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What did Britain gain from Spain in the Treaty of Utrecht?
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War of the Spanish Succession
The Battle of Blenheim (August 13, 1704), was the most famous victory of John Churchill, duke of Marlborough, and Eugene of Savoy during the War of the Spanish Succession.
In the Treaties of Utrecht, which concluded the War of the Spanish Succession, Britain secured significant territorial and commercial concessions from Spain.
Under the terms of the peace treaty signed on July 13, 1713, Britain gained the following:
- Territorial Acquisitions: Spain ceded Gibraltar and the island of Minorca to Britain.2
- Commercial Rights: Britain was granted the asiento de negros, an exclusive contract to supply African slaves to Spanish colonies in the Americas for 30 years. This agreement allowed the British South Sea Company to transport 4,800 slaves annually.12
- Trading Privileges: In addition to the slave trade, the asiento granted Britain the right to send one ship per year, known as the navío de permiso, to engage in general trade within Spanish-American markets.1
These gains helped Britain secure a leading position in global commerce and obtain the largest share of colonial spoils resulting from the conflict.2