Abstract

From the Baltic to the Mediterranean and from the Atlantic coast to the steppes of Russia, Europe was a continent beset by the war in the first quarter of the eighteenth century. The Spanish War of Succession (1702-13), the GreatNorthers War (1700-71), and the Hungarian uprising (1703-11) combined left no region of Europe unscathed; indeed the Spanish War alone has been called a real world war since skirmishes occured throughout colonial possessions world-wide. This conflict was preciptated in November 1700 when Charles II of Spain (1661-1700) died without an heir. Given the chronic fragility of his physical and mental condition, his demise had been awaited for nearly forty years.Anticipating an acute crisis in the absence of a designated successor, diplomatic endeavours had produced agreement to avoid armed confrontation on the issue through a pre-emptive division of the territorial spoils. However, contrary to the pre-existing partition agreement made amongst the great powers. Charles will unexpectedly named the grandson of Louis XIV of france (1643-1715), Philippe, duke of Anjou(1683-1746) as Successor to the throne of Spain and the entire Spanish Empire. If this came to pass, the Bourbon Dynasty would supplant their long-term rivals, the Habsburgs, south of the Pyrenees.