Franco-Dutch War

The Dutch War (1672–1678) was a war fought between France and a quadruple alliance consisting of Brandenburg, the Holy Roman Empire, Spain, and the United Provinces. The war ended with the Treaty of Nijmegen (1678); this granted France control of the Franche-Comté (from Spain).

Related Topics:
1672 - 1678 - War - France - Quadruple alliance - Brandenburg - Holy Roman Empire - Spain - United Provinces - Treaty of Nijmegen - Franche-Comté

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France led a coalition including Münster and Great Britain. Louis XIV was annoyed by the Dutch refusal to cooperate in the destruction and division of the Spanish Netherlands. As the Dutch army had been neglected, the French had no trouble taking the fortress of Maastricht and then marching to the heart of the Republic, taking Utrecht. Prince William III of Orange had the leading Dutch politician Johan de Witt deposed and murdered, and was acclaimed stadtholder. However the French were halted by inundations, the Holland Waterline. The bishop of Münster laid siege to Groningen but failed. An attempt was made to invade the Republic by sea, but this was thwarted by Admiral Michiel de Ruyter in four strategic victories against the combined Anglo-French fleet (these events are usually called the Third Anglo-Dutch War). Great Britain then abandoned the war in 1674.

Related Topics:
Münster - Great Britain - Louis XIV - Spanish Netherlands - Maastricht - Utrecht - Prince William III of Orange - Johan de Witt - Stadtholder - Inundation - Groningen - Michiel de Ruyter - Third Anglo-Dutch War - 1674

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Already, allies had joined the Dutch — the Elector of Brandenburg, the Emperor, and Charles II of Spain. Louis was forced to abandon his plans of conquering the Dutch and revert to a slow, cautious war of attrition around the French frontiers. By 1678, he had managed to break apart his opponents' coalition, and managed to gain considerable territories by the terms of the Treaty of Nijmegen. Most notably, the French acquired the Franche Comté and various territories in the Netherlands from the Spanish. Nevertheless the Dutch had thwarted the ambitions of the two major royal dynasties of the time: the Stuarts and the Bourbons.

Related Topics:
Elector - Brandenburg - Emperor - Charles II - Spain - 1678 - Treaty of Nijmegen - Franche Comté - Stuarts - Bourbons

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