In 1700 the Spanish king died without an heir to the throne and his realm fell into the hands of Philip of Anjou, grandson of the French king Louis XIV.  This caused a big political crisis throughout Europe.  The other powers, such as England, feared the rise of a French – Spanish European superpower and waged war against France.

This conflict is known as the War of the Spanish Succession, which lasted from 1701 till 1714.