Charles II of England agreed to support the rights of Louis XIV of France, marking an early stage in the diplomatic maneuvering surrounding the Spanish succession.

Maria Antonia, daughter of Leopold and Margaret Theresa, married Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria.

England and the Dutch Republic committed to backing the rights of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, in the Spanish succession, setting the stage for future conflict.

Joseph Ferdinand, son of Maria Antonia and Maximilian II Emanuel, was born.

The Treaty of Ryswick, a compromise that left the Spanish succession unresolved, was signed due to financial exhaustion and famine across Europe. Leopold signed with reluctance, viewing the treaty as a temporary suspension of hostilities.

Under the Treaty of the Hague, five-year-old Joseph Ferdinand was designated heir to Charles II, with France and Austria receiving parts of Spain's European territories in return.

Charles II published a will leaving an undivided Spanish monarchy to Joseph Ferdinand, rejecting the terms of the Treaty of the Hague.

Joseph Ferdinand's death from smallpox undid the arrangements of Charles II's will and the Treaty of the Hague, reopening the succession question.

Louis and William devised the Treaty of London, making Archduke Charles the new heir and providing territorial compensation to France, Savoy, and Austria. However, Leopold and Charles did not agree, rendering the treaty largely ineffective.

France banned the import of English manufactured goods and imposed prohibitive duties on others, escalating economic tensions between the two countries.

Charles II's final will left the throne to Louis XIV's grandson Philip, Duke of Anjou; if he refused, the offer would pass to his younger brother the Duke of Berry, followed by Archduke Charles.

Charles II of Spain died without an heir, leading to a power struggle for the Spanish Empire between the French Bourbons and the Austrian Habsburgs. Philip of Anjou, grandson of Louis XIV of France, was named heir, backed by France and Spain, while Archduke Charles was supported by the Grand Alliance, including Austria, the Dutch Republic, and Great Britain.

Spanish ambassadors formally offered the throne to Philip, setting the stage for Louis XIV's decision and the subsequent War of the Spanish Succession.

Philip of Anjou, grandson of Louis XIV, was proclaimed Philip V of Spain, leading to concerns about a potential union of Spain and France. This event triggered the War of the Spanish Succession as other European powers sought to prevent such a union.

Louis registered Philip's claim to the French throne with the Parlement of Paris, raising concerns about a potential union with Spain.

French troops replaced Dutch garrisons in the 'Barrier' fortresses in the Spanish Netherlands, threatening Dutch security and trade interests.

The new Bourbon administration found the Spanish empire bankrupt and effectively defenseless, with few troops and ships.

The Spanish-controlled Duchy of Milan and allied Duchy of Mantua in Northern Italy announced their support for Philip and accepted French troops, challenging Leopold's influence in the region.

Leopold, the Dutch Republic, and Britain signed the Treaty of The Hague, renewing the Grand Alliance and aiming to secure the Dutch Barrier, the Protestant succession in England and Scotland, and an independent Spain.

Louis reneged on his recognition of William III as king of England and Scotland and supported the claim of James' son, James Francis Edward Stuart, making war inevitable.

The Dutch Republic declared war on France, followed by the British and the Emperor, marking the formal beginning of the War of the Spanish Succession.

The British and the Emperor declared war on France, solidifying the start of the War of the Spanish Succession.

Allied victory at Vigo Bay persuaded Peter II of Portugal to switch sides, giving them an operational base in this area.

The Imperial Diet formally declared Reichskrieg against France, solidifying the Holy Roman Empire's involvement in the war.

The British-Dutch capture of Gibraltar was a significant blow to Bourbon prestige, providing the Allies with a strategic foothold in the Mediterranean.

Archduke Charles landed at Lisbon to begin a land campaign in Spain, supported by the Allied victory at Vigo Bay in October 1702 which persuaded Peter II of Portugal to switch sides.

An attempt by the Bourbons to retake Gibraltar was defeated, solidifying Allied control of the strategic location.

The Pact of Genoa between Catalan representatives and Britain opened a second front in the northeast of Spain, increasing pressure on Philip V.

Philip tried to retake Barcelona but was repulsed, while his absence allowed an Allied force from Portugal to enter Madrid and Zaragoza.

The Nueva Planta decrees centralised power in Madrid and abolished regional political structures including the Crown of Aragon, although Catalonia and Majorca remained outside the system until 1767.

Allied efforts to regain the initiative ended with defeat at Almansa, weakening their position in Spain.

The capture of Menorca allowed the Royal Navy to dominate the Western Mediterranean, securing British trade routes.

The Great Frost caused widespread famine in France and Spain, forcing Louis to re-open negotiations.

Franco-Spanish victories at Alicante and La Gudina showed that a successful military solution in Spain for the Allies now appeared remote.

The Allies presented Louis with the preliminaries of the Hague, demanding that Philip was given two months to cede his throne to Charles, while France was required to remove him by force if he did not comply.

Marlborough's offensive in northern France culminated in the Battle of Malplaquet; a nominal Allied victory, but one with heavy casualties.

Archduke Charles re-entered Madrid after victories at Almenar and Saragossa, but the Allies could not hold the interior and were forced to retreat.

Talks resumed at Geertruidenberg, with Louis showing a willingness to assist the Allies in removing his grandson from Spain. However, negotiations broke down again.

The pro-peace Tories won a landslide victory in the British election, signaling a shift in British policy towards ending the war.

British troops surrendered at Brihuega, while the Battle of Villaviciosa confirmed Bourbon control of Spain.

Emperor Joseph died and Archduke Charles was elected emperor, undermining a key reason for continuing the war.

The British secretly negotiated peace terms directly with France, leading to the signing of the Preliminary Articles of London.

The Allies were defeated at Denain, showing the French retained their fighting ability, while the Dutch had finally reached the end of their willingness and ability to continue the war.

Austria and the Empire did not sign the Peace of Utrecht between France and the other Allies; Spain made peace with the Dutch in June, then Savoy and Britain on 13 July 1713.

Philip confirmed his renunciation of the French throne.

Charles finally made peace in the Treaty of Rastatt, with the Habsburg monarchy acceding to the terms of Utrecht.

The Holy Roman Empire joined the agreement by the Treaty of Baden; although Catalonia and Majorca were not finally subdued by the Bourbons until June 1715, the war was over.

Louis XIV died and was succeeded by his five-year-old great-grandson Louis XV.