Baština (Jan 2018)
The war for Spanish succession and the Utrecht peace
Abstract
The war for Spanish succession, and event which preceded it culminated with Utrecht Peace from 1713. This period was marked by Luis XIV, William II, and Leopold I including Spanish rulers. The claim for Spanish monarchy was a big deal - it requested battle, coalition making, compromise, and a lot of cunning. These events redesigned the political map of Europe - France was not encircled by Spanish Hapsburgs, but as the leading power of that time Louis XIV (the King of the Sun), was confronted with great coalitions against it. Louis XIV wished glory either in domestic or in foreign policy so that he had proceeded to many adventures which weakened France. The aim of coalitions was the prevention of the state/hegemon creation. Versailles, and Vienna would establish balance of power which lasted until the war for Austrian succession. England will become the leading marine force. Novelty introduced by Utrecht peace tackled the binding of treaties not only with actual rulers, but with their successors as well. It represented the triumph of modern diplomacy because a lot of technical issues were omitted. Territory was not the result of claim to it, but the claim to it depended on the request for territory. The issues of succession became internationalized. The transfer of sovereignty is not the result of military occupation, but the result of peace treaty. King's titles were internationally recognized. This war started slowly inaugurating a new international law so that all national legislations should have follow the development of international law. Comparatively with the change of political relationships in Europe, legal norms were to be changed. Devolution war is a typical example of the primate of international law over national. This war was very complex since it included many dynasties, and geopolitical interests among them, so that it was settled by diplomats, and jurists, and not generals.
