Congress of Utrecht

The Congress of Utrecht, held from 1711 to 1714, was a series of negotiations among European nations to end the War of Spanish Succession. The conflict arose when Charles II of Spain died without an heir, prompting fears of a single monarch controlling both Spain and France. The congress resulted in treaties that redrew territorial boundaries: France and Spain remained separate, but Spain ceded territories like Gibraltar and parts of Italy to other powers. These agreements aimed to maintain balance of power in Europe, preventing any one nation from becoming too dominant, shaping the continent’s political landscape for years to come.