After French prince Philip of Anjou inherited the throne of Spain in 1700, his grandfather Louis XIV went back on a promise to take Philip out of the French line of succession. Other European powers, afraid Louis would become too powerful, allied against him, and they were joined by England after Louis backed a rival to Queen Anne.

After initial success for the allies, including defeat for a clumsy attempt to put James Stuart on the British throne, the War started to become bogged down. By 1713 all parties were ready for compromise. The Treaty of Utrecht aimed to share out European power in an even-handed manner, though Philip was soon causing trouble again.

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