Abstract
The War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714) was a major conflict leading to the end of French supremacy on the European continent. For the first time, the armies of the Sun King, Louis XIV, lost their reputation of invincibility. The purpose of this essay is to provide an extensive analysis of the causes and consequences of the War of the Spanish Succession, mainly focused on France but also on the other European countries involved in the conflict. We will also try to analyze the reasons for several French failures on military terrain, on a strategic and tactical scale. The first part will be devoted to the causes of the war, mainly focused on the strategic interests of each belligerent. In the second part, I will analyze the French failures on a strategic and military scale. Lastly, the third part will be focused on the consequences of this major war for France and the other countries involved.
