PHILIP V. (1683-1746). King of Spain from 1700 to 1746, first of the Spanish Bourbon dy nasty. Ile was directly descended on both sides from Philip II.. and was born at Versailles. De cember 19, 1683. the son of the Dauphin Louis and Maria Anna of Bavaria, and grandson of Louis XIV. and Maria Theresa, eldest sister of Charles 11. of Spain. The Archduke Charles of Austria, second son of the Emperor Leopold I., stood equally near the Spanish succession; but Charles II.. dying without issue. left the king dom by his last will to Philip, then Duke of Anjou (1700). Philip was at once proclaimed at Fontainebleau and at :Madrid as Philip V. To defend this succession, which threatened to disturb the religious political balance in Europe. France and Spain became involved in war with the Grand Alliance, formed by Emdand, Holland, and Austria. and joined by Prussia. Denmark, Hanover, Portugal, and finally Savoy. (See Svc cEss(ox WAns.) The Peace of Utrecht 1 April 11, 1713) secured the throne of Spain to Philip. hut shorn of the Italian possessions and the Netherlands. Philip V. was distinguished 'for few faults and virtues,' was weak-minded. and became almost imbecile before his death. His first wife, Marie Louise of Savoy, died in 1714, and with her death ended the influence the (ountess Orsini had acquired over him, for Philip married Elizabeth Farnese of Parma, an energetic and ambitious woman. Her schemes
for advancing the interests of her sons kept Spain embroiled throughout the reign. The minister Cardinal Alberoni (q.v.) directed his policy toward regaining the lost Spanish posses sion; in Italy and had to be removed because of the hostility aroused among the powers. In 1724 Philip abdicated in favor of his eldest son, Louis. but upon the death of the latter in the same year he resumed the crown, notwithstanding his in eren,ing incapacity. In 1734-33 Don Carlos. son of Philip, wrested the Two Sicilies from Austria. In 1741 Spain entered into an alliance with France against Maria Theresa in the War of the Austrian Succession. (See SuccEssiox WArts.) Philip died at Madrid on July 9. 1746. He was succeeded by his second son, Ferdinand VI. (q.v.). Consult: Cole, Memoirs of the Kings of :pain of the House of Bourbon from the Ae cession of Philip 1'. to the Death of Charles (5 vols.. London, 1815), a work that is still of value, although new sources have come to light since it was written: Boudeihart. Philippe V. et la roar de France, 1700-13 (Paris, 1890). Sec SmIx.