Treaty of Monzón facts for kids

The Treaty of Monçon (also spelled Monzón) was an important agreement signed on March 5, 1626. It was signed by Cardinal Richelieu, who was the main advisor to King Louis XIII of France, and Gaspar de Guzmán, Count-Duke of Olivares, the main advisor to King Philip IV of Spain. The signing happened in a town called Monçon (now Monzón) in Aragon, a region in Spain.

This treaty helped end a conflict known as the Valtellina War. This war was about who would control the Valtellina valley in Italy. The treaty also brought an end to the First Genoese-Savoyard War, which involved fighting between Genoa and Savoy.

Why the Treaty Was Needed

The Importance of Valtellina

The Valtellina valley, located in Northern Italy, was a very important place. It was like a highway connecting the Spanish and Austrian branches of the House of Habsburg, a powerful European family. Controlling this valley meant they could easily move troops and supplies between their lands.

The Sforza family had given this land to the Grison League, a group of communities in Switzerland. However, there were religious disagreements because the people in Valtellina were Catholic, but their Grison rulers were Protestant. Seeing this as a chance, Spain encouraged the people of Valtellina to rebel. Soon, Spain gained control of the valley.

Countries Form an Alliance

Other European powers saw this as a danger. In 1623, Venice, the Duke of Savoy, and France formed an alliance. They signed the Treaty of Paris (1623) to take control of this important valley. Spain tried to keep the peace by letting the Pope, who they had a lot of influence over, control the valley. The Pope at the time was Pope Gregory XV. His troops took control of Valtellina, and France didn't do much about it at first. Later, Pope Urban VIII became Pope.

France's New Plan

When Cardinal Richelieu became the main advisor in France, French policy changed. France claimed they had to help their ally, the Duke of Savoy, who was attacking Genoa. To do this, France decided to attack Valtellina. This would make Spain, who supported Genoa, have to use their resources elsewhere.

In 1624, French troops quickly removed the Pope's soldiers from the valley. It seemed strange that a Cardinal (Richelieu) was attacking the Pope's troops. This surprised many people in Rome, Spain, and even some very Catholic people in France.

How the Treaty Was Agreed Upon

Pope Urban VIII wanted peace. He sent his nephew, Cardinal Francesco Barberini, to Paris in 1625 to talk about peace. Cardinal Barberini also had permission to speak for Spain. His goals were to stop the fighting, get an apology for attacking the Pope's troops in Valtellina, and make sure Catholics in the valley were safe. He also wanted to prevent the Grisons from taking back full control.

Cardinal Barberini left Paris without getting a clear answer from Richelieu. After this, Richelieu advised the king to call a meeting of important people called the Assembly of the Notables. Richelieu spoke about wanting a good peace agreement, and most people at the meeting agreed with him.

Later, the Pope gathered another 6,000 troops to try and take back Valtellina. This led the French ambassador in Madrid, the Count du Fargis, to quickly sign a peace treaty with Spain on January 1, 1626. However, Richelieu did not approve of this treaty. A new one was then signed in Monçon, Spain, on March 3, 1626.

What the Treaty Said

The treaty stated that the Grisons would rule over Valtellina. However, only the Roman Catholic religion was allowed in the valley. The people of Valtellina could choose their own local leaders and judges, but the Grisons had to approve them. Any forts in Valtellina also had to be torn down. Finally, the people of Valtellina had to pay the Grisons a yearly payment, which would be decided later.

Another very important part of the treaty was that both France and Spain were given equal rights to use the mountain passes in the area. This seemed fair, but it was actually a big win for Spain. It meant that the "Spanish Road" could be used again. This road went from Milan through Valtellina to Tyrol. It allowed Spanish armies to travel easily between Italy and Northern Europe.

Being able to use the Spanish Road again helped Spain continue its war in the Low Countries for another twenty years. It also had a big effect on the Thirty Years War. Spain could quickly send troops to Germany in the mid-1630s. This helped them stop the Swedish army, which had been winning many battles. For example, Spanish troops who used the Spanish Road helped win the First Battle of Nördlingen.

What Happened After the Treaty

Many of France's allies, like the Dutch, England, Venice, Savoy, and the Grisons, felt that France had betrayed them.

The Venetians described it like this: "Broken promises, secret plans, and tricks have led to a treaty... full of betrayal and harm to Venice, Savoy, and the Grisons. It only helps Spain, as all the benefits are on their side."

These allies felt tricked. They thought France was helping them, but they realized that France, under Richelieu, was only looking out for itself. They were also angry that they were not included in the peace talks. The Grisons, for example, were upset that their rights were given away without their agreement. Venice didn't like that forts that could protect them were destroyed. The Duke of Savoy felt insulted because he didn't gain anything. The Dutch and English were upset because Richelieu had made them believe France would join a group against Spain through the Treaty of Compiègne and the marriage of Henrietta Maria to King Charles I.

Richelieu pretended to be very unhappy about the treaty. He blamed the French ambassador, du Fargis. Then, he worked to make his allies happy again. The Duke of Savoy was pleased when he was offered a chance to become a king. Venice and the Grisons were given excuses. The English were promised that France would help them in the future.

In the end, Richelieu got what he wanted in Valtellina. He stopped the powerful Habsburg family from having complete control of the valley. However, he also gained a reputation for being a very clever, and sometimes tricky, politician.

See also

In Spanish: Tratado de Monzón para niños