France and Spain: the decline of Spanish military power; the War of Devolution
By the 1660s, Spain had lost its grip as Europe's dominant military power. Louis XIV exploited this weakness in the War of Devolution, seizing Spanish-controlled territory on France's northern border.
Real World
Louis justified the War of Devolution (1667–68) using an obscure inheritance law from Brabant, claiming his wife Maria Theresa's rights overrode her renunciation — a legal pretext comparable to invoking buried small-print to justify an aggressive corporate acquisition.
Exam Focus
Distinguish Louis's legal justification for the War of Devolution from his actual territorial ambitions; examiners reward candidates who identify the gap between the two.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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