Treaty of Alliance between France and Saxony1.1031 Treaty of Defensive Alliance between
England and the Netherlands
Alliance Members:England and the Netherlands
Signed On:December 31, 1677, in the city of The Hague (Netherlands)
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 14, p. 277.
SUMMARY
The Dutch and the English fought at various stages through the seven-
teenth century. By 1677, however, relations between the two former
rivals were increasingly cordial. Mary, duchess of York, married
William III of Orange in November 1677 with the understanding that
a peace agreement would follow their union. By December 31, 1677, a
peace was reached between England and the Dutch Republic that
entered the two into an alliance. The alliance was a major diplomatic
victory for William III of Orange. His nemesis, Louis XIV, lost his
major bastion of support in Charles II of England.
William III’s Protestant credentials and popularity in England eventu-
ally resulted in the Glorious Revolution, when William III and his wife,
Mary, ascended to the English throne over the Catholic James II. The
peace between the Dutch and the English foreshadowed future cooper-
ation against the French, namely in the War of the Grand Alliance.
Description of Terms
This alliance was meant to reinforce the peace treaty established
by the two parties. The English pledged to recall the troops that
had been in the service of France and establish a standing army
of 12,000 soldiers with an accompanying fleet of 30 ships to
support the alliance.
1.1032 Treaty of Defensive Alliance between
Sweden and Denmark
Alliance Members:Sweden and Denmark
Signed On:September 27, 1679, in the city of Lund (Sweden)
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 15, p. 289.
SUMMARY
The Scanian War started as a consequence of the Franco-Dutch War.
Sweden, a traditional ally of France, intervened on behalf of the
French against the Dutch Republic and Brandenburg. The Dutch, in
turn, sought assistance from the kingdom of Denmark and Norway.
As a result, Denmark invaded Sweden, seeking to acquire the Scanian
provinces at Sweden’s southernmost tip.
The war also ended as a consequence of the Franco-Dutch War. The
Dutch and French achieved a peace at Nijmegen in 1678. France, act-
ing on behalf of Sweden, dictated a peace with Denmark that saw all
territories acquired by the Danish during the war returned to Sweden.
At Lund, Denmark and Sweden agreed to an alliance in which Den-
mark abandoned all claims to Scania and agreed to ally against the
Dutch and their interests in northern Europe.
While Denmark dropped its claims to Scania in the alliance, the
alliance did not deal with the issue of Holstein-Gottorp, which was
coveted by Denmark but was located in the Swedish sphere of influ-
ence. Twenty years later as Sweden struggled during the Great North-
ern War, Denmark invaded the region.
Description of Terms
Both kings pledged to break all the alliances or treaties dating
from before or during the Scanian War that could have been to
the disadvantage of the other. If anyone would use violence
against the interests of the two countries, they would assist each
other. The attacked would notify the other quickly, and the
assisting country would be ready after two months of notifica-
tion. The assisting country would have to send 2,000 horses,
4,000 infantrymen, and as many munitions as necessary. Three
warships of 60 cannon pieces (1,050 men), three warships of 40
to 60 cannon pieces (700), and three warships from 20 to 40
cannon pieces (800) would also be provided. If such assistance
would not be enough, the assisting country would send twice as
much within three months at its costs. If that would still not be
enough, further decisions would be made by the kings.
The assisting country’s troops would be commanded by its
country’s generals. In the war council, the two countries would
be represented in proportion to the number of troops it had
involved in the conflict. The assisting country would maintain
its troops except when on land, when only bread, wheat, and
necessary services would be provided by the attacked country.
The troops of the assisting country would not be used longer
than those of the attacked country. If the troops had to stay
late in the season, the attacked country would be obligated to
care for them and grant provisions for their return. If both
armies found themselves in the country of the enemy, that
country would be responsible for providing for their own
army. The contributions from the enemy once the war was
over would be divided according to the proportions of troops
each country had in the conflict. Prisoners would be in com-
mon. The two countries would be allowed to use each other’s
ports and to buy necessities there. This alliance was set to last
ten years.1.1033 Treaty of Alliance between France and
Saxony
Alliance Members:France and Saxony
Signed On:November 15, 1679, at Saint-Germain-en-Laye (France)
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 15, p. 365.SUMMARY
After forcing the Austrians out of the Franco-Dutch War, France was
left with unquestioned influence in German affairs. Thus, after the
treaties at Nijmegen, France turned to resolve the Scanian War
between Sweden and Denmark. France hoped to create a triple alliance
among itself, Sweden, and Denmark, but an alliance with Denmark
did not materialize.