The War of the Spanish Succession 1701-1714

by James Falkner

Overview

The War of the Spanish Succession, fought between 1701 and 1714 to decide who should inherit the Spanish throne, was a conflict on an unprecedented scale, stretching across most of western Europe, the high seas and the Americas. Yet this major subject is not well known and is little understood. That is why the publication of James Falkner's absorbing new study is so timely and important. In a clear and perceptive narrative he describes and analyses the complex political manoeuvres and a series of military campaigns which also involved the threat posed by Ottoman Turks in the east and Sweden and Russia in the north. Fighting took place not just in Europe but in the Americas and Canada, and on the high seas. All European powers, large and small, were involved - France, Spain, Great Britain, Holland, Austria and Portugal were the major players. The end result of eleven years of outright war was a French prince firmly established on the throne in Madrid and a division of the old Spanish empire. More notably though, French power, previously so dominant, was curbed for almost ninety years.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781399013482
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	12/03/2021
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

James Falkner is a leading authority on eighteenth-century warfare and he has made a special study of the military exploits of the 1st Duke of Marlborough. His book, Great and Glorious Days: Marlborough's Battles 1704-1709, is one of the outstanding studies of the subject. His other books include Blenheim 1704, Ramillies 1706, Marlborough Goes to War: Eyewitness Accounts 1702-1713, Marlborough's Sieges, Marlborough's Battlefields, Fire Over the Rock: The Great Siege of Gibraltar 1779-1783, Marshal Vauban and the Defence of Louis XIV’s France, Marlborough’s War Machine and The War of the Spanish Succession, 1701-1714.

Table of Contents

List of Maps vi

List of Illustrations vii

Introduction viii

The Line of Succession to the Throne of Spain xii

Chronology: The Principal Events of the War of the Spanish Succession xiii

Chapter 1 This is the King of Spain 1

Chapter 2 The Grand Alliance 21

Chapter 3 The French Offensive 31

Chapter 4 Campaigning in the Low Countries 44

Chapter 5 Adventures in Southern Germany 60

Chapter 6 Enter the Duke of Berwick 76

Chapter 7 Year of Miracles 104

Chapter 8 Over the Seas to Spain 129

Chapter 9 Vexatious Distractions 143

Chapter 10 France at Bay 159

Chapter 11 Unattainable Peace 172

Chapter 12 An End to a Weary Journey 194

Chapter 13 A Balance of Power 212

Appendix 1 The Main Terms of the 1702 Treaty of Grand Alliance 218

Appendix 2 The Main Terms of the Treaties of Utrecht, Baden and Rastadt, and Madrid (1713-15) 219

Appendix 3 Key Military Figures in the War of the Spanish Succession 221

Notes 233

Bibliography 249

Index 253

Editorial Reviews

"an overview of the entire conflict... fills the gap in a book that brings the entire war to your finger tips. The author has a solid grasp of the history and reports it in a well done no-nonsense style without any hint of bias. I find this refreshing in a book about this war. Most of the books I have read on the subject have a definite English bias, at least in the amount of information about each side in the war. So thank you Mr. Falkner, and Casemate, for this book. It brings to life the war and its battles, and campaigns, and is a great addition to anyone's library."

A Wargamers Needful Things