imported>JJMC89 bot III: Moving :Category:Ferdinand VI of Spain to :Category:Ferdinand VI per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy

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Moving Category:Ferdinand VI of Spain to Category:Ferdinand VI per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy

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{{For| the 1667 Treaty negotiated between England and the Dutch Republic|Treaty of Breda (1667)}}
{{short description|Peace negotiations between Great Britain and France}}
{{Infobox treaty
| name = Congress of Breda
| long_name =
| image = Huis van Brecht park.jpg
| image_width = 200px
| image_alt =
| caption = [[Breda Castle]], used by the British delegation
| context = Britain and France agree peace terms for the subsequent 1748 [[Treaty_of_Aix-la-Chapelle_(1748)|Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle]], ending the 1740-1748 [[War of the Austrian Succession]]
| date_drafted =
| date_signed =
| location_signed = [[Breda]], [[Dutch Republic]]
| date_sealed =
| date_effective =
| condition_effective =
| date_expiration =
| date_expiry =
| mediators =
| negotiators =
* {{flagdeco|Kingdom of France}} [[Louis Philogène Brûlart, vicomte de Puisieulx|Marquis de Puisieux]]
* {{flagdeco|Kingdom of Great Britain}} [[John_Montagu,_4th_Earl_of_Sandwich|Earl of Sandwich]]
| original_signatories =
| signatories =
| parties =
* {{flagcountry|Kingdom of France}}
* {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Great Britain}}
| ratifiers =
| depositor =
| depositories =
| citations =
| language =
| languages =
| wikisource =
| wikisource1 =
| footnotes =
}}

The '''Congress of Breda''', also known as the '''Breda peace talks''', were a series of bilateral negotiations between [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]] and [[Kingdom of France|France]], held in the [[Dutch Republic|Dutch]] city of [[Breda]] from 1746 to 1748. The discussions led to the agreement of terms that later became the basis of the 1748 [[Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748)|Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle]].

By 1746, the [[War of the Austrian Succession]] had effectively become a proxy contest between Britain and France, with French victories in [[Flanders]] offset by British naval success. Both sides were concerned by the financial costs, although the French position was significantly worse, with the [[Royal Navy]] blockade causing severe food shortages. The intention was to agree terms between France and Britain and end the [[Austrian War of Succession]] by presenting them to the other parties, who were not consulted.

The British deliberately extended discussions, hoping to improve their position, but defeat at [[Battle of Lauffeld|Lauffeld]] in July 1747 and the loss of [[Siege of Bergen op Zoom (1747)|Bergen op Zoom]] in September led them to agree terms. These were imposed by France and Britain on their allies at Aix-la-Chapelle with minimal consultation.

In the long-term, it marked the point at which the Austrian [[Habsburg monarchy]] began moving closer to France, after over 300 years where conflict between them was the dominant theme of European politics.

==Background==
[[Image:John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich.jpg|thumb|130px|left|[[John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich|Lord Sandwich]] the chief British negotiator for much of the talks. A [[Portrait of the Earl of Sandwich|1783 portrait]] by [[Thomas Gainsborough]].]]

When the [[War of the Austrian Succession]] began in 1740, Britain was focused on the 1739-1748 [[War of Jenkins' Ear]] with [[Enlightenment_in_Spain|Spain]]; fought mostly in the [[Caribbean_Sea|Caribbean]], by the end of 1742, this had largely reached stalemate. France declared war on Britain in March 1744, while Spain joined the conflict in Europe, hoping to regain possessions in Northern Italy lost to Austria and [[Kingdom_of_Sardinia|Sardinia]] in 1713. With the help of British subsidies, they repulsed Spanish troops from Northern Italy in late 1746; France was unable to continue funding Spain, while [[Maria_Theresa|Maria Theresa of Austria]] wanted peace in order to restructure her administration.{{sfn|Scott|2015|pp=58-60}}

Despite the victories of [[Maurice_de_Saxe|de Saxe]] in [[Flanders]], the British naval blockade was strangling French trade, while their own had recovered from the post 1739 decline and was expanding once again. This negated a key French objective of reducing the post-1713 expansion of British commercial strength, which they viewed as a threat to the European balance of power.{{sfn|McKay|1983|pp=138-140}} Declaring war on the [[Dutch Republic]] made the immediate situation worse, since the neutral Dutch had previously been the main carriers of French imports and exports. By 1747, the French financial system was on the verge of collapse, accompanied by severe food shortages.{{sfn|Scott|2015|p=61}}

The Congress was an attempt to reach agreement between the two main protagonists and end the war but doing so was delayed by internal debates within the British government. They were also finding the financial burden hard to sustain, but the pro-war party led by the [[Duke of Newcastle (PM)|Duke of Newcastle]] argued Dutch support provided an opportunity to recover the [[Austrian Netherlands]]. Instead, it revealed the extent of their decline since 1713 while hopes of building an alliance with Spain after the death of [[Philip_V_of_Spain|Philip V]] in July 1746 also proved incorrect.{{sfn|Scott|2015|p=62}}

==Congress==
[[File:Bataille de Lawfeld, 2 juillet 1747.jpeg|thumb|right|200px|French victory at [[Battle_of_Lauffeld|Lauffeld]] in July 1747 ended British hopes of regaining Flanders]]

Discussions began in August 1746, led by [[John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich|Lord Sandwich]] and the [[Louis Philogène Brûlart, vicomte de Puisieulx|Marquis de Puisieux]].{{sfn|Rodger|1993|pp=41-44}} Sandwich and the British delegation were based near [[Breda Castle]] lent to them by [[William IV, Prince of Orange]]. Negotiations proceeded slowly, since the British wanted to extend discussions long enough for their position in Flanders to improve.{{sfn|Rodger|2004}} On the other side, France wanted to reach agreement immediately, the terms including making the [[Low Countries]] neutral territory in future conflicts; these were drawn up by [[Gabriel_Bonnot_de_Mably|Gabriel de Mably]], who shortly afterwards fell from favour.{{sfn|Lieber|1836|p=170}}

Unsatisfied by his performance, the French recalled Puisieux and replaced him, giving Sandwich an opportunity to delay by demanding his replacement prove his accreditation. There were further delays when a Spanish delegate turned up, claiming to represent [[Ferdinand_VI_of_Spain|Ferdinand VI]], new king of Spain. The British were kept informed of French negotiating strategy, as letters to the French delegates were intercepted and copied by postmasters in British pay.{{sfn|Baker-Smith|2010|p=144}}
[[File:Combat naval bataille cap finisterre octobre 1747.jpg|thumb|left|230px|[[Second_Battle_of_Cape_Finisterre_(1747)|Second Cape Finisterre]], October 1747; defeat forced France to suspend naval operations, putting their entire colonial empire in jeopardy]]
Sandwich also played a key role in the coup that brought William of Orange to power in the Netherlands. Previously neutral, Newcastle viewed Dutch entry into the war as a way to boost the anti-French coalition in Flanders but it soon proved otherwise. The Dutch required massive British financial support, while the Allied position further deteriorated with defeat at [[Battle of Lauffeld|Lauffeld]] in July and the loss of [[Siege of Bergen op Zoom (1747)|Bergen op Zoom]] in September. Newcastle berated himself for his "ignorance, obstinacy and credulity" and fully expected to be forced from office as a result.{{sfn|Browning|1975|p=150}}

Despite previously insisting negotiations must include all parties, the British delegation now agreed to settle terms with France prior to confirmation by their allies. They arguably underestimated the impact of victory at [[Second_Battle_of_Cape_Finisterre_(1747)|Second Cape Finisterre]] in October, which effectively ended French naval operations and put their entire colonial empire at risk.{{sfn|Black|1999|pp=97-100}} The North American fortress of [[Louisbourg]], captured by Britain in 1745, was exchanged for [[Chennai|Madras, India]], captured by France in 1746; France agreed to withdraw from the [[Low Countries]], while both parties recognised Prussian control of [[Silesia]].

==Aftermath==
A Congress was held at [[Aix-la-Chapelle]] for all belligerents to confirm terms agreed between Britain and France at Breda. Peace was formally concluded with the 1748 [[Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748)|Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle]]. Maria Theresa was outraged at British acceptance of the Prussian conquest of Silesia without any Austrians being present, a major element in the breakdown of the [[Anglo-Austrian Alliance]].

Sandwich was rewarded by being made [[First Lord of the Admiralty]], although both he and Newcastle were attacked for giving up [[Louisbourg]] so easily. In France, there was enormous disquiet about returning their territorial gains in Flanders, which cost so much, in return for so little. The phrase "as stupid as the Peace" became popular to express contempt for the terms agreed at Breda and Aix-la-Chapelle. In general, the Treaty satisfied no one and failed to resolve the issues that led to war in 1740.{{sfn|McLynn|2008|p=1}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book |last1=Baker-Smith |first1=Veronica |title=Royal Discord: The Family of George II |date=2010 |publisher=Athena Press |isbn=978-1847489296 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Black |first1=Jeremy |title=Britain as a Military Power, 1688-1815 |date=1999 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-85728-772-1}}
* {{cite book |last1=Browning |first1=Reed |title=The Duke of Newcastle |url=https://archive.org/details/dukeofnewcastle0000brow |url-access=registration |date=1975 |publisher=Yale University |isbn=9780300017465}}
* {{cite book |last1=Lieber |first1=Francis |title=Encyclopædia Americana: Volume VIII |date=1836 |publisher=Deliver, Thomas & Co}}
* {{cite book |last1=McKay |first1=Derek |title=The Rise of the Great Powers 1648–1815 |date=1983 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0582485549 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/riseofgreatpow00dere }}
* {{cite book |last1=McLynn |first1=Frank |title=1759: The Year Britain Became Master of the World |date=2008 |publisher=Vintage |isbn=978-0099526391}}
* {{cite book |last1=Rodger |first1=NAM |title=Montagu, John, fourth earl of Sandwich |date=2004 |publisher=Oxford DNB |edition=2008}}
* {{cite book |last1=Rodger |first1=NAM |title=The Insatiable Earl: A Life of John Montagu, Fourth Earl of Sandwich, 1718-1792 |date=1993 |publisher=Harper Collins |isbn=978-0099526391}}
* {{cite book |last1=Scott |first1=Hamish |title=The Birth of a Great Power System, 1740-1815 |date=2015 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1138134232}}
* Simms, Brendan; ''Three Victories and a Defeat: The Rise and Fall of the First British Empire''. Penguin Books, 2008.

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1746 in the Dutch Republic]]
[[Category:1747 in the Dutch Republic]]
[[Category:1748 in the Dutch Republic]]
[[Category:Diplomatic conferences in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:18th-century diplomatic conferences]]
[[Category:War of Jenkins' Ear]]
[[Category:War of the Austrian Succession]]
[[Category:1746 in international relations]]
[[Category:1747 in international relations]]
[[Category:1748 in international relations]]
[[Category:1748 conferences]]
[[Category:History of Breda]]
[[Category:Ferdinand VI]]

Congress of Breda - Revision history

imported>JJMC89 bot III: Moving :Category:Ferdinand VI of Spain to :Category:Ferdinand VI per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy