Treaty of Alliance and Subsidy between Great Britain and Denmark
Poland, and Sweden renewed the alliance it had formed twelve years
earlier with Russia.
The defensive alliance with Denmark was renewed again in 1749 and
remained in force for several decades after the initial formation.
Description of Terms
The alliance text, in German, pledged friendship, mutual
defense, and noninterference. Should either side be attacked,
the assisting country would respond with necessary forces or
with subsidies. The treaty was ratified by Denmark on Novem-
ber 5, 1734.
2.1077 Treaty of Alliance and Subsidy between
Great Britain and Denmark
Alliance Members:Great Britain and Denmark
Signed On:September 30, 1734, in the city of Westminster (England)
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 34, p. 185.
SUMMARY
During the War of Polish Succession, Great Britain started approach-
ing other states, anticipating it would soon have to join the conflict.
Britain identified Denmark as a country of shared interests, and in
September of 1734, Great Britain and Denmark finalized an alliance.
The alliance lent approximately 6,000 Danish troops to England in
exchange for a subsidy for their use.
Great Britain made its decision thinking it might be drawn into the
conflict given its alliance commitments with Austria. Should conflict
break out, the 6,000 soldiers would spare the immediate loss of
English life. Nevertheless, Great Britain never entered the War of Pol-
ish Succession.
Description of Terms
The parties pledged a sincere friendship and union and con-
firmed with this treaty all previous treaties between the two
countries. Denmark agreed to lend 1,000 men of cavalry and
5,000 infantrymen for a period of three years. For those troops
England would pay Denmark 80 écus per knight and 30 per
infantryman. When the troops were controlled by Denmark,
England would pay 250,000 écus per year and 150,000 when the
troops were controlled by England. England would pay the sol-
diers.
England would have the ability to use the troops as it wished,
except in Italy, at sea, or in England except for the defense of
England and Ireland. If Denmark were attacked, the troops
would be returned quickly, and England would assist Denmark
until an advantageous peace were reached. Denmark agreed to
do the same.
The treaty would not affect Danish trade, even with France.
This treaty would last for three years.
2.1078 Treaty of Alliance among France,
Poland, and Lithuania
Alliance Members:France, Poland, and Lithuania
Signed On:September 18, 1735, in the city of Versailles
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 34, p. 277.SUMMARY
The War of Polish Succession pitted Russian and Austrian forces
against French and Spanish forces. The former group backed Augustus
III while the latter backed Stanislaus. During the period of the war
when Stanislaus was king (1733–1736), Poland was allied with France.
In 1734 and 1735, the Russians began a siege on Danzig, where Stanis-
laus was entrenched with his partisans. A French fleet finally arrived to
attempt to force back the Russians, but the French were defeated and
forced to surrender. The French attempt to save Stanislaus marks the
first time French and Russian forces met in battle.
This treaty was purely a formality between France and Stanislaus’s
confederates within Poland. The Poles hopes for Swedish and Turkish
involvement in the conflict never materialized, nor did a settlement
between France and Prussia. By January 1736, Stanislaus had abdi-
cated his throne, and by November 1738 a peace treaty had been
signed in Vienna establishing Augustus III as king of Poland. Stanis-
laus was compensated with the duchy of Lorraine after losing his
throne, although the territory would pass to France and Louis XIV
upon his death.Description of Terms
The text of the treaty, in Latin, assures both sides of mutual
defense and pledges that both parties would continue their war
efforts until all allied forces were satisfied with the settlement.
Neither side would sign a separate peace to end its involvement
in the war.2.1079 Defensive Alliance between Sweden and
Tu r k e y
Alliance Members:Sweden and Turkey
Signed On:December 22, 1739, in the city of Constantinople (Istan-
bul, Turkey)
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 35, p. 493.SUMMARY
In December 1739, Sweden and the Ottoman Empire entered an
alliance specifically regarding Russia. The Ottoman Empire had just
concluded its most recent war with Russia, lasting from 1735 to 1739.
The alliance noted that although peace existed between the two allied
states and Russia, they would join together in war should Russia attack
either Sweden or Turkey.
The alliance did not go over well across Europe. France feared Sweden
might be tempted by the alliance with the Turks to engage in a
renewed war against Russia. As for Russia, the tsar was furious over
what was regarded as Swedish duplicity. The Swedish diplomat who