1740 and All That

The War of the Spanish Succession: Why do we care?

The generation prior to ours was deeply involved: F1, FW, MT's dad Charles VI, Hans Heinrich von Katte, Grumbkow, Prince Eugene, George I, Louis XIV, etc. Lots of royals died and new ones inherited, leading to tons of exciting political developments. It had as much to do with "Everyone in Europe is unhappy with everyone else" as it did with the actual Spanish Succession. It changed the map of Europe. New wars were started afterward by the people unhappy with the way this one ended.

It intersects in interesting ways with the Great Northern War, which was going on simultaneously, and about which I hope to learn more next.

Finally: all of Europe spent 40 years anticipating this war, making treaties to try to prevent it, and fighting other wars with an eye toward how this one was going to develop.

( Overview )

( Philip V )

( Hanovers and Stuarts )

( Netherlands backstory )

( Royal Turnover 1711-1715 )

( Battle of Blenheim )

( 1709 and Malplaquet )

( Malplaquet tactics )

( French, Dutch, and Bavarian Backstories )

( Preventative Treaties That Prevent Nothing )

( Some anecdotes )

( Philip V: The Later Years )

For more backstory from the 15th-17th centuries, see selenak's various posts in this thread.