Post by The Viceroy (AdminM) on Apr 24, 2016 15:16:54 GMT
When Carlos II ascended to the imperial throne of Spain, nobody expected him to live long. Extensive physical and mental disabilities rendered him only able to rule intermittently, with the help of his ministerial cohort. He had no heir, yet he lingered. Marrying a French princess, the worrisome succession problem may be solved. Though his Queen remained without child, growing depressed she remarked to a close friend that she believed the King unable to sire children. She died of a ruptured appendix not long later. The King never recovered from this loss. Suffering from bouts of madness, he demanded his Queen to be exhumed, alongside other deceased relatives, before breaking down.
In the year 1700, Carlos II lay dying. He still lingered, the child King expected to die within a few years forced the beady eyes of France and Austria to wait just a little longer before they wrangled over the remnants of a once great Empire. Indeed, they had already agreed a partition treaty the year prior, dividing the Crowns of Aragon and Castille, the former going to Austria, the latter to France. His council waited outside, alongside the Austrian and French Ambassadors, determined to deliver the news immediately to their respective Monarchs. Unexpectedly, Carlos called in one of his ministers. A few hours later, the Minster emerged, beaming and holding in his hands a significant document. He paced over to the Austrian ambassador, shook his hands fervently before offering his snide commiserations and turning to greet the French ambassador. This was the first of many insults the Austrians would have to face this particular year.
The document, of course, was Carlos’ Last Will and Testament. Seemingly, in a final fit of clarity, Carlos decided his Empire would not be divided between the vultures of Europe. Instead it would remain intact and independent. First the Crown would be offered to Philip, Duc d’Anjou Louis’ grandson and second son of le grand Dauphin. If he were to refuse, it would go to Philip’s younger brother. Following that, to the Archduke Charles, second son of the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold, and finally to the Duc de Savoy, a distant relative of the Spanish Habsburgs. By forfeiting the claims of their elder sons, Leopold and le Dauphin would effectively separate the Spanish succession from the French or Austrian successions. Spain would be intact, and independent – problem solved.
Or was it? Louis XIV acted quickly, he locked himself away with his close advisors and tried to figure out how to proceed. He could agree to partition as per the 1699 Treaty, but that would start a war. France could not expect Austria to sit back when the united Spanish empire had been offered to their own claimant in Carlos’ will. He could abide by the will, but that would also start a war, Austria and maritime powers’ would call foul if he were to renege on the Partition Treaty. It seems Carlos had not been so clearheaded as one may suspect. By forming a will that contradicted the Partition Treaty, he had guaranteed a bloody war over his own succession. Louis XIV did consider a third option, renounce his grandsons’ claims to the Spanish throne, it may form a rift between Austria and the Maritime powers of England and the Dutch Republic, but it would also gift vast amounts of the world to his Austrian enemies.
After deep and sincere discussions Louis called for the Spanish ambassador and his grandson, Philip. In Versailles, Louis declared the 16 year old King of Spain. The Spanish ambassador made a beautiful speech before Philip, overcome with emotion. Unfortunately Philip did not understand Spanish, and Louis was left to thank the ambassador for his eloquence. The two Kings then went to the chapel to observe mass. Louis offered Philip his own personal cushion to kneel on. The Young King refused such an honour, and Louis opted against using it himself. Two Kings, possibly the most powerful men in Europe, together at one of the most pivotal moments in European history, knelt on the cold stone floor side-by-side.
The Sun King knew war with Austria was unavoidable, but Savoy also had a claim. A marriage was quickly arranged between Philip and a Savoyard Princess, the ceremony was conducted by proxy as the 16 year old Prince and 13 year old Princess made their separate ways to Madrid. The Maritime powers would despise the thought of the Spanish Empire remaining intact. Not only that, but following the ‘Glorious Revolution’ in England, Louis’ nemesis William the Prince of Orange had been crowned King in London. Rather than entrap himself, the French King decided that upon James II’s death, he would recognise Prince James as King of England. Louis had covered all his bases, he had only ‘forgotten’ one thing - to inform the Austrian ambassador.
As 1701 loomed into view, France had won the lucrative Asiento contract over the Spanish slave trade, to the mighty annoyance of the English, Dutch and Portuguese. An Austrian army led by Prince Euguene of Savoy had parked itself in Spanish Lombardy. A French army had taken over fortresses in the Spanish Netherlands, removing the buffer zone with the Dutch Republic and once again antagonising Dutch fears of French expansion. The Grand Alliance began to shake the dust off it's back, and once again stood poised to challenge France.
In the year 1700, Carlos II lay dying. He still lingered, the child King expected to die within a few years forced the beady eyes of France and Austria to wait just a little longer before they wrangled over the remnants of a once great Empire. Indeed, they had already agreed a partition treaty the year prior, dividing the Crowns of Aragon and Castille, the former going to Austria, the latter to France. His council waited outside, alongside the Austrian and French Ambassadors, determined to deliver the news immediately to their respective Monarchs. Unexpectedly, Carlos called in one of his ministers. A few hours later, the Minster emerged, beaming and holding in his hands a significant document. He paced over to the Austrian ambassador, shook his hands fervently before offering his snide commiserations and turning to greet the French ambassador. This was the first of many insults the Austrians would have to face this particular year.
The document, of course, was Carlos’ Last Will and Testament. Seemingly, in a final fit of clarity, Carlos decided his Empire would not be divided between the vultures of Europe. Instead it would remain intact and independent. First the Crown would be offered to Philip, Duc d’Anjou Louis’ grandson and second son of le grand Dauphin. If he were to refuse, it would go to Philip’s younger brother. Following that, to the Archduke Charles, second son of the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold, and finally to the Duc de Savoy, a distant relative of the Spanish Habsburgs. By forfeiting the claims of their elder sons, Leopold and le Dauphin would effectively separate the Spanish succession from the French or Austrian successions. Spain would be intact, and independent – problem solved.
Or was it? Louis XIV acted quickly, he locked himself away with his close advisors and tried to figure out how to proceed. He could agree to partition as per the 1699 Treaty, but that would start a war. France could not expect Austria to sit back when the united Spanish empire had been offered to their own claimant in Carlos’ will. He could abide by the will, but that would also start a war, Austria and maritime powers’ would call foul if he were to renege on the Partition Treaty. It seems Carlos had not been so clearheaded as one may suspect. By forming a will that contradicted the Partition Treaty, he had guaranteed a bloody war over his own succession. Louis XIV did consider a third option, renounce his grandsons’ claims to the Spanish throne, it may form a rift between Austria and the Maritime powers of England and the Dutch Republic, but it would also gift vast amounts of the world to his Austrian enemies.
After deep and sincere discussions Louis called for the Spanish ambassador and his grandson, Philip. In Versailles, Louis declared the 16 year old King of Spain. The Spanish ambassador made a beautiful speech before Philip, overcome with emotion. Unfortunately Philip did not understand Spanish, and Louis was left to thank the ambassador for his eloquence. The two Kings then went to the chapel to observe mass. Louis offered Philip his own personal cushion to kneel on. The Young King refused such an honour, and Louis opted against using it himself. Two Kings, possibly the most powerful men in Europe, together at one of the most pivotal moments in European history, knelt on the cold stone floor side-by-side.
The Sun King knew war with Austria was unavoidable, but Savoy also had a claim. A marriage was quickly arranged between Philip and a Savoyard Princess, the ceremony was conducted by proxy as the 16 year old Prince and 13 year old Princess made their separate ways to Madrid. The Maritime powers would despise the thought of the Spanish Empire remaining intact. Not only that, but following the ‘Glorious Revolution’ in England, Louis’ nemesis William the Prince of Orange had been crowned King in London. Rather than entrap himself, the French King decided that upon James II’s death, he would recognise Prince James as King of England. Louis had covered all his bases, he had only ‘forgotten’ one thing - to inform the Austrian ambassador.
As 1701 loomed into view, France had won the lucrative Asiento contract over the Spanish slave trade, to the mighty annoyance of the English, Dutch and Portuguese. An Austrian army led by Prince Euguene of Savoy had parked itself in Spanish Lombardy. A French army had taken over fortresses in the Spanish Netherlands, removing the buffer zone with the Dutch Republic and once again antagonising Dutch fears of French expansion. The Grand Alliance began to shake the dust off it's back, and once again stood poised to challenge France.