Buzási Enikő szerk.: In Europe' Princely Courts, Ádám Mányoki, Actors and venues of a portraitist's career (A Magyar Nemzeti Galéria kiadványai 2003/1)

János Kalmár: POWER AND THE PRINCELY COURT IN EARLY 18th-CENTURY EUROPE

table, they would gladly carry on with it."

15 The French, however, had more pressing matters that had a direct bearing on their interests. Thus rather than address the issue in Utrecht, the business of Transylvania was dealt with only in 1714 in Rastatt during the two-sided discussions between the representatives of the emperor and Louis XIV. But even then it was not given serious attention, for the Sun King did not wish to jeopardise the treaty. Rákóczi, who was by then residing in France, only learned after the fact of what was for him an unsuccessfully concluded peace.

16 He recalled bitterly that "the emperor negotiated an admirable treaty. Thus he appeared from everywhere powerful and immovable."

17 This is precisely why dividing up the Habsburg Monarchy - the countries of which were ruled over based on hereditary rights - was never seriously considered during the peace negotiations. Consequently Rákóczi's hopes that, through diplomatic means, and with the assurance of foreign powers, either all of Hungary or even just Transylvania would gain its independence were dashed. The Peace of Utrecht strove to create a balance between the European powers. Philip of Anjou was allowed to keep Spain and its colonies, but he could not unite it with France. He had to give certain European crown lands to Charles VI, including the Spanish Netherlands, the principality of Milan, the kingdom of Naples, and Sardinia. He was also obliged to give Great Britain the territories they had occupied during the war: Gibraltar and Menorca Island. Great Britain received certain lands in North America from France,

18 and the French had to tear down the naval base at Dunkerque. The agreement at Utrecht created a veritable system of land security: the goal was not merely to end French hegemony, but to block once and for all any possibility of it being re-established. France was obliged to renounce its hitherto aggressive activities in foreign affairs and give up several territories across the sea. In addition it had to tolerate the existence of the buffer zone that had taken shape around it. This zone included, to mention only the most important regions: to the north, the southern Netherlands under Habsburg control and a fortified area occupied by the Dutch, and to the east, the fortresses of Freiburg and Kehl along the Rhine (which Louis XIV acknowledged belonged to the emperor). To the south-east, Savoy, which had expanded in territory (annexing Sicily) and in political importance (it was decreed that should Philip V die without an heir, the Spanish crown would be inherited by the ruler of this kingdom), was wedged between the French Dauphiné and the principality of Milan, now under Habsburg rule.

19 Session at the Peace Conference in Utrecht in 1712. Engraving Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum