In his conduct to Pope Innocent X1. the French mo narch displayed the same overbearing insolence, nor can his obstinate opposition to the pope's wise restrictions on the right of sanctuary enjoyed within the premises of foreign ambassadors, be otherwise accounted for, than from his desire to chew to Europe that he had now ar rived at such a height of power, as to despise the laws by which other civilized states were regulated in their mutual intercourse.
The indignation of Europe at length burst forth, and the league of Augsburg was formed by the Emperor Leopold with Holland, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, and Savoy. for the purpose of checking the ambitious designs of Louis. On the succession of William III to the throne of Britain, that nation also joined the league.
The first commencement of the war in Italy was un fortunate for the allies. The troops of Victor Amadeus II. were defeated at Staffarda, by Mareschal Catinat, and all Savoy, with the greater part of Piedmont, fell into the hands of the French. The activity of prince Eugene of Savoy saved Turin ; and in the following years these allies invaded Dauphiny, in order to divide the attention of Cati nat. The success of their campaign was, however, in terrupted by the illness of the duke, and his generals were forced to retreat. Casal was then invested by the com bined troops of Spain and Savoy, and on its surrender was restored to the duke of Mantua, in consequence of a secret agreement between Louis and the duke of Savoy, who was now weary of the war, and determined to desert the cause of the allies. In fact, he concluded a treaty the next year, after sustaining a mock siege in Turin, by Catinat.
By this pacification, which was termed the neutrality of Italy, the duke received back Savoy, with all the other places occupied by France, and Adelaide, his eldest daughter, was betrothed to the duke of Burgundy, grand son of the French monarch. The defection of Victor Amadeus was soon followed by the general peace of Ryswick, terminating a war, which though it had not hunt bled the French king, had at least exhausted his resources to such a degree, as to render his ambition less formida ble to his neighbours.
The commencement of the 18th century was marked by a new cause of contention, and a war still more impor tant in its results. Charles II. the last king of Spain, of the house of Austria, dying without issue, bequeathed his dominions to the duke of Anjou, grandson to Louis XIV. who, repairing to Madrid, was immediately ac
knowledged as king, by the name of Philip V. The em peror Leopold, who claimed the succession in behalf of the archduke Charles, his second son, finding it vain to make attempts on Spain, marched a considerable army into Italy, under the command of prince Eugene. The \renetians observing a strict neutrality, he met with little or no opposition, till he attempted to enter the Milanese, when he was attacked near Chiahi, by the united troops of the duke of Savoy and Mareschal Villetoi, whom he completely defeated. Cremona also was surprised and occupied by the Germans, and Villeroi taken prisoner; and a revolt at Naples, in favour of Charles III. was with difficulty quelled by the Spanish viceroy. Eugene then laid siege to Mantua, but the arrival of the duke of Ven dome, with considerable reinforcements from France, forced him to give up the undertaking.
In the mean time, the duke of Savoy, offended that the sole management of the war was not committed to him, notwithstanding his connection with Philip, who had mar ried his daughter, left the French party, and acceded to what was termed the grand alliance, consisting of the em peror king William III. tk states of Holland, and the king of Portugal. The affairs of these great leagues, however prosperous elsewhere, was unsuccessful in Italy. Savoy was immediately invaded by the French armies, under Venddme and Feuillade; and the duke at length, after the doubtful action at Cassinato, forced to take refuge in Turin, where he was closely besieged by Feuillade. But the archduke was now master of great part of Spain, and the decisive victory by Marlborough at Blenheim having expelled the French from Germany. prince Eu gene hastened to the relief of Turin. The French army had been reinforced by the troops under the duke of Or leans and Mareschal Marsin, and was superior in num bers to that of Eugene ; but the latter, attacking them with vigour in their camp, carried the entrenchments, and defeated them with great loss. Marsui was killed, and the duke of Orleans wounded, and the remains of the fled with great precipitation. The effects of this victory were decisive of the fate of Italy, and the duchy of I\ !Ilan and kingdom of Naples were occupied by the imper1.1 troops.