The 'Grand Alliance': the League of Augsburg and the anti-French alliance between Protestant states; the Empire and Spain
The Grand Alliance was a coalition of European powers that joined forces to stop Louis XIV expanding French territory and influence. It united Protestant states, the Holy Roman Empire, and Catholic Spain against a common threat.
Real World
The Grand Alliance functioned like a collective security treaty: when Louis invaded the Palatinate in 1688, member states were obliged to respond together, preventing the kind of diplomatic isolation he had engineered against the Dutch Republic in 1672.
Exam Focus
When explaining why the Alliance formed, prioritise Louis's own actions (Reunions, Palatinate invasion) as the trigger rather than simply listing member states.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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