One Man's Greed
Louis XIV was not a man one should keep waiting. However this wait did have merit, very important news was brought before the king. The French foreign minister, Jean-Baptiste Colbert was found dead.
While normally Louis could simply replace him, this day was perhaps one of the worst days an event like this could have unfolded. He was supposed to have a meeting with the English ambassador about the unfolding Spanish crisis. Charles II of Spain was soon going to die. That in and of itself was not a problem however; the problem was that there was no one to succeed him. This crisis in particular left England scared. The nine years war had just ended less than five years ago and England, along with the majority of Europe, was drowning with debt and coping with a missing generation. They did not want another war. Because of this in 1700 France and England agreed to the treaty of London (also known as the second partion treaty) which stipulated that France would accept Archduke Charles of Austria as the ruler of Spain. However France would be compensated with the Spanish possessions and Italy and an assurance that Archduke Charles would not be able to inherit the position of the Holy Roman Emperor. England was willing to give France a lot to ensure they would never get Spain. Now France had to decide whether it would accept the treaty it had already signed, or would it take the risk and go all in, trying to guarantee the Spanish throne for a Frenchman. Louis received conflicting messages from his court. The majority the royal court wanted Louis to accept the treaty, however Jean-Baptiste Colbert and a few others argued that there would be a war regardless of what happened. They said that France should try to reap the maximum rewards.
Louis thought long and hard about his options. Eventually he made his decision, he was going to respect the terms of the treaty. However solving one problem often creates another.
Charles II of Spain died on November 1st 1700. In his will he left the Spanish throne to the Duke of Anjou, a Frenchman. However Louis XIV persuaded him and his younger brother Duc de Berry to say no, he was going to follow the treaty to the letter. Thus Archduke Charles of Austrian became the next king of Spain. However there was a disagreement. Only the treaty between France and England said France could keep the Spanish possessions in Italy. Archduke Charles wanted all of the Spanish Empire. War was a serious possibility, just as Jean-Baptiste Colbert warned before his death.
Thankfully there was no war. Neither country wanted to fight; both had suffered from a half century of near constant war. The treaty of Paris put an end to the issue. However France would have to give some concessions. Milan and the surrounding area would be given Austria and Sardinia would be given to Spain. France would be allowed to keep Naples and Sicily. A period of great tension had ended.
From 1700 to 1711 there was peace throughout Europe. Nations were finally able to lick their wounds from the near constant warfare the seventeenth century brought. However peace cannot last forever. Joseph I, the Holy Roman Emperor and ruler of Austria, was dying of smallpox without an heir. This led to another crisis because the only other person that could succeed him was the old Archduke (now king Charles III of Spain). However the Archduke, just as he promised to France, renounced his right to the throne. Realizing that there would be no heirs to his throne Joseph I did the unthinkable on his deathbed. In his will he left Austria to Charles III of Spain. This simple action left the entire world looking at Charles III, wondering what his reaction would be.
Charles III was left with an incredibly hard position. He could say no guarantee that he would remain the leader of one of the most powerful countries on the planet, Spain. Or he could be bold. He could be in control of country that no other could rival. In the end greed consumed him. The Hapsburgs once again controlled the Spanish Empire and Austria under one ruler. A war was sure to come.
Louis XIV was not a man one should keep waiting. However this wait did have merit, very important news was brought before the king. The French foreign minister, Jean-Baptiste Colbert was found dead.
While normally Louis could simply replace him, this day was perhaps one of the worst days an event like this could have unfolded. He was supposed to have a meeting with the English ambassador about the unfolding Spanish crisis. Charles II of Spain was soon going to die. That in and of itself was not a problem however; the problem was that there was no one to succeed him. This crisis in particular left England scared. The nine years war had just ended less than five years ago and England, along with the majority of Europe, was drowning with debt and coping with a missing generation. They did not want another war. Because of this in 1700 France and England agreed to the treaty of London (also known as the second partion treaty) which stipulated that France would accept Archduke Charles of Austria as the ruler of Spain. However France would be compensated with the Spanish possessions and Italy and an assurance that Archduke Charles would not be able to inherit the position of the Holy Roman Emperor. England was willing to give France a lot to ensure they would never get Spain. Now France had to decide whether it would accept the treaty it had already signed, or would it take the risk and go all in, trying to guarantee the Spanish throne for a Frenchman. Louis received conflicting messages from his court. The majority the royal court wanted Louis to accept the treaty, however Jean-Baptiste Colbert and a few others argued that there would be a war regardless of what happened. They said that France should try to reap the maximum rewards.
Louis thought long and hard about his options. Eventually he made his decision, he was going to respect the terms of the treaty. However solving one problem often creates another.
Charles II of Spain died on November 1st 1700. In his will he left the Spanish throne to the Duke of Anjou, a Frenchman. However Louis XIV persuaded him and his younger brother Duc de Berry to say no, he was going to follow the treaty to the letter. Thus Archduke Charles of Austrian became the next king of Spain. However there was a disagreement. Only the treaty between France and England said France could keep the Spanish possessions in Italy. Archduke Charles wanted all of the Spanish Empire. War was a serious possibility, just as Jean-Baptiste Colbert warned before his death.
Thankfully there was no war. Neither country wanted to fight; both had suffered from a half century of near constant war. The treaty of Paris put an end to the issue. However France would have to give some concessions. Milan and the surrounding area would be given Austria and Sardinia would be given to Spain. France would be allowed to keep Naples and Sicily. A period of great tension had ended.
From 1700 to 1711 there was peace throughout Europe. Nations were finally able to lick their wounds from the near constant warfare the seventeenth century brought. However peace cannot last forever. Joseph I, the Holy Roman Emperor and ruler of Austria, was dying of smallpox without an heir. This led to another crisis because the only other person that could succeed him was the old Archduke (now king Charles III of Spain). However the Archduke, just as he promised to France, renounced his right to the throne. Realizing that there would be no heirs to his throne Joseph I did the unthinkable on his deathbed. In his will he left Austria to Charles III of Spain. This simple action left the entire world looking at Charles III, wondering what his reaction would be.
Charles III was left with an incredibly hard position. He could say no guarantee that he would remain the leader of one of the most powerful countries on the planet, Spain. Or he could be bold. He could be in control of country that no other could rival. In the end greed consumed him. The Hapsburgs once again controlled the Spanish Empire and Austria under one ruler. A war was sure to come.