In 1701, shortly after the end of the Nine Years War, Charles II of Spain died without an heir. This was similar to the earlier situation in Palatine when Charles II, Elector Palatine died without an heir. It would also follow a similar pattern with a disputed line of descent and Louis XIV making a claim on behalf of France. In the Spanish case the two closest in line for the throne were Philip of France, grandson of Louis XIV and a Charles VI a son of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor. Pretty soon the major powers of Europe were lining up behind the rival claimants and once again Europe would be at war.
Although the Spanish succession did not directly concern the Palatinate, it found itself once again being regularly invaded by the armies of Louis XIV as the French battled the allied German and English forces. In 1706 Marshall Villars carried out raids on Koblenz and Mainz. In May of the following year he marched armies across the Palatinate once again occupying Mannheim and Heidelberg. Walter Knittle quotes an English colonel of the time saying that the French "over-run the lazy and sleepy Empire and not only maintained a great army in it all the year, but by contributions, sent money into France to help the King's other affairs."
In the winter of 1708 things got even worse in the Palatinate as the coldest winter in living memory fell across the region. It got so cold that the Rhine itself had frozen over.
The War of the Spanish Succession would continue until 1713 when it would end with the Treaty of Utrecht. However many of the palatines wouldn't see the ending of the war. They were looking for a way to escape war and famine. In 1709 a book circulated through the region that provided just that. That book became known as The Golden Book.
Although the Spanish succession did not directly concern the Palatinate, it found itself once again being regularly invaded by the armies of Louis XIV as the French battled the allied German and English forces. In 1706 Marshall Villars carried out raids on Koblenz and Mainz. In May of the following year he marched armies across the Palatinate once again occupying Mannheim and Heidelberg. Walter Knittle quotes an English colonel of the time saying that the French "over-run the lazy and sleepy Empire and not only maintained a great army in it all the year, but by contributions, sent money into France to help the King's other affairs."
In the winter of 1708 things got even worse in the Palatinate as the coldest winter in living memory fell across the region. It got so cold that the Rhine itself had frozen over.
The War of the Spanish Succession would continue until 1713 when it would end with the Treaty of Utrecht. However many of the palatines wouldn't see the ending of the war. They were looking for a way to escape war and famine. In 1709 a book circulated through the region that provided just that. That book became known as The Golden Book.
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