The Peace Treaties of Utrecht, Rastatt and Baden and Catalans
12 August 2024
What do Utrecht, Rastatt (Baden-Württemberg) and Baden (Canton Aargau) have in common? These cities not only played a role in the constitutional history of the Netherlands, the Federal Republic of Germany and Switzerland, respectively.
The most relevant (bilateral) treaties to end the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1713) took place in these cities in 1713 and 1714. Other treaties were afterwards concluded in The Hague, Madrid, and Antwerp.
The War of the Spanish Succession was about the Spanish crown (and rule over the southern Netherlands, the northern Italian territories, Sicily, Naples and the colonies).
Europe around 1700. Picture: Wikipedia
Charles II (1661-1700), King of Spain and his (colonial and European) empire, was the last Spanish Habsburg. In his will, he had named Philip of Anjou (1683-1746), a grandson of Louis XIV (1638-1715), as his successor.
Philip was sworn in as King Philip V of Spain on 1 November 1700. In addition to the Spanish crown, the complex field of forces of the many sovereign states of the Holy Roman Empire, the many scattered Habsburg possessions and, above all, the overseas colonies also played a role.
However, Leopold I (1640-1705), Joseph I (1678-1711) and his successor Charles VI (1685-1740), the Habsburg emperors of the Holy Roman Empire during this period, also laid claim to the throne, and other countries, above all England and the Republic (united in personal union under King William (William) and Stadtholder William (Willem) III (1650-1702)), did not accept it either.
Godfrey Keller (1646-1723), King William of England and Stadtholder William III of the Republic. Collection National Galleries Scotland. Photo: Wikipedia
They feared Spanish-French domination. Experience with the Sun King’s aggressive expansionist policy gave them every reason to do so.
The War of the Spanish Succession, also known as the First World War, was fought on other continents, particularly in Canada and South America, due to the colonies.
The rise of a family that saved Europe and civilisation during the Second World War (1939-1945) is worth mentioning. John Churchill (1650-1722), the Duke of Marlborough, was one of the successful commanders of the anti-French coalition. He was honoured with Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Spencer Churchill (1874-1965).
However, Leopold I (1640-1705), Joseph I (1678-1711) and his successor Charles VI (1685-1740), the Habsburg emperors of the Holy Roman Empire during this period, also laid claim to the throne, and other countries, above all England and the Republic (united in personal union under King William (William) and Stadtholder William (Willem) III (1650-1702)), did not accept it either.
Pieter Schenk (1693-1775), John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, c. 1700, after a painting by Godfrey Keller. Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Collection (RP-P-1905-254). Image: Wikipedia
After years of war with changing prospects of war and several failed peace conferences, the parties were ready to make peace in 1713. Such meetings were held in locations that were politically, logistically and in terms of status, comfort and accommodation suitable and safe for hundreds of diplomats.
Utrecht was the capital of the Province of Utrecht, one of the seven sovereign provinces of the Republic of the United Netherlands (1581) and the namesake of the Union of Utrecht (1579).
This republic was recognised as a sovereign state in 1648 (Treaty of Münster) and has been in constant war with France and occasionally with the naval power England (as an ad hoc ally of France) since then.
The choice of Utrecht as the location of the first conference was primarily determined by its location, i.e. the easy accessibility of the main protagonists, France, England and the Emperor.
Map of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands. Printed from Johann Baptista Homann, Atlas novus Terrarum Orbis Imperia, Regna et Status, Nuremberg, c. 1720, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam collection (RP-P-AO-1-51. B). Image: Wikipedia
In addition, the Republic’s political role on the continent was over after the Golden Age and the wars at sea and on land against England and France, or, as the French diplomat Melchior de Polignac (1661-1741) put it, ‘We negotiate about you, in your city and without you’.
Be that as it may, France and England concluded the Treaty of Utrecht on 11 April 1713. It was a series of bilateral peace treaties between France and England, France and the Republic, France and Prussia, France and Portugal and France and Savoy.
Philip V remained King of Spain, albeit not in a personal union with France. Great Britain received sovereignty over Gibraltar and some French territories in Canada; the southern Netherlands, the northern Italian territories, Sardinia (later exchanged for Sicily), and Naples remained or came to Austria. Savoy received Sicily, which was later exchanged for Sardinia. Portuguese rule over Brazil and Uruguay was recognised, and the Netherlands received mainly trade concessions and garrisons in the southern Netherlands.
However, the Emperor did not accept it and continued the war (without England, the Republic, and other allies). He lost, which was the reason for the peace conference in Rastatt between France and Austria.
Rastatt Castle. Jupiter and his lightning bolts in the direction of neighbouring France
The magnificent baroque palace in Rastatt had been the residence of the Margrave of (Catholic) Baden-Baden since 1705. This area was a buffer between France and the Habsburg possessions in Germany and the scene of many military conflicts and suffering during Louis XIV’s reign.
Traditionally, The Margrave had family connections to the highest European princes, and Rastatt was between Paris, Vienna, and other Habsburg possessions. In addition, the new Baroque residence won over the French and the Habsburg Austrians. The peace treaty between Austria and France was signed on 7 March 1714.
Reconstruction of the negotiations in Rastatt. Collection Rastatt Castle
Austria recognised Philip V as king on the same terms as in the Treaty of Utrecht. Austria retained its Italian possessions, and the amnesty for the Catalans, who had sided with the Habsburgs in the conflict, was also an issue (!). Other issues were also discussed, including reparations for allies and the return of conquered territories.
One complication, however, was the constitutional organisation of the Holy Roman Empire: the Emperor needed the approval of the Imperial Diet. It was the reason for the conference in Baden.
Baden was a Catholic town in Aargau that had been a subject territory of the Habsburg-conquered Confederation since 1415. Delegates from the Confederation’s cantons met at the Tagsatzung in Baden until 1712.
In 1712, however, Catholic Baden sided with the Catholic cantons in the second Villmerger War (the first took place in 1656). The Protestant cantons won, Aargau lost, and from 1712, the Tagsatzung was held in Frauenfeld (Canton Thurgau, also a subject territory, which was conquered in 1460).
Baden nevertheless became the choice for the final peace treaty between France and Austria. The main reason was the Confederation’s neutrality, and the Confederation was recognised as an independent state in the Peace of Westphalia in 1648.
Baden, situated between Vienna and Paris, was also a well-known spa and health resort. For centuries (i.e., until 1712), it had been the meeting place of the Tagsatzung and its several hundred diplomats from the cantons and abroad. It was also not far from Solothurn, the residence of the French ambassador to the Confederation.
Although the most important resolutions had already been passed and the main aim was to conclude the Franco-Austrian peace treaty, around 60 delegations were still present from all parts of the Holy Roman Empire and Europe, from Savoy, Venice, Stockholm, The Hague, Madrid, Berlin, Speyer, abbots and bishops and other dignitaries, all representing their interests and claims—in short, it was a European diplomatic congress.
It ended on 7 September 1714 with the Peace of Baden. The balance of power was restored for the time being (until 1756). In any case, the era of religious and dynastic wars was (almost) over. However, other conflicts appeared at the end of the 18th century, and Switzerland was not spared this time.
(Source: R. de Bruin, M. Brinkman (Red.), Friedensstätte. Die Verträge von Utrecht, Rastatt und Baden 1713-1714, Petersberg, 2013)
Baroque
and Rococo
Markgrave of Baden Ludwig Wilhelm (Turkenlouis, 1655-1707), founder of the Rastatt Castle (1705). Collection Schloss Rastatt