Renewal of Secret Alliance between the Holy Roman Emperor and BrandenburgSUMMARY
On November 16, 1700, Frederick III, elector of Brandenburg,
assumed the title of the first king in Prussia; he became Frederick I of
Prussia in a formal coronation in Königsberg on January 18, 1701.
Frederick convinced Leopold I, archduke of Austria and the Holy
Roman Emperor, to relent to Prussia being ruled as a kingdom. In
exchange, the agreement of November 1700 between Leopold I and
Frederick formed an alliance against Louis XIV in the War of the
Spanish Succession. Frederick’s title became generally accepted upon
formalization in the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713.
Excerpted Description of Terms
“Article 1: Thereby the Alliance of March 22, 1886, is confirmed
in all its provisions save insofar as they may be affected by the
present instrument. Articles 2–6: These articles laid down the
rights and obligations of the parties in relation to the casus foed-
eris,the matter of the Hanoverian electorship and the Spanish
succession ect. Article 7: Provides for the investment of the
Elector with royal dignity status, he after his coronation to enjoy
the same titles and dignities in relations with the Empire and
the Hapsburg hereditary territories as do Sweden, Denmark,
and Poland. Article 8: But, his title of King in Prussia is not to
prejudice the Empire, the Crown of Poland or the Teutonic
Order. Articles 9–12: deal with how the rank of the new King’s
representatives in the Imperial Diet and like ceremonial matters
are regulated. Article 13: In return for these favours the Elector
waives his claims for subsidies and undertakes to assist in the
endeavour to secure the readmission of the Crown of Bohemia
to the Empire. Article 14: the alliance is to be kept secret. First
Separate Article: the Emperor undertakes to support the Elec-
tor’s claim to Moers and Lingen and other territories at present
under Spanish control. Second Separate Article: the Elector
undertakes to give the same ceremonial treatment to the Kings
of Bohemia and Hungary as is accorded to other monarchs.
Third Separate Article: Elector pledges his electoral vote to the
House of Hapsburg (Austria). Fourth Separate Article: provides
for the settlement of certain outstanding questions or disputes,
such as those touching Quedlingburg and Essen. Fifth Separate
Article: constitutes an undertaking by the Elector, when he
becomes King, not to dispense to person born under the
Empire or its dependencies such titles and privileges as have
habitually been granted by the Imperial Chancery. Sixth Sepa-
rate Article: the questions of subsidies in time of peace is
deferred (according to Moerner, the sixth was not ratified).”