The 1698 Treaty of The Hague, also known as the 1698 Treaty of Den Haag or First Partition Treaty was one of two attempts by France, Great Britain, and the Dutch Republic to achieve a diplomatic solution to the issues that led to the 1701–1714 War of the Spanish Succession. The death of Charles II had been anticipated from his succession in 1665, but by 1697 appeared clearly imminent. As he was childless, the closest heirs were of the Austrian Habsburg monarchy or the French House of Bourbon. The acquisition by either of the undivided Spanish Empire would change the European balance of power.