and the dying Charles of Spain was infuriated by this conspiracy
to break up and divide his dominion. His jealousy of France would
have led him to select the Austrian claimant; but the emperor's
undisguised greed for a portion of the Spanish empire, and the
overbearing and unpleasant manner of the Austrian ambassador in
the Spanish court, drove him to listen to the overtures of Louis,
who had a powerful ally in Cardinal Portocarrero, Archbishop of
Toledo, whose influence was all powerful with the king. The cardinal
argued that the grandson of Maria Theresa could not be bound by
her renunciation, and also that it had only been made with a view
to keep separate the French and Spanish monarchies, and that if a
descendant of hers, other than the heir to the throne of France,
were chosen, this condition would be carried out.

Finally, he persuaded Charles, a month before his death, to sign
a will declaring Philip, Duke of Anjou, grandson of his brother in
law Louis XIV, sole heir of the Spanish empire. The will was kept
secret till the death of the king, and was then publicly proclaimed.
Louis accepted the bequest in favor of his grandson, and Philip
was declared king in Spain and her dependencies.

The greatest indignation was caused in England, Holland, and
the empire at this breach by the King of France of the treaty of
partition, of which he himself had been the author. England and
Holland were unprepared for war, and therefore bided their time,
but Austria at once commenced hostilities by directing large bodies
of troops, under Prince Eugene, into the duchy of Milan, and by
inciting the Neapolitans to revolt. The young king was at first
popular in Spain, but Cardinal Portocarrero, who exercised the
real power of the state, by his overbearing temper, his avarice,