ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

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The Asedio de Turin of 1706 took place with the fence to the fortified citadel Piamontesa by the French-Spanish army (siege that lasted 117 days) during the course of the war events of the Spanish War of Succession, to which the conclusion was signed the Treaty of Utrecht (1713) that recognized Victor Amadeo II, Duke of Savoy, as the first king of his dynasty.

Because of its relevant circumstances and the importance of the city (one of the very few European capitals under siege), the fact had a great international resonance. This victory allowed the Austrian troops to take Milan on September 26.

War

Background
In 1700 King Charles II of Spain died without descent (last representative of the House of Austria). For a few years now, the health conditions of the sovereign, which had never been good, had worsened dangerously. The European monarchies, aware of the situation, began a complex diplomatic work for succession.

Louis XIV of France and Emperor Leopold I were particularly mobilized: the first because he had married the Spanish infamous Maria Teresa of Austria, daughter of Philip IV and sister of Charles II; and the second because he had married the also daughter of Philip IV, the infamous Margarita Teresa of Austria.

In fact, what was at stake was the control of the Spanish Monarchy with its domains in Europe and the Indies. In addition, the Habsburg of Austria claimed rights as direct relatives of the until then house in Spain.

Charles II, undecided, asked the Pontiff for advice, who feared that if the Spanish crown fell into the hands of the Austrian Habsburg one could repeat that concentration of power that was given with the Emperor Charles V, he advised the sovereign that the best would be the Bourbon succession. In addition, Carlos II was under pressure from the Philippine party of the Court of Madrid, headed by the Primate of Spain, Cardinal Luis Manuel Fernández Portocarrero, who was at that time in charge of directing Spanish politics. All this led to a decision to appoint Philip of Anjou, second dogson of the Delphin of France, grandson of Louis XIV and great grandson by mother line of Philip IV, as his will said:

The opening of the will unleashed the conflict, as the new Spanish-French alliance was aimed at breaking the European balance. The conflict that erupted, known as the Spanish War of Succession, lasted for 10 years and ended with the treaties of Utrecht (1713) and Rastatt (1714).

The conflict faced on the one hand England, the Empire, Portugal, Denmark and the Republic of the Netherlands and on the other, France and Spain, which had accepted Philip of Anjou as a new king under the name of Philip V.

The Duchy of Savoy was between France and the Duchy of Milan, Spanish territory, and therefore constituted a Mili corridor