"The cursed sluices of Dunkirk ": Dunkerque, thermometer of Franco-British relations after Utrecht ? Vrije Universiteit Brussel
The Franco-British Peace Treaty of Utrecht (11 April 1713) imposed France to destroy the harbour and fortifications of Dunkirk. This issue is often presented as a mere bilateral quarrel. However, the joint Franco-British diplomacy between 1716 and 1731 was determined by a quest for a general Balance of Power in Europe. Enlarging the international guarantee system of succession orders was at the core of this activity. The geopolitical advantages ...