Treaty of Alliance and Commerce between Great Britain and Sweden2.1094 Convention of Alliance among Austria-
Hungary, Great Britain, Modena, and Tuscany
Alliance Members:Austria-Hungary, Great Britain, Modena, and
Tuscany
Signed On:May 11, 1753, in the city of Vienna
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 40, p. 61.
SUMMARY
By the middle of the eighteenth century, the Modena family was near-
ing extinction. By 1753, Ercole III, the duke of Modena, had only one
daughter and a son who died in infancy. To secure succession for his
daughter in some capacity, Ercole III signed an alliance with Great
Britain, Austria, and Tuscany in May 1753 that stated that, in exchange
for engagement to his daughter, Peter-Leopold, son of Maria Theresa,
would be named as heir of Modena. Peter-Leopold was later replaced
in the agreement for Ferdinand, another son of Maria Theresa.
Succession was complicated by the Napoleonic Wars, when Modena
was annexed by Napoleon and Ferdinand died before regaining Mod-
ena. Francis IV, duke of Modena, assumed the throne of Modena in
1815.
Description of Terms
The original text of the treaty, in Latin, began by explaining the
rationale for the convention, namely that the Duke of Modena
wanted to choose an heir in case of the complete extinction of
the House of Este, the ruling line in Modena. Peter-Leopold is
named heir to the throne and pledged to wed the granddaugh-
ter, Maria Beatrice. Peter-Leopold would be heir even if all
female descendants of the house died before the marriage was
concluded or if they died without children. Peter-Leopold
would inherit the throne regardless of whether the marriage
produced children, following the line of his male descendants
from any legitimate marriage. If no heirs were produced, the
line would pass to another Austrian archduke so long as he did
not rule other lands; the archduke would then be obligated to
pass the line to his sons.
Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I, agreed to this suc-
cession plan for their son, Ferdinand, and promised that their
son would be sent to Milan as soon as was possible. The treaty
pledged that Modena would never be united with the hereditary
lands of Austria and would remain a separate state with a ruler
in residence. Any ruler of Modena would take the name of the
Este house.
2.1095 Treaty of Union and Defensive Amity
between Austria-Hungary and France (Treaty
of Versailles)
Alliance Members:Austria-Hungary and France
Signed On:May 1, 1756, in the city of Versailles
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 40, p. 335.SUMMARY
In the aftermath of the War of Austrian Succession, Prussia
emerged as a growing power, especially compared with Austria,
which was severely weakened following the conflict. Britain had
been a longtime ally of Austria but now felt that Austria was too
weak to help protect its interests in Hanover. An alliance was
signed between Britain and Prussia in January 1756, in which
Britain abrogated all responsibilities to Austria. An outraged
France responded with a counteralliance with Austria, which
later incorporated Russia.
This chain of events is understood now as the Diplomatic
Revolution, during which Austria and Prussia switched War of
Austrian Succession allegiances around the Franco-British
rivalry. By October 1756, hostilities began anew at the Battle of
Lobositz. The resulting conflict, the Seven Years War, lasted
until 1763.Description of Terms
The allies agreed to a pact of non-aggression and mutual
defense in case of attack by a third party. Further, in the first of
two secret articles, Austria-Hungary was guaranteed specific aid
from France if it were attacked by Prussia.2.1096 Treaty of Alliance and Commerce
between Great Britain and Sweden
Alliance Members:Great Britain and Sweden
Signed On:February 5, 1766, in the city of Stockholm
Alliance Type:Entente (Type III)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 43, p. 255.SUMMARY
Great Britain had tried for some time to create an alliance with Swe-
den and wrest the country from French influence. In February 1766,
Sweden and Great Britain agreed to an amity treaty that Great Britain
hoped would serve as the basis for a more comprehensive agreement.
Principally, the British ambassador to Sweden, Sir John Goodricke,
was interested in a defensive pact to which Russia would later accede.
Several roadblocks emerged during the course of negotiations that
prevented the treaty from being anything more than a general agree-
ment of friendship and cordiality. Sweden never felt comfortable
defecting from its relationship with France. Great Britain made a
final effort in 1772, but by year’s end, Great Britain had lost hope for
a bigger policy with Russia by way of Sweden. The partitions of
Poland soon followed, and Great Britain no longer had use for Russia
as an ally.
The alliance, after amendments (in 1812 and 1911), lasted until the
twentieth century, although Commonwealth members New Zealand,
Australia, and Papua withdrew from the treaty at various times.Description of Terms
This treaty of alliance and commerce was between Great Britain