DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.47347#0053
THE SPANISH SUCCESSION.
37
virtue of the will of Charles II., had personified itself in
Philip V.1 It may, nevertheless, not be amiss to cast an
eye upon the negociations and the official acts which pre-
ceded the peace of Utrecht.
The first negociations for the re-establishment of peace
in Europe began at the Plague so early as the 28th of
March, 1709, between England, Holland, and Austria, on
the one part, and France, with which Spain was united in
the person of her king, on the other. The negociations on
the preliminary articles exhibit a phenomenon worthy of
remark. Louis XIV., who, by his pride, his imprudence,
and his precipitation, by his extravagant demands and his
thirst of dominion, had plunged Spain into this disastrous
war; this same prince was so weakened by the exhaustion
of France, and by the recent losses of his armies, that he
was on the point of acknowledging the Archduke Charles
as heir to the Spanish monarchy, to recall his grandson,
Philip V., with all his family, from Spain, and even to pro-
mise his aid to drive him from the country in case of re-
sistance 2. On learning these disgraceful conditions, the
Spanish nation rose with such enthusiasm to defend its legi-
timate sovereign and its ancient fundamental laws, that,
owing to its sacrifices and its heroic efforts, the war soon
took a favourable turn for France. Louis XIV., encouraged
1 Philip V., therefore, did not ascend the throne of Spain as conqueror, for
he had long been acknowledged by the Spanish nation, when the archduke
Charles strove to wrest the crown from him by arms ; and it was the Spanish
nation which, by heroic efforts, and the sacrifice of its best blood, defended the
rights of Philip V. against almost all the European powers. Neither was
Philip V. the founder of a new dynasty; he ascended the throne as the cognatic
heir. This remark was the more necessary, as of late people have not ceased
to repeat the contrary, with equal presumption and ignorance, in defiance of
truth and historical facts.
2 See the Protocol of the imperial legation, Dumont, t. viii. p. 234. and Lam-
berty, Memoires pour servir a I’histoire du xviiime silicle, t. v. p. 190. 263. 296.
37
virtue of the will of Charles II., had personified itself in
Philip V.1 It may, nevertheless, not be amiss to cast an
eye upon the negociations and the official acts which pre-
ceded the peace of Utrecht.
The first negociations for the re-establishment of peace
in Europe began at the Plague so early as the 28th of
March, 1709, between England, Holland, and Austria, on
the one part, and France, with which Spain was united in
the person of her king, on the other. The negociations on
the preliminary articles exhibit a phenomenon worthy of
remark. Louis XIV., who, by his pride, his imprudence,
and his precipitation, by his extravagant demands and his
thirst of dominion, had plunged Spain into this disastrous
war; this same prince was so weakened by the exhaustion
of France, and by the recent losses of his armies, that he
was on the point of acknowledging the Archduke Charles
as heir to the Spanish monarchy, to recall his grandson,
Philip V., with all his family, from Spain, and even to pro-
mise his aid to drive him from the country in case of re-
sistance 2. On learning these disgraceful conditions, the
Spanish nation rose with such enthusiasm to defend its legi-
timate sovereign and its ancient fundamental laws, that,
owing to its sacrifices and its heroic efforts, the war soon
took a favourable turn for France. Louis XIV., encouraged
1 Philip V., therefore, did not ascend the throne of Spain as conqueror, for
he had long been acknowledged by the Spanish nation, when the archduke
Charles strove to wrest the crown from him by arms ; and it was the Spanish
nation which, by heroic efforts, and the sacrifice of its best blood, defended the
rights of Philip V. against almost all the European powers. Neither was
Philip V. the founder of a new dynasty; he ascended the throne as the cognatic
heir. This remark was the more necessary, as of late people have not ceased
to repeat the contrary, with equal presumption and ignorance, in defiance of
truth and historical facts.
2 See the Protocol of the imperial legation, Dumont, t. viii. p. 234. and Lam-
berty, Memoires pour servir a I’histoire du xviiime silicle, t. v. p. 190. 263. 296.