Aix-la-Chapelle, Treaty of

The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, signed in 1668, concluded the War of Devolution between France and Spain. This conflict arose from Louis XIV of France's claim that his wife, Marie-Thérèse, should inherit Spanish territories based on a local inheritance custom. France invaded Flanders and secured objectives, leading to diplomatic negotiations. An alliance between England, the Dutch Republic, and Sweden aimed to contain French expansion. The treaty resulted in France retaining several towns in the Spanish Netherlands, including Lille and Tournai, while returning Franche-Comté to Spain.1

It is important to distinguish this treaty from the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle signed in 1748, which ended the War of the Austrian Succession. The 1748 treaty involved the mutual restitution of conquests between Britain and France, including Louisbourg and Madras, and guaranteed Maria Theresa's right to Austrian lands while confirming Prussia's possession of Silesia. This later treaty did not resolve colonial rivalries, foreshadowing future conflicts.23