The First Partition Treaty was an early diplomatic attempt to prevent war over the Spanish succession by dividing the Spanish Empire among rival claimants.
Key Facts
- Date signed
- 11 October 1698
- Signatories
- France, Great Britain, Dutch Republic
- Designated heir
- Joseph Ferdinand of Bavaria, aged six
- Heir's death
- February 1699, invalidating the treaty
- Successor agreement
- Second Partition Treaty (Treaty of London), March 1700
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The imminent childless death of Spanish King Charles II, who had reigned since 1665, threatened to transfer the undivided Spanish Empire to either the Austrian Habsburgs or the French Bourbons. Following the financially exhausting Nine Years' War (1688–1697), France, Great Britain, and the Dutch Republic sought a negotiated settlement to avoid another costly conflict over European balance of power.
Signed on 11 October 1698 in The Hague, the treaty designated the six-year-old Joseph Ferdinand of Bavaria as heir to the Spanish throne, while distributing Spain's European territories between France and Austria. Neither Austria nor Spain was party to the negotiations, and Spain refused to accept the proposed division of its empire.
Joseph Ferdinand's death in February 1699 rendered the treaty void and forced the same three powers to negotiate again, producing the Second Partition Treaty, or Treaty of London, in March 1700. The failure of both partition efforts ultimately contributed to the outbreak of the War of the Spanish Succession in 1701.
Political Outcome
Treaty nullified by death of designated heir Joseph Ferdinand of Bavaria in February 1699; superseded by the Second Partition Treaty in March 1700
Spanish Empire undivided, succession disputed between Habsburg and Bourbon claimants
Proposed partition between France and Austria with Bavarian heir on Spanish throne, rejected by Spain and Austria