The War of the Spanish Succession, also known as Queen Anne’s War, was a war that began in 1701 and ended in 1713. It was fought between between the British Empire and her allies against the Spanish and French Empires .
History []
Background []
After Charles II of Spain died, he named Philip of the House of Bourbon, a member of the French Royal Family, as his heir. Fearing that a unification of the Spanish and French empires would lead to an upset in the balance of power. England also sought to place a Protestant ruler on the throne of Spain.
The War[]
Takeover of Nassau[]
In 1705, Lord Thomas Hamilton and Lieutenant James McGraw attempted to make Nassau a profitable colony again. Their answer to the pirate problem is to grant them Royal Pardons. This begins a lengthy political campaign in Parliament between Lord and Lady Hamilton, Lieutenant McGraw and their ally, LordPeter Ashe, and Thomas’ father LordAlfred Hamilton.
However, Governor Thompson demands more bribe money from Edward Teach, the most feared pirate captain on the island. Teach gathered men and ordered Thompson to vacate the island. Thompson refused, and a dozen armed men break into the Governor’s Mansion and Teach’s second,Israel Hands , kills Thompson’s wife and son. The pirates then took complete control of the town and the fort.
McGraw attempts to take the pardon idea to Admiral Hennessey, but fails when it is revealed that Lord Hamilton learned about Thomas’ and McGraw’s affair and told Hennessey. Thomas is imprisoned in Bethlem Royal Hospital, a mental asylum, while McGraw and Lady Miranda are sent into exile.
The Rosario Raid[]
The War waged across Europe as well as the colonies. In the October of 1703, the Rosario Raids were launched against Nassau. Spain had long been angered byRichard Guthrie and the pirates whose plunder he sold aboard his ships. The pirates had allowed Fort Nassau to fall into disrepair. The Spaniards were able to easily land 200 soldiers on the beach, and they burned Nassau Town to the ground before marching inland, continuing to loot, kill and burn.
Jacobite Rising []
During this time, James Francis Edward Stuart, the exiled monarch of a previous king, attempted to lead his supporters, known as Jacobites, in reclaiming the throne. James was unable to succeed Anne, despite her being his half sister, because of laws prohibiting Catholics from sitting on the throne. The rebellion failed, and James fled to France. Benjamin Hornigold, a privateer for the British, fought for Stuart, but fled to Nassau to become a pirate when the rebellion failed. He told his men that if they remained with him, they would be soldiers fighting in a rebel navy to restore the rightful king.
Battle off the Coast of Mexico[]
Woodes Rogers, the son of a wealthy shipping family, led a privateering expedition to the Pacific Ocean in the hopes of capturing a Manila galleon. While he did find and take his quarry, the battle left him scarred and his brother Thomas was killed.
Aftermath[]
The war ended in 1713 when the Treaty of Utrecht was signed. Philip V foreswore any claims to the French throne and made additional promises against any merger of the French and Spanish Empires. The war led to an increase in piracy in the West Indies. Many former privateers became pirates after the war's conclusion left them without employment. With Nassau under their control, they began to plague English shipping in the Caribbean. Spain would later try to recover the territories they lost as a result of the treaty in the War of the Quadruple Alliance. The British, French, Dutch and Holy Roman Empire united against Spain.