League of Augsburg
League of Augsburg
an alliance concluded in Augsburg on July 9, 1686, between Holland (the initiator of the alliance), the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Spain, Sweden, Bavaria, the Palatinate, and Saxony. The alliance aimed at stopping the territorial acquisitions of France (Louis XIV) in Western Europe. England joined the league in 1689, when the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange, who initiated the league, became king of England. The League of Augsburg conducted a war with France from 1688 to 1697, which ended with the Treaty of Ryswick of 1697. France gave up some acquisitions.