No CrossRef data available.
Article contents
The Diplomacy of Dr. John Robinson at the Court of Charles XII of Sweden, 1697–1709
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 February 2009
Extract
IT is not possible to study the diplomacy of the war of the Spanish Succession without taking into account the Northern war which threatened in 1707 to upset the whole strategy of the Grand Allies. Ever since the formation of the League of Augsburg France had tried to win Sweden to her side, and the apparent military genius of Charles XII made her an even more desirable ally. Sweden might have seen much to recommend such an alliance, particularly in 1707 when Swedish disputes with the Empire took on a new importance, and when the prestige of the Grand Allies had suffered by the defeat at Almanza and the failure of the Toulon expedition. But this turning-point in the Spanish Succession war came and passed, Charles XII turned eastwards against Russia and disputes with the Empire ended in agreement. Never again were the two separate wars in danger of becoming one.
- Type
- Research Article
- Information
- Copyright
- Copyright © Royal Historical Society 1948
References
page 75 note 1 The following abbreviations are used:
P.R.O., S.P.F. ‥ Public Record Office. State Papers Foreign. B.M., Add. MSS. … British Museum. Additional Manuscript.
All dates are in new style and quotations contain the original spelling and punctuation.
page 76 note 1 P.R.O., S.P.F. Entry Book 104/153. Trumbull to Robinson. 14 Jan. 1697.
page 77 note 1 Robinson had previously shown special regard for the interests of Mr. Robert Jackson, a leading English merchant in Stockholm.
page 77 note 2 The law made it illegal for foreign merchants to stay in Sweden for more than two months in any one year unless they became burghers; as Robinson pointed out to Shrewsbury, ‘none of them incline to become Burghers, becaus if they do, they lose all their credit in England, they must turn Lutherans, or have no exercise of Religion, and if they would at any time quitt their Burghership, must leave a third part of their estates to the City, besides the yearly and arbitary contributions they must pay’. P.R.O., S.P.F. 95/14. 14 Nov. 1694.
page 77 note 3 P.R.O., S.P.F. Entry Book 104/153. Trumbull to Robinson. 29 Oct. 1695. The Secretary was here referring to the Flag dispute which was then being discussed at the Hague, but his words had equal application in 1698.
page 78 note 1 B.M., Add. MSS. 35,106. Robinson to Blathwayt. 4 Nov. 1699.
page 78 note 2 P.R.O., S.P.F. 95/15. Robinson to Williamson. 11 May 1698. The Elector Palatine claimed the Duchy of Veldents, which Sweden regarded as her own.
page 78 note 3 P.R.O., S.P.F. 95/15. Robinson to Williamson. 20 July 1698.
page 78 note 4 P.R.O., S.P.F. 95/15. Robinson to Williamson. 20 July 1698.
page 79 note 1 P.R.O., S.P.F. 95/15. Robinson to Hedges. 12 July 1702.
page 79 note 2 P.R.O., S.P.F. Entry Book 104/153. 11 Dec. 1702.
page 80 note 1 P.R.O., S.P.F. 95/15. Robinson to Hedges. 11 March 1703.
page 80 note 2 P.R.O., S.P.F. 95/15. Robinson to Hedges. 11 March 1703.
page 81 note 1 Bain, R. Nisbet, Charles XII and the Collapse of the Swedish Empire (1895)Google Scholar.
page 81 note 2 P.R.O., S.P.F. 95/15. 14 March 1703.
page 81 note 3 Piper did not promise Robinson an audience straight away during his interview with him, but said he would have to get in touch with Charles XII and find out if he were agreeable. Robinson had to include the notice of Charles XII's consent as a postscript to his despatch, ‘Just at the closeing of my ’tre I receive advice, that the King will give me audience tomorrow morning’.
page 82 note 1 P.R.O., S.P.F. Entry Book 104/153. Hedges to Robinson. 2 April 1703.
page 82 note 2 P.R.O., S.P.F, 95/15. Robinson to Hedges. 14 March 1703.
page 83 note 1 P.R.O., S.P.F. 88/17. Robinson to Harley. 16 Oct. 1706.
page 83 note 2 P.R.O., S.P.F. 88/16. Robinson to Hedges. 5 April 1704.
page 84 note 1 P.R.O., S.P.F. 88/17. Robinson to Harley. 1 June 1706.
page 84 note 2 P.R.O., S.F.P. 88/16.
page 85 note 1 P.R.O., S.P.F. 88/17. Robinson to Harley. 11 Dec. 1706.
page 85 note 2 P.R.O., S.P.F. 88/17. Robinson to Harley. 15 Feb. 1707.
page 86 note 1 P.R.O., S.P.F. Entry Book 104/154. Harley to Robinson. 28 Jan. 1707.
page 86 note 2 In his book The Life of John Duke o Marlborough, vol. ii.
page 87 note 1 Marlborough to Harley. The Hague, 10 May 1707. Letters and Despatches of the Duke of Marlborough, iii. 357.
page 88 note 1 Letters and Despatches of the Duke of Marlborough, iii. 359.
page 88 note 2 Robinson wrote to Harley 19 April 1707 (P.R.O., S.P.F. 88/17): ‘I have acquainted Count Piper, Mr. Henneline, and Cederhielm that Her Majesty will give yearly pensions to the first £1500 and to each of the other £500’.
page 88 note 3 P.R.O., S.P.F. 88/17.
page 88 note 4 Letters and Despatches of the Duke of Marlborough, iv. 286–7.
page 89 note 1 In his Memoirs of the Duke of Marlborough.
page 89 note 2 P.R.O., S.P.F. 88/17.
page 89 note 3 P.R.O., S.P.F. Entry Book 104/154. 30 May 1707.
page 89 note 4 P.R.O., S.P.F. 88/17. Robinson to Harley. 17 May 1707.
page 89 note 5 P.R.O., S.P.F. 88/17. Robinson to Harley. 11 June 1707.
page 89 note 6 P.R.O., S.P.F. 88/17. Robinson to Harley. 13 Aug. 1707.
page 90 note 1 P.R.O., S.P.F. Entry Book 104/154. Harley to Robinson. 2 Sept. 1707.
page 90 note 2 Marlborough to Harley. 10 May 1707. Letters and Despatches of the Duke of Marlborough, iii. 357.
page 90 note 3 P.R.O., S.P.F. 82/24. Robinson to Boyle. 4 March 1708.
page 91 note 1 B.M., Add. MSS. 22,198.
page 91 note 2 P.R.O., S.P.F. 82/24. Robinson to Boyle. 25 May 1708.
page 91 note 3 P.R.O., S.P.F. 82/24.
page 92 note 1 B.M., Add. MSS. 22,198. 1 May 1709.
page 92 note 2 B.M., Add. MSS. 22,198.