Congress of Soissons
Encyclopedia
The Congress of Soissons was a diplomatic conference held between a number of European powers, but principally Great Britain
and Spain
between June 1728 and July 1729 in the French town of Soissons
.
Along with the Convention of Pardo it was designed to bring an end to the Anglo-Spanish War
by resolving the various areas of dispute between them - particularly commercial and territorial disagreements. Spain agreed to recognise British possession of Gibraltar
and Minorca
in exchange for a British recognition of Spanish rights in Italy
. The ultimate aim of the British delegate Stephen Poyntz and Horatio Walpole
was to prevent a Spanish-Austrian alliance from developing against Britain, by resolving Britain's dispute with Spain as smoothly as possible. Directed by the Duke of Newcastle the British took a relatively hard line, believing they were negotiating from a position of strength - a strategy that proved successful.
It opened the way for a final treaty
to be agreed between the two sides in Seville
. However many of the disputes flared up again over the next decade leading the two states to fight each other in the War of Jenkins' Ear
in 1739.
The Dutch Republic
was represented by Sicco van Goslinga
.
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
between June 1728 and July 1729 in the French town of Soissons
Soissons
Soissons is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France, located on the Aisne River, about northeast of Paris. It is one of the most ancient towns of France, and is probably the ancient capital of the Suessiones...
.
Along with the Convention of Pardo it was designed to bring an end to the Anglo-Spanish War
Anglo-Spanish War (1727)
The Anglo-Spanish War of 1727–1729 was a limited war that took place between Great Britain and Spain during the Eighteenth Century, and consisted of a failed British attempt to blockade Porto Bello and a failed Spanish attempt to capture Gibraltar...
by resolving the various areas of dispute between them - particularly commercial and territorial disagreements. Spain agreed to recognise British possession of Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
and Minorca
Minorca
Min Orca or Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. It takes its name from being smaller than the nearby island of Majorca....
in exchange for a British recognition of Spanish rights in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The ultimate aim of the British delegate Stephen Poyntz and Horatio Walpole
Horatio Walpole
Horatio Walpole may refer to:*Horatio Walpole *Horatio Walpole, 1st Baron Walpole of Wolterton *Horace Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford *Horatio Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford...
was to prevent a Spanish-Austrian alliance from developing against Britain, by resolving Britain's dispute with Spain as smoothly as possible. Directed by the Duke of Newcastle the British took a relatively hard line, believing they were negotiating from a position of strength - a strategy that proved successful.
It opened the way for a final treaty
Treaty of Seville (1729)
The Treaty of Seville was signed on 9 November 1729 between Great Britain, France, and Spain, concluding the Anglo-Spanish War .Preliminary discussions had already taken place between Britain and Spain at the Convention of Pardo and the Congress of Soissons...
to be agreed between the two sides in Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
. However many of the disputes flared up again over the next decade leading the two states to fight each other in the War of Jenkins' Ear
War of Jenkins' Ear
The War of Jenkins' Ear was a conflict between Great Britain and Spain that lasted from 1739 to 1748, with major operations largely ended by 1742. Its unusual name, coined by Thomas Carlyle in 1858, relates to Robert Jenkins, captain of a British merchant ship, who exhibited his severed ear in...
in 1739.
The Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
was represented by Sicco van Goslinga
Sicco van Goslinga
Sicco van Goslinga was a Dutch statesman and diplomat, who served as gedeputeerde te velde of the States-General of the Dutch Republic with John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough during his campaigns in Flanders in the War of the Spanish Succession...
.