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Why did Louis XIV accept Charles II’s will in 1700?

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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.

When Charles II of Spain died in 1700, Louis XIV faced a difficult dilemma regarding the Spanish succession. Ultimately, he chose to accept the terms of Charles II’s will, which bequeathed the Spanish dominions to his grandson, Philip, duc d’Anjou.12

Louis XIV’s decision was driven by several strategic considerations:

Avoiding Habsburg Hegemony: Louis feared that if he refused the will, the Spanish inheritance would pass to the Habsburg candidate, the archduke Charles. This would have effectively restored the vast empire of Charles V, a prospect Louis found intolerable.123
Inevitability of Conflict: Louis concluded that war was likely regardless of his choice. If he rejected the will and adhered to the Second Partition Treaty, he would still have had to fight to secure the territories promised to France under that agreement.1
Strategic Necessity: By accepting the will, Louis sought to prevent Spain from falling into the hands of his rival, the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I, who disputed Philip’s claim.23

Although Louis desired peace, he felt he had no viable alternative but to accept the inheritance to protect French interests and prevent the encirclement of France by Habsburg powers.23