Definition of Treaty of Utrecht

Treaties, like wars (often the latter lead to the former), have shaped the face of politics of the continents.

One of these was the Treaty of Utrecht (which takes its name from being signed in the Dutch city), which reshaped the face of Europe in the early 18th century.

The so-called Treaty of Utrech (for having been signed in the Dutch city of the same name) put an end to the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1715).

East conflict, originated by the testament of Carlos II (Spanish king of the Habsburg dynasty), faced on the one hand the Bourbon suitor Felipe V (who would end rising with victory) supported by France (he was the grandson of Louis XIV) and some other European states, against the Austrian suitor Carlos III of Spain (brother of the Archduke), which had the support of Austria, England and Scotland (from 1707, Great Britain, after the act of union), the United Provinces, Portugal, and other states.

It was, in essence, a European conflict, in which, taking advantage of the background of the succession to the throne of Spain, the different powers settled their differences by military means.

The treaty actually consisted of several different treaties, most of them bilateral, which are known by a common name.

Said treaty (from now on we will refer to the set in singular) was started to negotiate from 1712, thanks in part to the military situation that was beginning to turn in favor of Felipe V in Spain, to the economic difficulties to continue the war on the part of France, and to the victory of the match Tory in Great Britain, favorable to the peace.

In addition, in 1711 the Austrian Archduke Joseph I had died, leaving his brother also in charge of the Austrian monarchy, which was not good. seen by Great Britain, by facilitating the growth of a very large potential enemy with the union of both monarchies under a single crowned head.

The death also in 1712 of the two direct successors to the French throne, allowed Felipe V of Spain to seek a worthy exit to the aspirations of him (he was the main obstacle to achieve peace), being named dolphin (successor) of France, a proposal that he declined.

During the negotiations, both France and Great Britain were quite in tune with their aspirations for peace, which favored reaching an agreement. The British even gave up fighting at the Battle of Denain, and their attitude it aroused criticism from the Austrian crown.

On April 11, 1713, the first treaty was signed, which recognized Felipe V as King of Spain, in exchange for the European possessions of the Spanish crown.

France ceded territories to Great Britain in Canada, and promised not to support the Jacobite succession to the British throne. He also ceded fortresses in the Spanish Netherlands so that the United Provinces could secure their defense against France in the future.

Between Spain and Great Britain, the peace treaty caused Gibraltar and Menorca to pass into British hands (Gibraltar still remains territory British overseas). The British were also sinking their teeth into Commerce with the American territories of the Spanish crown, although in a limited way.

In return, Great Britain turned a deaf ear to Catalan requests to maintain its laws and institutions their own, and British troops withdrew from Barcelona in 1713 amid boos and insults from the population Barcelona civilian. The city would hold out for yet another year, with the entire international community turning its back on its requests for help, although the powers of the Austracist side had counted on Catalonia as part of your alliance.

Only the Austracist court kept, in some way (although in the end it made them uncomfortable) live the Catalan petition to international level over the following years, and Charles VI himself refused to recognize Felipe V as King of Spain.

That of Catalonia was the last stumbling block before a definitive peace was obtained in Europe.

As a result of the Treaty of Utrech, the Spanish crown ceased to be a compound crown, a federated monarchy, to become an absolute monarchy over all the territory that reigned.

The laws of the different states that made up the Crown of Aragon (Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands) were abolished by Felipe V, and replaced by Castilian laws.

Topics in Treaty of Utrecht