Partition Treaties

Fearing the reemergence of the extremely powerful Hapsburg Dynasty, traditional enemies King William III of England and Louis XIV banded together and signed the First Partition Treaty. This treaty recognized Joseph Ferdinand’s right to all of Spain’s territories except for Spanish Italy, which they divided between France and Austria.

This treaty angered the now ailing Charles II, who reacted by writing a will that granted Joseph Ferdinand control of the entire Spanish empire. A year later, Joseph Ferdinand died at the age of six, making Charles’s will null and void.

In 1699, William and Louis signed a second partition treaty.  Although they where still determined to keep the Hapsburg dynasty from dominating Europe, this treaty allowed the Austrian archduke Charles, a Hapsburg, to have control of the entire Spanish domain, excluding Italy and Lorraine. The Spanish King Charles II again changed his will, leaving everything to the grandson of Louis XIV, the Bourbon prince Philip. A month after writing his will Charles II died.

The passing of Charles II changed the dynamic in Europe. Louis, overcome by greed and the good fortune of his country, abandoned the treaty and declared his grandson to be Philip V of Spain. The new power of the Bourbon family angered the rest of Europe and set the stage for war.