Treaty of Alliance among the Holy Roman Empire, Spain, the Netherlands, and DenmarkDescription of Terms
Spain, the Netherlands, Lorraine, and the empire agreed to a
close friendship. An army would be formed for the emperor of
Lorraine: 8,000 horses and 10,000 men. The Imperial Majesty
would provide 1,000 horses and 3,000 men. The Catholic
Majesty would provide 1,000 horses and 4,000 men. The
Netherlands would only provide 1,000 horses because they were
supporting the biggest weight of the war. The emperor of Lor-
raine would acquire the remaining 4,000 horses and 2,000 men
within four weeks. After those four weeks, the emperor would
have to acquire another 1,000 horses and 1,000 men.
The money that the emperor of Lorraine would need during
the war would be equally divided among the three countries.
The emperor of Lorraine would have to act offensively. If it
became an open war, the three allies would not settle without
the emperor of Lorraine. Lorraine pledged not to make peace
with the enemy without the other allies. The alliance was set to
last for ten years.
1.1026 Treaty of Offensive and Defensive
Alliance between the Holy Roman Empire and
Spain
Alliance Members:Holy Roman Empire and Spain
Signed On:August 28, 1673, in the city of Rockizau (Czech Republic)
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 13, p. 23.
SUMMARY
The defection of Brandenburg and the alarming ease by which France
was conducting the Franco-Dutch War by 1673 resonated in Spain
and the Holy Roman Empire. Spain knew that an invasion of the
Spanish Netherlands was certain if the French could make peace with
the Dutch, and the Holy Roman Emperor was upset over France’s
aggressive overtones toward the empire. During the summer of 1673,
the Dutch Republic played an important role in bringing in allies to
assist against France.
Spain made it clear that it was hesitant to take too prominent a role in
assisting the Dutch for fear that England and France would retaliate
against its American colonies. Spain offered to assist the Dutch if the
Holy Roman Emperor agreed to help defend Spanish colonies in the
event of a French or English attack.
The course of the Franco-Dutch War changed considerably following
the alliance’s formation. The Dutch forced England out of the war after
the Treaty of Westminster in February 1674. Afterward, the French
were forced into a mostly defensive battle until a peace was achieved at
Nijmegen. Spain’s American colonies were never effectively threatened.
Description of Terms
The emperor agreed to protect Spanish holdings from French
attack in exchange for subsidies provided by Spain. Both allies
agreed to include in the alliance the Dutch and any others who
would agree to the status quo in the Netherlands.
1.1027 Defensive Alliance between the Holy
Roman Empire and Denmark
Alliance Members:Holy Roman Empire and Denmark
Signed On:January 16, 1674, in the city of Copenhagen
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 13, p. 113.SUMMARY
Sweden’s alliance with France during the Franco-Dutch War put Den-
mark in an uncomfortable situation and ultimately into the anti-
French alliance. Denmark took the first steps toward conflict by sign-
ing this January 1674 alliance. The alliance signed here was a precursor
to the Quadruple Alliance of 1674 signed in the summer of 1674
against France, which also reintroduced Brandenburg into the war.
The Danish were very clear on the casus foederisin this alliance. Den-
mark would assist only when the anti-French league was attacked by a
new French ally. This was a roundabout way in which Denmark lim-
ited its war efforts to be solely directed at Sweden, which was allied
with France but had not yet fully participated. When Sweden invaded
Pomerania, Denmark’s alliance obligations became active. Soon after,
Denmark invaded Scania, ushering in the Scanian War.Description of Terms
Denmark pledged 20,000 Danish troops to aid the Holy Roman
Empire in the current war in exchange for subsidies provided by
the emperor. This army would only be used if a new enemy (not
France) attacked one of the allied states.1.1028 Treaty of Alliance among the Holy
Roman Empire, Spain, the Netherlands, and
Denmark
Alliance Members:Holy Roman Empire, Spain, the Netherlands, and
Denmark; Brandenburg joined later in the month of July 1674
Signed On:July 10, 1674, in the city of The Hague (Netherlands)
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 13, p. 203.SUMMARY
In July 1674, the Quadruple Alliance of 1674 during the Franco-Dutch
War was signed against France. This alliance formally incorporated
Denmark into the war against France and reintroduced Brandenburg
into the war. Brandenburg had been forced out previously by a string
of French victories early in the conflict.
The alliance foreshadowed the Scanian War that developed in 1675.
Sweden, which was an ally of France and an enemy of Denmark, had
been noncommittal for much of the conflict. With the introduction of
Denmark into the war against France, however, France demanded
Swedish action, threatening the end of subsidies if it did not act. Swe-
den responded with an invasion of Fehrbellin in June 1675, which
Brandenburg dealt with handily. Denmark was encouraged by the
defeat of the Swedes and invaded Scania shortly thereafter.