In 1713, the Treaty of Utrecht was signed, recognizing Philip as king of Spain and the West Indies and leaving France in possession of the left bank of the upper Rhine. The Spanish Netherlands was parceled out to the Austrians, along with Naples and Milan. The fortresses in Flanders were given to the Dutch. Sicily and Nice were given to Savoy. England made extensive gains in French Canada, as well as retaining Gibraltar.

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In truth, France fared well, losing little land. By the time of his death in 1715, Louis XIV could claim to have irrevocably broken the Hapsburg ring around his kingdom and transformed France from a struggling, politically divided entity into the premier power on the European continent.

This article was written by K.K. Campbell and originally published in the December 1997 Military History magazine.

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