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Why did the Peace of the Pyrenees contribute to later conflict over the Spanish succession?
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Jules, Cardinal Mazarin
Jules, Cardinal Mazarin, detail of a portrait by Philippe de Champaigne; in the Musée Condé, Chantilly, France.
The Peace of the Pyrenees, signed in 1659, contributed to future conflict over the Spanish succession primarily through the marriage compact between Louis XIV and the Spanish princess Marie-Thérèse.12
As part of this agreement, Marie-Thérèse formally renounced all her rights to the Spanish crown and its possessions in exchange for a large dowry. However, this arrangement contained two critical flaws that fueled later instability:12
- Unpaid Dowry: The promised dowry was never paid by Spain. When Philip IV died and was succeeded by Charles II, Louis XIV argued that the non-payment rendered Marie-Thérèse’s renunciation void. He subsequently used this justification to launch the War of Devolution in 1667 to claim parts of the Spanish Netherlands.12
- Dynastic Ambition: Decades later, Louis XIV ignored the renunciation entirely to pursue the Spanish throne for his grandson, Philip, duc d’Anjou, which directly precipitated the War of the Spanish Succession.13