Treaty of Defensive Alliance between the Holy Roman Emperor and Spain
2.1066 Treaty of Defensive Alliance between
the Holy Roman Emperor and Spain
Alliance Members:Holy Roman Emperor and Spain
Signed On:April 30, 1725, in the city of Vienna
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 32, p. 99.
SUMMARY
Phillip V of Spain and the Holy Roman Emperor concluded the Treaty
of Vienna on April 30, 1725. The treaty created an alliance between
Spain and the emperor whereby the emperor agreed to relinquish all
claims to the Spanish throne, formally recognizing Bourbon rule in
Spain. Further, the emperor agreed to assist Spain in reacquiring
Gibraltar and Minorca from the British Empire. Spain had lost these
former possessions following the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713.
On this pledge of support from the emperor, Spain attacked Gibraltar
on February 11, 1727. The Anglo-Spanish War followed, lasting until
June 12. Spain was unsuccessful in its four-month siege of Gibraltar,
incurring more damages than the British. Hostilities ceased and a
truce was agreed to in 1728. The Treaty of Seville in 1729 concluded
the Anglo-Spanish War and reinforced the status quo regarding
Gibraltar.
Description of Terms
There will be a sincere and strong friendship between Spain and
the Holy Roman Emperor. Great Britain will return Gibraltar
and the island of Minorca to Spain. Spain promises to grant the
ships of the Holy Roman Emperor access to all its ports for
commerce. If the ships of the Catholic Majesty were to be
attacked within the line, then the Imperial Majesty would make
it a common objective to recover the losses and vice versa.
Spain promises to provide the emperor in time of war 15
warships, 15,000 infantrymen, and 5,000 men of cavalry. The
Holy Roman Emperor will give housing for the winter to those
soldiers. If the emperor would prefer money, he could do so
counting 8,000 dorins for every thousand men and 24,000
dorins for every thousand knights.
2.1067 Treaty of Alliance among Great Britain,
France, and Prussia
Alliance Members:Great Britain, France, Prussia, the Netherlands
(August 9, 1726), and Sweden (March 14, 1727)
Signed On:September 3, 1725, in the city of Hanover (Germany)
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 32, p. 201.
Additional Citations:A Collection of All the Treaties of Peace, Alliance,
and Commerce Between Great Britain and Other Powers,vol. 2,
p. 274–280.
SUMMARY
George I grew anxious that a conflict with Spain was imminent fol-
lowing the Treaty of Vienna signed between Spain and the Holy
Roman Emperor in April 1725. In response, in September 1725 Great
Britain concluded the Treaty of Hanover with Prussia and France,
linking all three states in opposition to Spain and the emperor. The
Netherlands and Sweden later acceded to the alliance.
Spain attacked Gibraltar in February of 1727, beginning the Anglo-
Spanish War. After an unsuccessful four-month siege, Spain retired
from the conflict. By 1729, France, Great Britain, and Spain concluded
the Treaty of Seville that laid the conflict to rest. The treaty reinforced
the status quo regarding Minorca and Gibraltar, but Britain did make
a concession regarding the claim on the Duchy of Parma by Ferdinand
VI, son of Phillip V.Alliance Text
THEIR Majefties the King of Great Britain, the moft Chriftian
King, and the King of Pruffia, having with pleafure, obferved
how much the ftrict union fubfifting between them has con-
tributed, not only to the happinefs of their own kingdoms and
fubjects, but alfo to the public good and tranquillity ; being
likewife perfuaded that there is not a more proper means of
fecuring and ftrengthening the faid advantages againft all events
that may happen, than to cultivate the faid union more and
more, and to make it indiffoluble ; and having maturely con-
fidered all the treaties that fubfiit between their laid Majefties,
(from which they declare that they do not intend any way to
derogate by this prefent treaty) they have thought fit to take
before hand, new meafurcs, in cafe any difturbances fhould
arife in Europe, by agreeing among themfclves upon what may
be neceffary not only for the fecurity and the molt effential
interefts of their own kingdom, but alfo with regard to the gen-
eral good and tranquillity. Upon thefe confiderations, and with
this view, their faid Britannick, moft Chriftian, and Pruffian
Majefties have given their full powers; that is to fay, his Britan-
nick Majefty to CharlesVifcount Townfhend, Baron of Lynn, his
lieutenant in the county of Norfolk, knight of the molt noble
order of the garter, and his. fecretary of ftate ; his moft Chriftian
Majefty, to Francis count de Broglio, lieutenant general of his
armies, director general of his horfe, and of his dragoons, gover-
nor of Mont-Dauphin, and his ambaflador to the faid moft fer-
ene king of Great Britain ; and his Pruffian Majefty, to John
Chriftopher de Wallenrodt, his minifter of ftate, and his envoy
extraordinary to the faid moft ferene king of Great Britain ;
who, by virtue of the faid full powers, having with all poffible
attention weighed the moft proper meafures to attain the end
which their faid majefties propofe to themfelves, have agreed
upon the following articles.
I. There fhall be now, and in all time coming, a true, firm,
and inviolable peace, the moft fincere and intimate friendfhip,
and the moft ftrict alliance and union between the faid three
moft ferene kings, their heirs and fucceffors, their dominions,
countries, and towns fituate in their refpective territories, and
their fubjects and inhabitants, as well in as out of Europe ; and
the fame fhall be preferved and cultivated in fuch manner, that
the contracting parties may faithfully promote their reciprocal
interefts and advantages, and prevent and repel all wrongs and
damages, by the moft. proper means they can find out.