War of Devolution: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 18:50, 6 October 2006

Revision as of 18:52, 6 October 2006

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==War==

Spain, a cumbersome fragmented nation struggling with the first modern bout of inflation, could put up little resistance to the French assault, under the wise veteran, the [[Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne| vicomte de Turenne]]. With no main Spanish army in Flanders, the initial stages of the war in 1667 became a series of French [[siege]]s against Spanish-held towns and fortresses that were undermanned and with no hope of relief; most of these sieges ended quickly and Turenne, at times with Louis in attendance, took towns such as [[Charleroi]], [[Tournai]], and [[Douai]] in a campaign the French remembered as the "promenade militaire." The only long siege was that of [[Lille]], from [[August 28]] to [[September 25]].

The great success of the French began to worry the other powers of Europe, especially long-time French allies, the [[Netherlands]]. The Dutch as well as England, the various German states, and Sweden had been quite content to have Spain, a weakened kingdom that no longer posed a serious threat to their borders, in control of the strategic southern Low Countries. If France gained control of the Spanish Netherlands it would mean a strong and aggressive state on the Dutch border, and in control of the excellent ports opposite England and the [[North Sea]]. Thus the Dutch formed the [[Triple Alliance (1668)|Triple Alliance]] in January 1668, joining the Dutch Republic, England, and Sweden. They issued a decree granting Louis the territory he had demanded at the start of the war, but warned that if the French continued their offensive beyond those lines the three would join the Spanish in repelling them.

French troops under the skillful [[Louis II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé| Prince de Condé]] (the "Grand Condé") swiftly occupied the [[Franche-Comté]] in February, but then, with his troops ranged across a long possible front, ill positioned to resist the Triple Alliance, Louis agreed to their demands.

==Aftermath==