War of Spanish Sucession

Gaius Julius Magnus

Gone Fishin'
I'm not an expert on this war at all but was there ever a possibility of France and Spain uniting under one king, And if so how would this effect European politics?
 
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Everyone would be starting their plans to destroy the new hegemon. That is just too much power in the hands of one kingdom for any of their neighbors (or any power in general) to tolerate.
 
Pretty much every European country would have fought France over that possibility. They fought France even with a healthy Dauphin and a few others in the line, becuase they knew what could happen if smallpox or soemthing else hit - and it did (several people, including Louis XIV's son and grandson, died within a year, and OTL's Louis XV easily could have died.)

In a way, the French won the war, though it's considered a defeat because fot he Treaty of Utrecht, wherein Philip had to give up his right tot he French throne. However, there was still a Bourbon ont hat throne,a nd I'm sure this unnerved people for a while. While the term "blance of power" may not have come into vogue yet - of course if it did this seems like a good time - the concept had begun to form that they had to keep one country from dominating Europe.
 
I'm not an expert on this war at all but was there ever a possibility of France and Spain uniting under one king, And if so how would this effect Europeab politics?

Yes! It was definitely possible. In 1714, the only surviving heir of Louis XIV was four years old. A child dying at that age was beyond normal. Next in line? Felipe V, the very king of Spain who was the cause of the war of succession. He had just renounced the French throne at the Treaty of Utrecht. But ingrigues being intrigues, there's certainly a chance he could make a move for the French throne, supported by some faction or other.

After Philip, the next in line would be Duke Philippe d'Orleans, who in OTL ruled France as regent after Louis XIV's death. If King Felipe did make a move, Duke Philippe would be his rival.

But causing an inevitable War of French Succession just a year after the end of the War of Spanish Succession? I don't think that Felipe had such an appetite for chaos and conflict, but I've never read much on him personally, so I don't know.
 
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