The Spanish had been bogged down in the Portuguese Restoration War for years, while France was in a strong position by the middle of the 1660s. After the death of Philip IV of Spain, Louis XIV, the young king of France, took an aggressive tack. On behalf of his wife, Infanta Maria Theresa, the oldest daughter of Philip IV, he claimed certain territories using the power of devolution. These areas included the Spanish Netherlands and Franche-Comté. As a result of Spain’s denial, France declared war on Spain on May 24, 1667, beginning the Devolution War.
There were two major campaigns that defined the course of the war: Flanders and Franche-Comté. The English, the Dutch Republic (modern-day Netherlands), and the Swedish Empire formed the Triple Alliance in response to France’s rising might. This resulted in the signing of a treaty to terminate the Devolution War by Louis XIV on May 4, 1668, at Aix-la-Chapelle.
Causes of the Devolution War
A complex series of events led to the Devolution War. It began with the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659, which ended the conflict between Spain and France. In 1665, King Philip IV of Spain passed away, leaving his four-year-old son, Charles II, as his successor. In contrast, Louis XIV of France ascended to the throne in 1643, when he was not yet five years old. In 1660, Louis XIV married Philip IV’s daughter, Infanta Maria Theresa, who had relinquished her rights to several Spanish provinces in exchange for a substantial dowry of 500,000 gold ecus.
However, Philip IV was unable to pay this sum, providing Louis XIV with a pretext to assert his wife’s rights to the coveted territories under the right of devolution. This led to the outbreak of the Devolution War on May 24, 1667.
It was called the War of Devolution because it was based on Louis XIV’s claim that he had a “devolutionary right” to certain Spanish territories through his wife, Maria Theresa of Spain. This claim was based on a legal concept of inheritance through marriage.
The Right to Devolution
The right to devolution originated in the region of Brabant, situated between northern France and modern-day Belgium. This custom gave priority to children born from a first marriage in the case of succession, even if it was a daughter. In the context of the Devolution War, Louis XIV decided to invoke this right. His wife, Infanta Maria Theresa, was born from the first marriage of King Philip IV of Spain, while his son and successor, Charles II, was born from a second marriage. Louis XIV claimed territories he believed belonged to his wife by inheritance under the right of devolution.
Louis XIV claimed several territories, including parts of the Spanish Netherlands (modern-day Belgium) and the Franche-Comté region, which was part of the Holy Roman Empire.
Participants in the Devolution War
The Devolution War pitted the French crown against the Spanish crown, with France taking advantage of the weakened Spanish forces engaged in the Portuguese Restoration War for nearly three decades. Concerned about France’s expansion, the English formed the Triple Alliance with the Dutch Republic and Sweden in January 1668. In response to this significant threat, Louis XIV decided to sign a peace treaty on May 4, 1668, in Aix-la-Chapelle.
Course of the Devolution War
Louis XIV, invoking the right of devolution on May 8, 1667, claimed numerous territories in a treaty known as the “rights of the Most Christian Queen” to Madrid, the royal capital of Spain. He sought the Duchy of Brabant, the entire Franche-Comté, the Duchy of Luxembourg, and parts of Flanders, all provinces held by the Spanish crown. On May 24, 1667, French forces under the command of Viscount Turenne launched an offensive in Flanders.
Under the command of Marquis de Castel Rodrigo, the Spanish forces in the Spanish Netherlands were ill-prepared, and the French quickly gained the upper hand, capturing Charleroi fortress on June 2. Successes followed, with cities like Douai, Tournai, and Bergues falling to the French. Lille surrendered on August 17, marking a clear victory for Louis XIV in the Flanders campaign, which concluded on September 13. Condé’s leadership of the Franche-Comté campaign resulted in a French victory in December. However, the formation of the Triple Alliance in The Hague to counter France’s expansionism prompted Louis XIV to negotiate. Consequently, a peace treaty was signed in Aix-la-Chapelle on May 2, 1668, ending the Devolution War.
Outcome of the Devolution War
The victor of the Devolution War was King Louis XIV. He almost effortlessly invaded the Spanish Netherlands and Franche-Comté, thanks to the effective strategies of his commanders like Turenne and Condé. However, the fact that Louis XIV gave up his claims to Franche-Comté, which remained under Spanish rule, in the Aix-la-Chapelle treaty tempers this victory.
The War of Devolution was part of a series of conflicts in the late 17th century, including the Franco-Dutch War (also known as the Dutch War), as European powers vied for supremacy and control over territories. These conflicts were influenced by power struggles and political ambitions in the region.
Consequences of the Devolution War
At the end of the War of Devolution, the Spanish crown was forced to relinquish the whole of the Spanish Netherlands to Louis XIV, which had been its main objective. For France, this was a great victory, as many strongholds fell into its hands. In addition to major cities such as Lille, several fortresses were conquered. The Marquis de Vauban, the famous military architect, was sent to France in May 1668 to supervise work to reinforce the defenses and fortify the northern frontier against the threat from the Netherlands.
In 1672, Louis XIV returned to battle in the region. This was the Dutch War, which lasted from 1672 to 1678. France prevailed against the Quadruple Alliance of the United Provinces (Netherlands), the Holy Roman Empire, Brandenburg, and Spain. The war ended with the Treaty of Nijmegen, allowing France to take control of several Flemish strongholds and Franche-Comté.