Treaty of The Hague (1698)

Treaty of the Hague (1698)

First Treaty of Partition between Great Britain, France and the United Provinces
Habsburg possessions in Spain (red), and Austria (yellow)
Context	Concerns over the inheritance of Charles II of Spain
Signed	11 October 1698 (1698-10-11)
Location	The Hague
Negotiators	Marquis de Pomponne Earl of Portland Anthonie Heinsius
Signatories	Tallard Earl of Portland Various[a]
Parties	France  Dutch Republic  England

The 1698 Treaty of The Hague, also known as the 1698 Treaty of Den Haag or First Partition Treaty was one of two attempts by France, Great Britain, and the Dutch Republic to achieve a diplomatic solution to the issues that led to the 1701–1714 War of the Spanish Succession.

The death of Charles II had been anticipated from his succession in 1665, but by 1697 appeared clearly imminent. As he was childless, the closest heirs were of the Austrian Habsburg monarchy or the French House of Bourbon. The acquisition by either of the undivided Spanish Empire would change the European balance of power.

Negotiations took place immediately after the financially crippling Nine Years' War (1688-97) to attempt to resolve the issue without another expensive war. Signed on 11 October 1698, the treaty made the six-year-old Joseph Ferdinand of Bavaria heir to the Spanish throne, with Spain's European possessions divided between France and Austria.

However, neither Austria nor Spain was consulted, and the Spanish refused to accept the division of their empire. The death of Joseph Ferdinand in February 1699 led to the Second Partition Treaty, or Treaty of London, in March 1700.
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