Commercial tensions and international relations : Louis XIV and the struggle for hegemony from the peace of Nijmegen to the outbreak of the Nine Years’ War

Louis XIV’s invasion of the Rhineland in September 1688, aimed at securing a lasting peace following the Truce of Ratisbon, instead triggered the Nine Years’ War (1688–1697), a pivotal moment in his extensive reign. In contrast to earlier conflicts - such as the War of Devolution (1667–1668), the Dutch War (1672–1678), and the War of the Reunions (1683–1684) - which had reinforced French dominance in Europe, this war depleted France’s resources and culminated in unfavourable peace terms, marking the onset of the reign’s decline. This study re-evaluates the war’s origins by foregrounding the role of commercial relations in the deteriorating diplomatic relations between France and its neighbours in the 1680s, offering a counterpoint to traditional historiographical emphases on political, dynastic, and religious drivers. Utilising French archival materials, it underscores the critical yet underexplored influence of commerce in escalating tensions with Spain, the Dutch Republic, and England. French protectionist measures, including tariffs and naval interventions to bolster commercial interests, contributed to the general alienation of key powers that led to the formation of coalitions such as the League of Augsburg in 1686 and eventually to the outbreak of hostilities in 1688-1689. While political and dynastic ambitions often eclipsed economic motives, this thesis contends that commercial rivalries, embedded in the competitive dynamics of the period, were inherent in the diplomatic failures precipitating war. By reassessing Louis XIV’s policies, this work presents his decisions as pragmatic responses to mutual antagonisms rather than solely aggressive unilateral actions, providing a more nuanced understanding of his strategic calculations.