was a gesture.

It seemed that at least for once, after all tehse decades of war, Europe might possible have solved a crisis peacefully. And then fate stroke cruelly: On his way from Bavaria to Spain, Joseph Ferdinand died. All dreams of Wittelsbach glory were smashed, as were all chances of peace, as now there was no compromise canddiate anymore. However, this did not need to have happened. Jospeh Ferdinand was no overly sickly boy, it was just that death was quick to strike in the 17th and 18th centuries. So, you can now catch your breath, as now the ATL starts: Joseph Ferdinand does not die, and arrives in Spain.

Charles II died one year, later in 1700, and Joseph Ferdinand is made King of Spain. His father, Prince-Elector Maximilian Emmanuel of Bavaria, now also travels to Spain to be his regent, but of course there is little he can do about the Spanish possessions in Europe being partitioned. Not that Maximilian Emmanuel would have any scrouples about recklessly risking his possessions an dteh welfare of the people living in it, as shown by him siding with France IOTL in the War of the Spanish Succession. But ITTL, the case is just too clear that he could not hope to win. Instead of blunt military, Maximilian Emmanuel hence relies on secret diplomacy.

As said, Austria is not pleased, not at all. It got the Spanish Netherlands, but that of course is rather meager. From the Austrian point of view, House Habsburg just lost Spain, Naples, Sicily and Milan, a heavy loss. Hence, it is rather willing to conspire with Maximilian. Both sides realise they cannot recover everything they want, but there is the French gains which could become divided… While this sounds promising to Emperor Leopold, of course, the Spanish Regent does not restrict himself to Austria, but after a while begins to play the same game with France. France is less inclined towards it, but subtle hints of “elsewise we will talk to the Austrians” help keep the talks going.

In the end, though, Maximilian is not the master plotter he thinks himself to be. He tries a bit too much, constantly keeping in touch with both Paris and Vienna. But of course, such constant communication, no matter how secret, leaves behind trails, and by winter of 1701, both sides know about the whole affair. Not surpsiingly, the winter is spent carrying supplies arounds for sure to come spring campaigns. Like most wars of the late 17th century, the War of the Spanish Partition is mainly fought at the German-French border, at the Rhine or Flanders. In this case, mainly the latter, as an ailing Louis XIV (who will die earlier than IOTL) wants to have a concentrated effort to take the formerly Spanish Netherlands.

Both sides of course were also busy seeking allies over the winter, however, with little success. William III of Great Britain and of the Netherlands had just died, two years earlier as IOTL - it was said he had a mssive stroke when he heard of Joseph ferdinand's coronation in Madrid. Seeing Louis XIV as the devil himself, he may have hoped for a war, and so peace dissppointed him. The Jacobites, of course, would later sing "Hail to the courir who delivered message and death" in the War of the European Succession. Queen Anne was quite unwilling to go to war, and the Netherlands suffered something of a successionc risis in the Netherlands. Indeed, his designated successor, William IV of Orange of the Frisian branch, was not regogniced as Stadholder-General, and the Netherlands entered the stadholder-less time - but this did not go smoothly, and the Netherland swere busy with themselves for the next two years. The hostility between supporters and opponents of the stadholder position built a base for the later Dutch Civil War during the War of the European Succession. Austrian negotiations with Brandenburg failed as Austria was unwilling to regognice a Prussian kingdom (Brandenburg's price IOTKL in the War of Spanish Succession), Lorraine had a policy of strict neutrality towards France at that time, and the other German powers were simply unintersted. Augsburg and Cologne, two bishoprics headed by Wittelsbach bishops, sided with Austria and Spain, but no other German state did. However, Savoy had cast an eye on Milan, so at least Austria had won an Italian ally.

French efforts very even more futile. Of the larger nations no state even considered fighting as France's ally, as teh Kingdom was widely seen a stoo dominant anyways. And France did not manage to win any German or Italian state, either.

Thus, the war does not spiral out of control, and thankfully for everybody involved it also remains a short war, consisting of a higjhly indecisive campaigning season in the Southern Netherlands, where numerically far superior French armeis meet far better supplied Austrian troops, and a surpising Spanish landing on Sardinia. In this war, the actual battles are even rather secondary to the diplomatic work going on. Numerous dispatches are hastily sent between Madrid, Paris, Vienna and Naples (the Dauphin’s seat), and the negotiators know no rest. This continues over the winter of 1702/03, and due to this frenzy activity, resumption of the war in the 1703 campaign season is avoided by the Treaty of Metz in January. To avoid any further ambitiosn either side may have on the partitioned territories, it is decreed in this treaty that they are to become secundogenitures – Sicily-Naples including Milan (the former Duke of Lorraine gains back Lorraine) for the Bourbons an dthe Southern Netherlands for the Austrians. Spain is the only winner in this, as it regains Sardinia, whereas Savoy, Cologne and Augsburg receive nothing at all. The newly formed Duchy of Flanders is now ruled by Leopold's second son, Charles (IOTL HR Emperor Charles VI), whereas Sicily-Naples-Milan is ruled by the Dauphin, who is to be suceeded by his second son upon ascension to the French throne.

Rather anticlimitically, this short and accidental war ended centuries of Habsburg-Bourbon rivarly. Austria and France would fight against once more, in the War of the German Alliance, but in that war Austria would even be a latecomer. The Spanish Succession had virtually dictatced European politics for decades, with it now settled practically everything was possible again, including French-Austrian détente. And that is exactly what happened, too.
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