England and the Bourbon Challenge 1701-33

L'Inghilterra e la sfida borbonica 1701-33

Keywords: Asiento, Gibraltar, Utrecht, Walpole, Philip V, Filippo V

Abstract

This article discusses relations between 1700 and 1733 between England (Britain from 1707) and the two Bourbon powers, France and Spain, a challenge for Britain which did not exist before 1700. It emphasises the need to recognise that none of these states was a monolith; instead, within each state there were forces in play which meant the Bourbons were by no means united in their relations with England. Perhaps the most striking expression of this was the Anglo-French alliance or entente of 1716-31, whose breakdown led to the First Bourbon Family Compact. The article also suggests that an entrenched the emphasis on explaining changing relations between the Bourbons and England in terms of trade should not be allowed to ignore other influences on their relations.

Questo articolo discute i rapporti tra il 1700 e il 1733 tra l'Inghilterra (Gran Bretagna dal 1707) e le due potenze borboniche, Francia e Spagna, una sfida per la Gran Bretagna che non esisteva prima del 1700. Sottolinea la necessità di riconoscere che nessuno di questi stati era un monolite; invece, all'interno di ogni stato c'erano forze in gioco che significavano che i Borboni non erano affatto uniti nei loro rapporti con l'Inghilterra. Forse l'espressione più eclatante di ciò fu l'alleanza o intesa anglo-francese del 1716-31, la cui rottura portò al Primo Bourbon Family Compact. L'articolo suggerisce anche che un'enfasi radicata sulla spiegazione del cambiamento delle relazioni tra i Borboni e l'Inghilterra in termini di commercio non dovrebbe essere autorizzata ad ignorare altre influenze sulle loro relazioni.

Author Biography

Christopher Storrs, University of St Andrews

Christopher Storrs graduated BA Hons Modern History (Oxford, St Catherine’s College, 1976) and was awarded his doctorate by the university of London for a PhD thesis on “Diplomatic Relations between William III and Victor Amadeus II of Savoy 1690-1696”. Between 1994 and 2022 he was Lecturer and Reader, at the university of Dundee, Scotland. His chief research interests centre on early modern Europe, with special reference to Spain and Italy, international relations and war. His chief publications are War, Diplomacy and the Rise of Savoy 1690-1720 (CUP), The Resilience of the Spanish Monarchy 1665-1700 (2006) and The Spanish Resurgence 1713-48 (Yale, 2016). He has also edited The Fiscal-Military State in Eighteenth Century Europe (Ashgate, 2009) He is currently preparing a majors

Published
2024-06-30
Section
RiMe 14/III n.s. (June 2024)