"ORIGINS OF HISTORY: The War of the Spanish Succession" is a short introduction to one of the critical events of European history. Delving into the origins of the complex succession to the Spanish throne, James Ker carefully and methodically illuminates the key figures, houses, and monarchies that were sucked into the first ever world-spanning military conflict. Rival houses vie for control of the declining but still powerful Spanish empire, in order to perfectly unbalance the stable political and military order of Europe. Whoever gains the Spanish dominions in their entirety will gain an immeasurable advantage over their European rivals. When Louis XIV makes his move to claim the Spanish dominion for the House of Bourbon, the Grand Alliance is left with no other choice...

"Origins of History" is a series of original, contemporary historical writing that focuses on introducing readers to the causes of the key events in world history.