Alliance against the Turks among the Holy Roman Empire, Russia, and VeniceWestphalia, Nimeguen, and the truce with France concluded at
Ratisbon for twenty years. Every member of the alliance
pledged to help those members that would be attacked. Every
member would have men and munitions at the frontiers to pre-
vent any surprise attack and had the duty to advise the other
members of any eventual invasion.
The Holy Roman Emperor would provide 16,000 men. The
circle of Bourgone would provide 6,000 men or the equivalent
in money, or partly money and partly men. Sweden would
specify its number at the time of ratification. Bavaria would
provide 8,000 men; the circle of Bavaria, 2,000; Saxony, 1,000;
the princes and states of haut Rhine and of Westerwald, 4,000;
and the circle of Franconia, 4,000. To maintain discipline, sol-
diers would camp for a month or six weeks every year. All the
artillery below twelve pounds would be provided by the assist-
ing countries.
A common fund was based in Frankfurt. Every member was
obligated to provide a fair amount by proportion with the thou-
sands of men it promised. The Holy Roman Emperor remained
exempt from this fund because of the large amount of resources
that entity had promised.
The war operations were under the supreme direction of the
Holy Roman Emperor with the advice of the attacked country.
If the troops were forced to move, it was to be orchestrated by
the attacked country. If the assisting member suffered attack, it
had the right to recall or keep its troops for its own defense.
Other countries that wished to enter the alliance would be wel-
come. The alliance was set to last three years. If any problems
occurred between the parties, it would not interfere with the
alliance. No allied country was free to make a peace treaty with
the declared enemy during the alliance.
1.1040 Agreement between the Holy Roman
Emperor and His Allies for the Defense of the
Middle and Lower Rhine
Alliance Members:Holy Roman Emperor, Bavaria, Brandenburg,
England, the Netherlands, and Hesse-Cassel
Signed On:February 14, 1693, in the city of Köln (Germany)
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 20, p.137.
SUMMARY
France had made several inroads into Flanders in the early 1690s dur-
ing the War of the Grand Alliance. Because the Holy Roman Empire
was also locked in war against the Ottoman Empire and unable to
commit all its resources to the war against Louis XIV, the empire
helped orchestrate an agreement in 1693 among the Dutch Republic,
England, Bavaria, and Brandenburg for the defense of Köln.
The events that followed the agreement proved fortuitous for the
Grand Alliance. France was unable to push forward any further and
resigned to a defensive posture as the Grand Alliance slowly recap-
tured territories in the Spanish Netherlands. With finances running
low, France reached an agreement to end the war in Italy in 1696.
Eventually, the war wound down, and a series of peace treaties was
reached in Ryswick.Description of Terms
The agreement established the combined allied defenses of the
fortress of Koblenz and Ehrenbreitstein and the imperial city of
Köln.1.1041 Defensive Alliance between Denmark
and Saxony
Alliance Members:Denmark and Saxony
Signed On:March 3, 1693, in the city of Dresden (Germany)
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 20, p. 181.SUMMARY
The Elector of Saxony was involved in several wars near the end of the
seventeenth century, including the Nine Years War against France as
well as assisting the Holy Roman Empire and the Venetian Republic in
their campaign against the Turks. Growing distrust of France led both
Denmark and Saxony to establish this alliance in order to protect their
western fronts.
John George IV of Saxony died soon after the pact with Denmark, and
August II, the brother of John George IV, replaced him as Elector of
Saxony. August II also soon after became the king of Poland. Distrust of
the Swedes led both August II and Denmark to closer ties with Russia,
pressuring Charles XII and foreshadowing the Great Northern War.Description of Terms
Both parties pledged peace, friendship, and mutual aid in the
event of attack. A separate article to the treaty stated that the
current war with France, any future wars between Denmark and
Great Britain or the Netherlands, and any disputes regarding
the ninth electorship would not be regarded as a casus foederis
for the alliance.1.1042 Alliance against the Turks among the
Holy Roman Empire, Russia, and Venice
Alliance Members:Holy Roman Empire, Russia, and Venice
Signed On:January 29, 1697, in the city of Vienna
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 21, p. 287.SUMMARY
The war of the Holy League was still ongoing when Russia, the Holy
Roman Empire, and the Venetian Republic signed an alliance in
Vienna in early 1697. The terms of the alliance called for a continued
offensive against the Ottoman Empire. Poland’s King Jan III Sobieski
had recently died, and the Russian-backed Augustus II had just taken
power. Poland, therefore, was not a signatory to the treaty.