9.7.2 War of the Spanish Succession and Treaty of Utrecht 1713

OCR Specification focus:
‘Grand Alliance and the War of the Spanish Succession 1702–1714; Treaty of Utrecht 1713.’

The War of the Spanish Succession was one of the most significant European conflicts of the early eighteenth century, shaping Britain’s role in international politics and diplomacy.

Background to the Conflict

The Spanish Succession Question

The war’s origins lay in the problem of who would succeed to the vast Spanish empire following the death of Charles II of Spain in 1700. Charles died childless, leaving his immense territories across Europe and the Americas vulnerable to division or takeover. This created a European crisis as rival claimants vied for control.

Spanish Succession Crisis: The struggle between European powers over who would inherit the Spanish crown and empire after Charles II’s death without an heir.

The main claimants were the Bourbon dynasty of France, represented by Philip of Anjou (grandson of Louis XIV), and the Austrian Habsburgs, supported by many European powers. The possibility of a Bourbon-controlled Spain alarmed other states, who feared a European balance of power dominated by France.

The Grand Alliance

In response, the Grand Alliance was reformed in 1701.

Colour-coded map of Europe in 1703 showing the Grand Alliance (red) versus France and its allies (blue). It helps students see the opposing blocs at a glance and understand the multi-theatre nature of the conflict. The focus is alliances, not battles or treaties. Source

Its members included England (from 1707, Great Britain), the Dutch Republic, the Holy Roman Empire, and later Portugal and Savoy. Their aim was to check French expansion and preserve the balance of power.

The War of the Spanish Succession (1702–1714)

Key Military Campaigns

The war was fought across multiple theatres:

Flanders (Low Countries): The Duke of Marlborough led decisive campaigns, most famously the victories at Blenheim (1704), Ramillies (1706), Oudenarde (1708), and Malplaquet (1709). These secured Britain’s military reputation.
Iberian Peninsula: Mixed success, with Britain seizing Gibraltar (1704) and Minorca, both of which became crucial naval bases.
Italy and Germany: Austria resisted French forces, protecting its territories.
Colonial theatres: The war extended to North America (known as Queen Anne’s War) and the West Indies, marking Britain’s emerging global role.

British Aims and Achievements

Britain entered the war to limit Bourbon power and to secure commercial as well as strategic advantages. Under Marlborough and Godolphin, Britain contributed financially and militarily, demonstrating its growing status. Naval power was central, ensuring the protection of trade and territorial gains.

Balance of Power: A principle of European diplomacy aiming to prevent any one state from becoming overwhelmingly dominant.

Britain’s successes contrasted with French difficulties, as Louis XIV faced famine, financial strain, and repeated military defeats.

The Treaty of Utrecht 1713

Context of Peace

By 1711, the war had dragged on for over a decade. Casualties were high, and both sides were exhausted. Political changes in Britain influenced the peace process: the Tories, who favoured ending the war, came to power in 1710, replacing the pro-war Whigs.

Main Provisions of the Treaty

The Treaty of Utrecht (1713) marked a turning point in European diplomacy.

A clear, colour-keyed map of Western Europe, 1713–1714, indicating territorial dispositions following Utrecht (1713) and Rastatt (1714). It highlights the redistribution that constrained Bourbon power and elevated Habsburg and British positions. Note: the map also marks the 1714 settlement at Rastatt, which slightly exceeds the syllabus focus but helps contextualise the immediate European outcome. Source

Its key terms included:

Philip of Anjou recognised as King Philip V of Spain, but he had to renounce any claim to the French throne, preventing a union of Spain and France.
Britain gained Gibraltar and Minorca, consolidating naval supremacy in the Mediterranean.
Britain secured the asiento (the lucrative contract to supply African slaves to Spanish America), expanding commercial opportunities.
France ceded territories in North America (Newfoundland, Hudson Bay, Nova Scotia) to Britain, strengthening its colonial position.

Historical atlas map with insets for “Acadia and Newfoundland” and “Eastern North America,” showing the 1713 cessions to Britain (Newfoundland, Hudson Bay, and mainland Nova Scotia/Acadia). It clarifies how European diplomacy reshaped North American frontiers at the war’s end. Note: the map’s title references multiple treaties (1713–1721), which adds some extra context not required by the syllabus, but the Utrecht insets are the relevant focus. Source

Austria gained the Spanish Netherlands, Naples, Milan, and Sardinia, maintaining Habsburg power in Europe.
The Dutch secured a barrier of fortresses against future French aggression.

Britain’s Enhanced Position

The treaty established Britain as a leading European power:

Naval dominance was secured through strategic bases.
Trade advantages expanded Britain’s commercial empire.
The war demonstrated Britain’s ability to fund long campaigns via its financial system, including the Bank of England and National Debt, which underpinned future warfare.

Political and Religious Dimensions

Domestic Politics

The war was politically divisive in Britain.

Whigs tended to support the war effort, linking it to the Protestant succession and Britain’s international standing.
Tories often criticised its costs and sought peace, aligning with Queen Anne’s preferences later in her reign.

This division shaped the eventual peace settlement, which was more moderate than Marlborough and the Whigs might have pursued.

Religious Considerations

The war also had religious undertones. Many English Protestants feared that a Bourbon Spain could strengthen Catholic influence across Europe. By securing Protestant succession and undermining France’s dominance, the Treaty of Utrecht indirectly reinforced Protestant interests within Britain.

Impact of the War and Treaty

Military Legacy

The successes of Marlborough elevated Britain’s military reputation. His campaigns were studied for their tactical brilliance, and Britain became respected as a major continental power.

Economic and Commercial Growth

Acquisition of the asiento boosted Britain’s role in the Atlantic slave trade.
New territories in North America expanded opportunities for settlement, trade, and resource extraction.
Control of Gibraltar ensured dominance over Mediterranean trade routes.

Diplomatic and Strategic Significance

The Treaty of Utrecht confirmed the principle of the balance of power in Europe, curtailing French ambitions. Britain emerged with significant long-term advantages, positioning itself as the foremost naval and commercial power by the mid-eighteenth century.

FAQ

Marlborough was renowned for his strategic brilliance, particularly his ability to coordinate allied forces from different nations. His victories at Blenheim, Ramillies, and Oudenarde secured crucial momentum for the Grand Alliance.

Beyond battlefield tactics, Marlborough’s skill lay in logistics—ensuring armies were well-supplied across long campaigns. This gave Britain and its allies a consistency that France, stretched by multiple fronts, could not match.

Gibraltar controlled access to the Mediterranean through the narrow straits, providing Britain with a vital naval stronghold.

It enabled Britain to:

Monitor and restrict Spanish and French naval activity.
Protect and expand Mediterranean trade routes.
Project naval power more widely across Europe.

This single acquisition was pivotal for Britain’s long-term naval supremacy.

Britain’s financial system underpinned its war effort. Innovations such as the Bank of England and the use of the National Debt allowed large-scale borrowing.

Regular taxation, particularly through customs and excise duties, provided stability for repayments. Unlike France, which suffered from chronic shortages and inefficient collection, Britain maintained a steady stream of resources to fund long campaigns abroad.

The Dutch secured a series of fortresses, known as the Barrier Fortresses, across the Austrian Netherlands. These were designed to act as a buffer against future French aggression.

However, the Dutch emerged economically weakened. The prolonged war strained their finances, and their relative power declined compared to Britain, which gained far greater commercial advantages.

The treaty transferred key Spanish possessions in Italy to the Austrian Habsburgs, including Naples, Milan, and Sardinia.

This shift:

Strengthened Austria’s position in southern Europe.
Reduced Bourbon influence in the Italian states.
Ensured that France and Spain could not jointly dominate the region, preserving the wider European balance of power.

Practice Questions

Question 1 (2 marks)
Which territories in North America were ceded by France to Britain in the Treaty of Utrecht (1713)?

Mark Scheme:

1 mark for each correct territory named (up to 2 marks).
Accept: Newfoundland, Hudson Bay, Nova Scotia (mainland/Acadia).

Question 2 (6 marks)
Explain two reasons why the Treaty of Utrecht (1713) was significant for Britain.