Defensive League between Great Britain and Spain
Failing to create a triple alliance with Sweden and Denmark, France
turned to other powers in the vicinity, orchestrating alliances with
Brandenburg and Saxony. In exchange for a promise of French sup-
port and subsidies, both Brandenburg and Saxony vowed to be vehi-
cles for French interests in the affairs of Germany and Poland. The
alliances represent the significant diplomatic strides France made
under Louis XIV to become a prominent arbiter of Europe.
Description of Terms
France and Saxony affirmed their commitment to a sincere
friendship and alliance. The subjects of both parties would be
able to trade in the lands of both states. The foundation of this
treaty was the Treaty of Westphalia. The two parties pledged to
defend each other and acknowledged that this treaty was set to
last for four years.
1.1034 Defensive League between Great Britain
and Spain
Alliance Members:Great Britain and Spain
Signed On:June 10, 1680, in the city of Windsor
Alliance Type:Defense Pact (Type I)
Source:Consolidated Treaty Series,vol. 15, p. 453.
SUMMARY
France and Spain were frequently at conflict in the seventeenth cen-
tury, stemming mostly from the issue of the Spanish Netherlands. The
region was under Spanish control and within the Spanish sphere of
influence even though Louis XIV of France constantly sought control
of the territory. By 1678, the French military efforts in the area had
cost the Spanish sorely. Spain, in consort with the Dutch, turned to
England for help because England had withdrawn from alliance with
France in 1674.
After insistence from the Dutch about the grave dangers posed by the
French, England relented and agreed to an alliance in June 1680 to
assist in the Spanish defense of Flanders. The alliance itself came after
a string of peace treaties ended the conflicts stemming from the
Franco-Dutch War.
This alliance does represent the opening of a warmer relationship
between England and Spain. The 1680 treaty as well as the importance
of William III of Orange in orchestrating both this alliance and the
League of Augsburg resulted in Spain and England fighting as allies in
the Nine Years War. England, however, was of no help for Spain during
the brief, but disastrous, War of the Reunions during 1683–1684.
Alliance Text
Whereas the moft Serene and moft Potent Prince,CharlesKing
ofGreat Britainhas convinced all Europewith what Zeal and
Affection he labour’d while he difcharg’d the Function of Medi-
ator at the Congrefs at Nimeguen,to reftore the Chriftian World
to Peace, which by the Bleffing of God is happily accomplifh’d;
and whereas it was always his Majefty’s Inclination, to be
equally follicitous for the Prefervation of the publick Tranquil-
lity, to which nothing can conduce more than the entring into
ftrict defenfive Leagues with all thofe Princes and States whom
it concerns, that the general Peace lately renew’d may be prefer-
v’d, efpecially with the molt Serene and moft Potent Prince the
Catholick King ofSpain,betwixt whom and his Majefty there
has been a conftant Friendfhip, which his Majeity alfo, as
Occafion fhall offer, defires to increafe every day and whereas
the Catholick King has declar’d in like manner that he has noth-
ing more at heart than to embrace the Ways and Means which
may conduce to the Succefs of fo juft and fo laudable a Purpofe;
and the two moft Serene Kings bearing in mind the defenfive
Leagues,viz. that enter’d into on the th ofAuguft 1673,
between the King ofSpainand the Lords the States General of
the United Provincesof the Netherlands,and that which was
concluded the 31ft ofMarch1678, between the King ofGreat
Britainand the faid States General of the United Provincesof the
Netherlands,as folid Foundations for preferving the General
Peace, and for defending their Dominions on both fides; it has
been confulted and thought fitting by the faid moft Serene
Kings, to join together in the like Treaty of Defence and Union,
with this View chiefly, that a Confederacy of fo great Impor-
tance might render the Peace ofEuropefecurer. For this end, the
King ofGreat Britainhas nominated and conftituted the follow-
ing his Commiffioners and Plenipotentiarys,viz. RobertEarl of
Sunderland,one of his Principal Secretarys of State;Lawrence
HydeEfq; firft Commiffioner of his Treafury; Sir Lionel Jenkins,
another of his Principal Secretarys of State; and Sidney
GodolphinEfq; all of his moft Honourable Privy Council: and
the King of Spain did likewife nominate and conftitute Don
Pedro de Ronquillo(his Ambaflador at the BritifhCourt:) which
Commiffioners being vefted with fufficient Powers, have agreed
on the following Articles.
I. There fhall be a perpetual Peace between the King ofGreat
Britainon the one part, and the Catholick King ofSpainon the
other part, as alfo between their Succeffors and Kingdoms,
Dominions and Territorys belonging to either of them, and their
Subjects on both fides; and, there fhall be a fincere, firm and per-
petual Friendfhip and good Correfpondence between them,
both by Land and Sea, and in all Places in Europe,and elfewhere.
II. There fhall moreover be a drift League of Defence and
Union between the faid moft Serene Kings and their Succeffors,
Kingdoms, Dominions and Territorys to them belonging, for
defending and maintaining one another in the Poffeffion of all
their Dominions, Citys, Places and Countrys to them belong-
ing, as alfo in the Enjoyment of all their Rights, Immunitys and
Libertys of Navigation, Commerce,&c.whatfoever, both by
Land and Sea, which they now actually enjoy, or which of right
they ought to enjoy, and which they do now or fhall hereafter
poffefs, by virtue of any Treatys whatfoever, of Peace, Friendfhip
or Neutrality, heretofore enter’d into, (and of all their Rights
which are comprehended in the late Treaty ofNimeguen) or
that fhall be enter’d into hereafter, jointly and by common Con-
fent with other Kings, Republicks, Princes and Citys, confining
the whole within the Limits of Europe.
III. And therefore the faid moft Serene Kings promife, and
mutually bind one another, to maintain and vindicate not only(^2030)