Signed on 11 October 1698, the treaty made the six-year-old Joseph Ferdinand of Bavaria heir to the Spanish throne, with Spain's European possessions divided between France and Austria.

[1] Since his closest heirs were from the ruling Austrian Habsburg and French Bourbon families, the succession was of great significance to the European balance of power and a matter of debate for many years.

The war ended with the Treaty of Ryswick, producing only minor gains for France, and Louis accepted that he could not achieve his objectives without external support.

The resulting growth in Habsburg power and confidence meant Emperor Leopold I initially refused to sign the Treaty of Ryswick, as it left the succession unresolved.

[2] Unlike those of Austria and France, the crown of Spain could be inherited through the female line, which would enable Charles's two sisters to pass their rights onto their children.

William III was a significant figure in Europe because of his military leadership of the Grand Alliance during the Nine Years' War and his dual role as King of England and Stadtholder of the Dutch Republic.

As a result, they placed great faith in a similar process to prevent war over the succession, but it had excluded Austria and Spain, the two parties that were most affected.

That was supported by Charles' German wife, Maria Anna, a member of the House of Wittelsbach, a family whose head was Max Emmanuel of Bavaria, Joseph Ferdinand's father.

Finally, Leopold's younger son Archduke Charles became ruler of the Duchy of Milan, a possession that was considered vital to the security of Austria's southern border.

The senior English legal officer, Lord Chancellor Somers, learned of its terms shortly before the treaty was signed on 11 October.