Treaty of Utrecht (1713)

O Treaty of Utrecht was a set of agreements that ended the War of Spanish Succession and modified the map of the European continent It is American.

The first was signed in 1713 and established that the Great Britain recognized the French Felipe de Anjou as king of Spain. In return, the Spanish ceded Menorca and Gibraltar to the British.

The agreement also reached the American continent, as it delimited the limits that separated the French Guiana from Brazil. In addition, he demarcated the borders of the Amapá.

The second Treaty of Utrecht was signed in 1715 and established that Portugal would have dominion over the Colony of Sacramento.

Origin of the Treaty of Utrecht

In 1700, King Charles II, the Spanish monarch who left no heirs, died. In his will, he had indicated that his successor should be the French Infante Felipe of Anjou, as he was the grandson of Louis XIV (French King) and a Spanish Infanta.

However, some European countries believed that Felipe de Anjou would occupy the French and Spanish thrones in the future.

Thus, this kingdom would have unimaginable power, as it would control the territories that Spain dominated both in Europe and in the Americas.

Both the English monarch and the Holy Roman Empire showed dissatisfaction with the future kingdom that would be a power.

In this sense, the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire supported his brother Carlos, to assume the Spanish Crown.

However, in 1711, the Holy Roman Emperor died and his brother, Charles, took over the Empire.

From then on, Great Britain and France began to negotiate the Spanish throne. Thus, the diplomatic discussions that began in 1712, triggered the Treaty of Utrecht, signed by Spain, England and France in 1713.

Resolutions of the Treaty of Utrecht

Felipe de Anjou had to renounce the French throne to be recognized as King of Spain by the English.

Thus, he adopted the name of Felipe V and maintained the Spanish territorial dominions in the American continent.

As a consequence, he had to give up his European possessions and transfer the island of Menorca and Gibraltar to England.

In addition, the British gained the power to practice the slave trade for 30 years.

Consequences of the Treaty of Utrecht

Let's look at some of the consequences of the Treaty of Utrecht:

• Changing the map of the American and European continents;
• Spain ceded several European possessions to other countries;
• Some regions of the European territory came to be dominated by Austria;
• Other treaties were signed in 1714: Rastatt, Barden and Antwerp;
• France loses its predominance, which would only be regained by Napoleon Bonaparte;
• Great Britain gained its supremacy through colonial, naval, and commercial exploitation;
• Only in 1714 was Catalonia incorporated into the kingdom of Spain;
• The stability provided by this Treaty lasted almost a century, when it was replaced by agreements signed at the Congress of Vienna in the early 19th century.

Second Treaty of Utrecht

O Second Treaty of Utrecht It was an agreement signed by the King of Portugal, Dom João V, and the King of Spain, Felipe V, in 1715.

Portugal ceded the cities of Puebla de Sanabria and Albuquerque to Spain which, in turn, returned Colonia do Sacramento to the Portuguese.

Consequences of the Treaty of Utrecht for Brazil

The Treaty of Utrecht determined the limits of the state of Amapá and recognized it as the domain of the Portuguese Crown. In addition, the document delimited the borders that separated Brazil from French Guiana.

Learn more at:

• What was the Treaty of Paris of 1763?
• What was the Treaty of Versailles?
• Treaty of Verdun
• Treaty of the Triple Alliance