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Why did Austria oppose Philip V becoming king of Spain?

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Illustration of the Battle of Blenheim showing cavalry and infantry in combat, fallen soldiers, and smoke rising from cannon fire across a hilly battlefield. — 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.

Austria opposed Philip V becoming king of Spain primarily due to dynastic claims and the desire to maintain the European balance of power.1

Following the death of the childless Charles II in 1700, the Spanish throne became a point of intense international contention. The Austrian Habsburgs, led by Emperor Leopold I, believed they had a legitimate right to the succession through their family ties to the Spanish line.12

Austria’s opposition was driven by two main concerns:
* Preventing Bourbon Hegemony: Neither the imperial Habsburgs nor their allies wanted to see the Bourbon dynasty—specifically Louis XIV of France—acquire the vast Spanish inheritance, which would have significantly shifted the balance of power in Europe in France's favor.12
* Securing the Inheritance: The Austrian Habsburgs sought to claim the Spanish dominions for the Archduke Charles (later Emperor Charles VI) to prevent the territory from falling under French control and to potentially reunite the power once held by Charles V.12