jan 1, 1701 -  The War of the Spanish Succession

Description:

 The War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714) was an early 18th-century European war, triggered by the death in November 1700 of the childless Charles II of Spain. It established the principle dynastic rights were secondary to maintaining the balance of power between different countries. For France, the war seemed to go disastrous in the first few years, but by the end of the war they were in a stronger position and despite losses in North America, they did not lose the bulk of their colonies. Philip of Anjou, the grandson of Louis XIV was named king in return for severing all ties with France.