The Peace of Ryswick, more commonly referred to as the Treaty of Ryswick, was a series of agreements signed in September 1697 that ended the Nine Years' War (also called the War of the Grand Alliance) between King Louis XIV’s France and the coalition of England, the Dutch Republic, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire, and Savoy.
Key dates and locations
- Negotiations took place in the town of Rijswijk (spelled “Ryswick” in several contemporary English sources) near The Hague, in the Dutch Republic.
- The principal treaty was signed on 20 September 1697 by France and the Grand Alliance powers. Additional bilateral agreements were concluded with Spain (11 October 1697) and Savoy (29 October 1697).
Principal provisions
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Territorial adjustments
- France returned the Duchy of Lorraine to the House of Lorraine.
- The French‑occupied Spanish Netherlands (including parts of modern Belgium) were restored to Spanish control, though France retained the fortified town of Saint‑Quentin.
- The Dutch Republic’s fortifications on the frontier with France were to be dismantled.
- The French colony of Saint‑Domingue (Haiti) was not addressed, but the treaty confirmed French possession of other Caribbean holdings.
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Recognition of sovereignty
- France recognized William III as the legitimate king of England, Scotland, and Ireland, rejecting James II’s claim.
- Spain recognized the French annexation of the County of Louis XIV’s claims in the Spanish Netherlands, but returned other territories.
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Commercial and navigation clauses
- The parties agreed to restore normal trade relations and navigation rights in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
- No punitive trade restrictions were imposed on France, reflecting the desire for a swift peace.
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Religious tolerance
- The treaty contained a clause ensuring that the practice of Catholicism would be protected in the Dutch Republic, countering earlier fears of French interference in Dutch religious affairs.
Significance
- The Peace of Ryswick temporarily halted hostilities in Western Europe and allowed the signatory states to address internal financial and political problems after nearly a decade of war.
- Although the treaty did not resolve underlying rivalries, it established a short‑lived balance of power that lasted until the outbreak of the War of the Spanish Succession in 1701.
- The settlement reinforced the principle that territorial conquest alone could not secure lasting peace, influencing later diplomatic conventions such as the Treaty of Utrecht (1713).
Treaty signatories
- France: King Louis XIV (represented by his minister, the Duke of Noailles).
- England and Scotland: William III (represented by the Earl of Portland).
- Dutch Republic: Stadtholder William III of Orange (also King of England) and the Grand Pensionary Anthonie Heinsius.
- Spain: King Charles II (represented by the Marquis of Villena).
- Holy Roman Empire: Emperor Leopold I (represented by his ambassador, Prince Eugene of Savoy).
- Savoy: Duke Victor Amadeus II.
Historical assessment
Scholars view the Peace of Ryswick as a pragmatic, rather than ideological, settlement that reflected war weariness and fiscal strain among the European powers. It preserved the geopolitical status quo without delivering a decisive resolution to the rivalry between France and the anti‑French coalition, leading to its eventual breakdown a few years later.
