Louis XIV, France and Europe, 1643– 1715 (A-level only) – France defeated,…

The idea

The Treaty of Utrecht (1713) concluded the War of the Spanish Succession, fundamentally reshaping European geopolitics. It established the principle of the balance of power, ensuring no single nation could dominate the continent. Philip V retained the Spanish throne, but the treaty permanently separated the French and Spanish crowns, thwarting Louis XIV's dynastic ambitions for a unified Bourbon superpower. Britain emerged as the primary beneficiary, gaining strategic territories like Gibraltar, Minorca, and Newfoundland, alongside the lucrative Asiento slave trade monopoly. Meanwhile, the Austrian Habsburgs acquired the Spanish Netherlands and territories in Italy, creating a buffer against future French expansion. This settlement marked the decline of French hegemony and the rise of the British Empire.

What earns the marks

• Identify the key territorial concessions made by France and Spain, such as Britain gaining Gibraltar, Minorca, and Newfoundland.
• Explain the significance of the permanent separation of the French and Spanish Bourbon crowns in preventing a unified superpower.
• Analyse how the acquisition of the Spanish Netherlands by Austria served to contain French expansionism.
• Evaluate the shift in global power dynamics, specifically the rise of British maritime and commercial dominance through the Asiento.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Claiming that France gained territory at Utrecht.

  Put it right: In reality, France lost colonial possessions like Newfoundland and Acadia to Britain.

• Stating that Philip V lost the Spanish throne.

  Put it right: He was actually recognised as King of Spain, provided he permanently renounced his claim to the French throne.

• Confusing the Treaty of Utrecht with the Treaty of Ryswick.

  Put it right: Utrecht ended the War of the Spanish Succession in 1713, whereas Ryswick ended the Nine Years' War in 1697.

Exam tips

• Use the concept of the 'balance of power' as a central analytical framework when evaluating the success or failure of Louis XIV's foreign policy.
• Contrast the outcomes of Utrecht with Louis XIV's initial war aims to assess the extent of French defeat.
• Highlight Britain's commercial gains, such as the Asiento, to demonstrate how economic power became as crucial as territorial expansion in early modern Europe.