Treaty for a Defensive League between France and Sweden
The Holy League continued to prevail through 1697, including a stun-
ning victory at the Battle of Zenta in September 1697. The Ottoman
Empire eventually relented at a peace treaty signed in Karlowitz in
January 1699. The Turks ceded Podolia to Poland, almost all of their
central European possessions to the Holy Roman Empire, and Dalma-
tia and Morea to the Venetians. Russia received territories near the
Black Sea by a later peace treaty signed in Constantinople.
Description of Terms
The parties pledged to combine their forces in a war against the
Turks and Tartars and to cooperate until all parties were satis-
fied. No party was permitted to make a separate peace. If the
territory of an alliance member was invaded, the other allies
would use their forces to attack the enemy to disrupt its focus.
The alliance was planned for three years and was subject to
renewal, although friendly relations among the allies would
continue after the expiry of the alliance. The alliance would not
affect the alliance among the Holy Roman Emperor, Venice, and
Poland, or the alliance between the tsar and Poland.
1.1043 Treaty for a Defensive League between
France and Sweden
Alliance Members:France and Sweden
Signed On:July 9, 1698, in the city of Stockholm
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 22, p. 179.
SUMMARY
During the latter half of the seventeenth century, Sweden entered into
many alliances that had important ramifications for wars in Europe.
Sweden and France, allies during the Scanian War, signed a defensive
pact in 1698, precipitating their future respective conflicts. Sweden
and Denmark were locked in conflict over Holstein-Gottorp, fore-
shadowing the Great Northern War; and France was soon to be
embroiled in the War of the Spanish Succession.
Both countries’ respective entanglements prohibited them from help-
ing each other and following through with the terms of the alliance.
Sweden achieved the first victory when the Peace of Travendal in 1700
forced Denmark out of the war and left open the possibility of Sweden
intervening in the War of the Spanish Succession. Sweden then
decided to open a military front against Poland that eventually
resulted in deposing Augustus II by the Treaty of Altranstadt and forc-
ing Poland out of the anti-Swedish coalition for the interim.
Description of Terms
France and Sweden pledged that there would be a strong and
sincere friendship between the two countries. The goal of this
treaty was to preserve peace and tranquility, and both kings
would keep each other aware of their intentions. If peace and
tranquility were disturbed, the allied kings would take the nec-
essary measures to solve the problem.
After a year, other princes or states would be welcome to join
the treaty. If either country made peace with another state, the
other alliance partner would be included in the peace treaty.
This treaty promoted free trade as there had been in the past.
The subjects of both nations would be allowed to go freely into
ports, cities, and provinces of both kingdoms to sell or buy mer-
chandise. This treaty was to last ten years and could be renewed.1.1044 Treaty of Alliance among Great Britain,
the Netherlands, and Sweden
Alliance Members:Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Sweden
Signed On:January 13, 1700, in The Hague; and January 20, 1700, in
London
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 22, p. 427.
Additional Citations:A Collection of All the Treaties of Peace,
Alliance, and Commerce, Between Great Britain and Other Powers,
p. 27–33.SUMMARY
Charles XII became the new king of Sweden in 1697 after his father’s
death and, in spite of his age, entered into a large number of alliances
soon after. England and the Dutch Republic were more than willing to
enter into a pact with Sweden. Sweden, under the aging Charles XI
years earlier, had flirted with the idea of a tripartite alliance with Den-
mark and France that actually would have undermined its interests in
the region. However, this alliance, defensive in nature, provided Swe-
den better security to continue trade with France, which was vital to
the Swedish economy.
The immediate impact of the alliance came at Denmark’s expense. An
opportunistic Denmark, never satisfied with Swedish control of Hol-
stein-Gottorp, took the opportunity of the nascent rule of Sweden’s
boy-king to renew hostilities with Sweden over the region. England
and the Dutch Republic came to Sweden’s defense, resulting in a swift
move into Zealand and an immediate threat to sack Copenhagen.
Denmark opted for peace at Travendal in August 1700, forcing Den-
mark out of the beginning stages of the Great Northern War and giv-
ing Charles XII a significant victory early in his reign.Alliance Text
I. The treaty of alliance concluded on the ofMay,1698, fhall
remain in force, and be confirmed by virtue of thefe prefents, in
the fame manner as if it was inferted herein verbatim.
II. In like manner, all the alliances concluded, as well between
the kings aforefaid, as between either of them and the faid lords the
States General of the United Netherlands, fhall remain entire and
in force, every one according to the term fixed for its duration.
III. And thefe alliances fhall take place, not only in the cafes
therein concluded and determined, but alfo particularly, if it
fhould happen that one or more of the confederates, and con-
trafting parties, be invaded by reafon of this alliance, under any
colour or pretence whatfoever.
IV. And therefore the contracting powers abovementioned,
do bind themfelves to the reciprocal guaranty of their king-
doms, ftates, provinces, jurifdictions, and territories in Europe ;
and promife to defend one another in the beft manner, againft144