Why did the War of the Spanish Succession start?

The War of the Spanish Succession broke out after King Charles II of Spain died childless in November 1700, leaving a vast global empire without a direct heir. A fierce succession crisis erupted when Philip of Anjou was proclaimed king with support from France, threatening the European balance of power against the claims of Archduke Charles of Austria. This acquisition of Spanish territories by either France or Austria endangered rival states, prompting a coalition known as the Grand Alliance to trigger a major European conflict.

What we know

• The death of Charles II of Spain in November 1700 without children directly sparked a succession crisis. [1, 2]
• Philip of Anjou's claim to the Spanish throne was backed by his grandfather, Louis XIV of France. [2]
• Archduke Charles of Austria's claim to Spain was backed by the Grand Alliance. [2]
• Philip's proclamation as king on 16 November 1700 triggered the war because acquiring the Spanish Empire threatened the European balance of power. [2]

Still open

• Sources note that who ruled Spain was arguably less important than the division of its territories, an issue that grew increasingly prominent as the war progressed.

Where to go next

• whoWho was Charles II of Spain?
• what followedWhat was the Peace of Utrecht?
• the bigger pictureWhat conflicts constituted the War of the Spanish Succession?
• a case in pointHow did Queen Anne's War relate to the European conflict?
• compared withHow did the War of the Polish Succession compare in outcomes?
• an unexpected connectionHow did a Spanish succession struggle lead to Britain dominating naval power?Although the conflict centered on continental thrones, Britain retained Gibraltar and Menorca at the peace settlement, allowing it to replace the Dutch Republic as the leading European naval and commercial power.

Sources

• [1]War of the Spanish Succession (Wikidata Q150701) · CC0 1.0
• [2]War of the Spanish Succession · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]War of the Polish Succession · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]War of the Austrian Succession · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]War of the Mantuan Succession · CC BY-SA 4.0