Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1668)

Areas gained and returned by Louis XIV in Aix, 1668

The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, or Treaty of Aachen, ended the war of Devolution between France and Spain. It was signed on 2 May 1668 in Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle in contemporary French and English). Spain acceded on 7 May 1669.

The treaty was mediated and guaranteed by the Triple Alliance of England, the Dutch Republic and Sweden at the first Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle. France was forced to abandon its war against the Spanish Netherlands.

Spain had the cities of Cambrai (Kamerijk), Aire (Ariën aan de Leie) and Saint-Omer (Sint-Omaars) restored to it by Louis XIV. Louis XIV also had to return the province of Franche-Comté. Louis XIV was however allowed to keep Armentieres (Armentiers), Bergues (Sint-Winoksbergen), Charleroi, Courtrai (Kortrijk), Douai (Dowaai), Furnes (Veurne), Lille, Oudenarde (Oudenaarde, Audenarde), and Tournai (Doornik).

The treaty left to France all her conquests in Flanders in 1667. This was a vague provision which, after the Peace of Nijmegen (1680), Louis XIV took advantage of to occupy a number of villages and towns he adjudged to be dependencies of the cities and territories acquired in 1668.

See also

• List of treaties
• Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748)

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 
• Phillipson, Coleman (1916 (2010 reprint)). Termination Of War And Treaties Of Peace. The Lawbook Exchange. ISBN 1584778601. 

Further reading

• du Mont, Jean; Baron de Carlscroon, Corps Universel Diplomatique (Amst., 1726-1731).

External links

• Transcription of the treaty (in French, IEG Mainz)
•  "Aachen". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913.