A monumental wall map of Spain early in the War of the Spanish Succession

A superb wall map of Iberia, published soon after the accession of Philippe V to the throne of Spain in 1700. This gave the French reason to celebrate as Philippe was grandson of the French king Louis XIV (the 'Sun King'), meaning a closer connection between the two thrones. In the huge ornamental border are medallion portraits of Philippe and his wife, Marie Louise of Savoy, and 81 medallion portraits going back to the Visgoth king Athaulf (410-5). Bottom left is a plan of Madrid; bottom right is a view of the Escurial Palace. Not all of Europe was as happy as France to have Bourbon kings on the throne of both Spain and France, and soon the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-14) broke out, with Charles of Austria the rival claimant. During the war Spain lost both Gibraltar and Minorca to Britain.