Treaty of Seville facts for kids
Contemporary representation of the siege of Gibraltar in 1727
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| Signed | 9 November 1729 |
| Location | Seville |
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The Treaty of Seville was an important agreement signed on November 9, 1729. It was signed by Britain, France, and Spain. Later, the Dutch Republic also joined on November 29.
This treaty officially ended the Anglo-Spanish War that had lasted from 1727 to 1729. However, it did not solve all the problems between these countries. Some disagreements continued and led to new conflicts later on. These included the War of Jenkins' Ear in 1739 and the larger War of the Austrian Succession in 1740.
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Why the Treaty of Seville Was Needed
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To understand the Treaty of Seville, we need to look at what happened before. In 1713, the Treaty of Utrecht ended a big war called the War of the Spanish Succession. This treaty made Philip V the first Bourbon king of Spain.
However, Spain had to give up some lands. These included Naples, Sicily, Milan, and Sardinia. Britain also kept Gibraltar and Mahón, which they had captured during the war.
Philip V's second wife, Elisabeth Farnese, wanted her own children to inherit lands in Italy. Philip also wanted to get back some of Spain's lost territories. In 1717, Spain took back Sardinia easily. But when they tried to take Sicily in 1718, it led to a war called the War of the Quadruple Alliance.
The British Royal Navy won a key battle at Cape Passaro. This victory trapped the Spanish forces in Sicily. They eventually had to surrender to Austrian troops in 1719.
In 1720, the Treaty of The Hague was signed. Spain gave up its claims to Italian lands. But it was agreed that Parma would go to Elisabeth's oldest son, Charles. This would happen when the current Duke of Parma, who had no children, passed away.
Britain's new king, George I, said he would try to return Gibraltar to Spain. But this did not happen quickly. This, along with trade problems, led to the Anglo-Spanish War from 1727 to 1729.
During this war, there wasn't much fighting. Britain attacked Porto Bello in Panama. Spain tried to capture Gibraltar in the Thirteenth Siege. Spain also made it harder for British merchants to trade.
In February 1728, both sides agreed to a truce. British diplomat Benjamin Keene tried to make a deal called the Treaty of El Pardo. But Britain thought it was too easy on Spain, so they rejected it. This led to a big meeting called the Congress of Soissons. At this meeting, Britain was in a strong position. They successfully stopped Spain from making an alliance with Austria against them.
What the Treaty of Seville Decided
The Treaty of Seville was part of many diplomatic efforts in Europe. One main goal was to help Elisabeth Farnese get an Italian kingdom for her son. Another important point was the alliance between Britain and France. Even though they sometimes distrusted each other, this alliance was important for Britain.
Also, Emperor Charles VI wanted other countries to support his plan for his daughter, Maria Theresa, to inherit his lands. This plan was called the 1713 Pragmatic Sanction.
Trade was another big issue. The Austrian-owned Ostend Company was competing with British, French, and Dutch merchants for trade in the East Indies. Spain was also worried about British ships entering its territories in New Spain.
Because of all these issues, there were many meetings and agreements. These included the Congress of Cambrai (1720-1724) and the Treaty of Madrid (1721). In 1725, Austria and Spain signed the Peace of Vienna. After that, France, Britain, Hanover, and Prussia signed the Treaty of Hanover.
Europe seemed close to a major war. But the French chief minister, Cardinal Fleury, helped prevent it. He invited Austria, France, and Britain to the Congress of Soissons. Spain was not included in this meeting.
The Treaty of Seville brought back trade rights for British and French merchants in Cadiz. They also received money for any losses they had suffered. A special group was set up to discuss trade issues in the Americas.
Britain and France supported the rights of Elisabeth's son Charles to inherit Parma. They also agreed that he would get the Duchy of Tuscany. Spain was allowed to send 6,000 troops to guard these duchies beforehand. These terms were presented to Spain, and they signed the treaty on November 9. The Dutch Republic joined the treaty on November 29.
What Happened After the Treaty
The Treaty of Seville did not solve all the problems between the countries. Issues like Britain keeping Mahón and Gibraltar remained. The special group set up to discuss trade problems did not make much progress.
The alliance between Britain and France ended in 1731. Britain then made a new agreement with Austria, the 1731 Treaty of Vienna. However, Britain and France still worked together to make sure Charles inherited Parma in 1732.
Later, during the War of the Polish Succession (1733-1735), Charles traded Parma for the Kingdom of Naples. In 1759, he became king of Spain.
Tensions between Britain and Spain grew again. Britain started a new colony called Georgia in 1732. Spain saw this as a threat to Spanish Florida, which was important for protecting its shipping routes.
The British were also worried about the Pacte de Famille (Family Compact) in 1733. This was an agreement between Louis XV of France and his uncle Philip V of Spain. Britain feared France would replace them as Spain's main trading partner.
These ongoing problems eventually led to the War of Jenkins' Ear in 1739. This war then became part of the larger War of the Austrian Succession from 1740 to 1748.
Sources
See also
In Spanish: Tratado de Sevilla (1729) para niños
