Dutch War

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THE DUTCH WAR-1672-79

BACKGROUND

L. wanted a war he could win quickly- gained 40 towns in 22 days

territorial concerns on border of span-neth

L. saw them as phonatical heretics-protestants

He burned their houses, barns, churches, crops=aggressive

L. wants revenge of Dutch after switching sides in War of Dev. (dutch duplicity=angry at betrayal)

Colbert worried about money/trade- drain the treasurey-keeps ideas to himself to sustain popularity with L. (absolute monarch)

AIMS

conquer dutch quickly

distrupting trade

get revenge-teach them a lesson

ministers go along with plans- new minister Pomponne=more aggressive than Lionne (died 1671)

L. said he wasnt 'stirring up France's enemies' but 'defending his people'

OTHER COUNTIRES OPNIONS

whole of eurpope felt threatened, started to build up an alliance

dutch surrendered after 2 months of invasion. L. rejected this, wanted to humiliate them completley and win

Leopold ally with dutch 1672. 'I am in for a long war'. (protestant and catholic allies)- military and financial aid

the dutch flooded th countryside which slowed the french

william of orange

GAINS

regained franche comte

secured Ghent (Belgium)

navy won at sea

disrupted trade in the alantic

captured 40 towns

EARLY STAGES OF WAR=SUCCESSFUL

Wilkinson and Levi- criticise L. in Dutch war- long term consequences

LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES

france is no. 1 enemy in europe-other countries got involved in alliances

L. retained franche comte, st omes, aire, ypres, cambrai- strengthening borders

paris bestowed the title 'great' on L. the Elector of Brandenburg declared it was safer to be the friend of france

Bluche L. biographer believed war awas provoked by the Dutch when they left their ealier alliance with france

Agree- dutch needed to be taught a lesson

disagree- france offered surrender terms and ignored them

the humiliation of the dutch led to LT problems L. created a coalition alliance agasint his country

will.o.o angry at humiliation- bitterness. he leads the league of ausberg and the grand alliance against L.

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