Volume 29

In 1716, as a result of the War of the Spanish Succession, Emperor
Charles VI assumed power in the Southern Netherlands. This book is the
first to trace the difficult early years of Austrian rule in these
war-torn territories. A new government apparatus had to be established,
a modus vivendi reached with the highly combative estates, and
the public finances reconstructed. On top of which, the new prince had
to win the hearts and minds of his subjects in order to legitimize his
rule. The absence of Governor-General Eugene of Savoy and the hesitant
attitude of his representative, the Marquis of Prie, did not aid in
overcoming these challenges, which were further complicated by Dutch and
English interference and the distance between Brussels and the court in
Vienna. This volume carefully analyzes the intricate interplay of all
these factors, thus illustrating the many problems accompanying Early
Modern regime changes.