War of Quadruple Alliance

War of the Quadruple Alliance
The Battle of Cape Passaro, 11 August 1718 by Richard Paton (oil on canvas, 1767)
Date 17 December 1718 – 17 February 1720 (1 year and 2 months) Location Europe, North America Result Allied victory Treaty of The Hague
Belligerents
Spain Jacobites	Great Britain  France  Holy Roman Empire  Dutch Republic  Savoy
Commanders and leaders
Marquis of Lede Duke of Montemar Duke of Ormonde Antonio Castañeta	Duke of Berwick Count de Mercy Lord Cobham Sir George Byng Duke of Savoy
Strength
~15,000–20,000	35,000
Casualties and losses
4,350	Austria: 11,250 England: 6,000 France: 3,000 Sardinia: 2,250 Holland: 1,500
Total: 28,350

Allied victory

The War of the Quadruple Alliance (1718–1720) was a result of the ambitions of King Philip V of Spain, his wife, Elisabeth Farnese, and his chief minister Giulio Alberoni to retake territories in Italy and to claim the French throne. It saw the defeat of Spain by an alliance of Britain, France, Austria (then a state of the Holy Roman Empire), and the Dutch Republic. Savoy later joined the coalition as the fifth ally. Although fighting began as early as 1717, war was not formally declared until December 1718. It was brought to an end by the Treaty of The Hague in 1720.

Charles II of Spain died in 1700 leaving no heirs to succeed him. By his will, he named Philip, Duke of Anjou, grandson of Louis XIV of France, as his successor. This led to the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714), at the end of which Philip, Duke of Anjou, was recognized as King Philip V of Spain, but on the condition that he be removed from the French line of succession, thereby ensuring that the French and Spanish crowns would never be united.

By the Treaty of Utrecht (1713), Spain lost all its possessions in Italy and the Low Countries. The Spanish Netherlands, Duchy of Milan, Naples and Sardinia were given to Emperor Charles VI of Austria, while Sicily was awarded to the Duke of Savoy and Prussia received the Spanish Guelders. These lands had been under Spanish Habsburg control for nearly two centuries, and their loss was perceived as a great blow to the country in both practical and prestige terms.

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