No Peace Without Spain was a popular British political slogan of the early eighteenth century. It referred to the ongoing War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714) in which Britain was a leading participant. It implied that no peace treaty could be agreed with Britain's principal enemy Louis XIV of France that allowed Philip, the French candidate, to retain the Spanish crown. The term became a rallying cry for opposition to the Tory government of Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford and the terms of the Treaty of Utrecht.
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough was closely associated with Britain's war effort until his dismissal in 1711. He then joined with Whig politicians to oppose the Peace of Utrecht.
Victory at Villaviciosa in December 1710 settled the war in favour of Philip V.
Robert Harley, the leader of the Tory government that negotiated the Treaty of Utrecht. His concessions over Spain were fiercely attacked by the opposition.
The Peace of Utrecht was a series of peace treaties signed by the belligerents in the War of the Spanish Succession, in the Dutch city of Utrecht between April 1713 and February 1715. The war involved three contenders for the vacant throne of Spain, and involved much of Europe for over a decade. The main action saw France as the defender of Spain against a multinational coalition. The war was very expensive and bloody, and finally stalemated. Essentially, the treaties allowed Philip V to keep the Spanish throne in return for permanently renouncing his claim to the French throne, along with other necessary guarantees that would ensure that France and Spain should not merge, thus preserving the balance of power in Europe.
First edition of the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht between Great Britain and Spain in Spanish (left) and a later edition in Latin and English.
Signature of the Treaty of Utrecht between Portugal and Spain, in the Maliebaan, on 6 February 1715. The Dom Tower is visible in the background. From left to right: The Duke of Osuna, in red coat, Luís da Cunha, in black coat, The Secretaries, in blue and yellow coats and the Count of Tarouca, crouched, in brown coat.
Allegory of the Peace of Utrecht by Antoine Rivalz
Ensuring the succession of Maria Theresa reduced Austria's gains from the war, and ultimately led to the War of the Austrian Succession in 1740