Thequestionwascertainlyverycomplicated。Thatclaimwhich，accordingtotheordinaryrulesofinheritance，wasthestrongest，hadbeenbarredbyacontractexecutedinthemostbindingform。TheclaimoftheElectoralPrinceofBavariawasweaker。Butsoalsowasthecontractwhichboundhimnottoprosecutehisclaim。Theonlypartyagainstwhomnoinstrumentofrenunciationcouldbeproducedwasthepartywho，inrespectofblood，hadtheweakestclaimofall。
AsitwasclearthatgreatalarmwouldbeexcitedthroughoutEuropeifeithertheEmperorortheDauphinshouldbecomeKingofSpain，eachofthosePrincesofferedtowaivehispretensionsinfavourofhissecondson，theEmperor，infavouroftheArchdukeCharles，theDauphin，infavourofPhilipDukeofAnjou。
SoonafterthepeaceofRyswick，WilliamtheThirdandLewistheFourteenthdeterminedtosettlethequestionofthesuccessionwithoutconsultingeitherCharlesortheEmperor。France，England，andHolland，becamepartiestoatreatybywhichitwasstipulatedthattheElectoralPrinceofBavariashouldsucceedtoSpain，theIndies，andtheNetherlands。TheImperialfamilyweretobeboughtoffwiththeMilanese;andtheDauphinwastohavetheTwoSicilies。
ThegreatobjectoftheKingofSpainandofallhiscounsellorswastoavertthedismembermentofthemonarchy。Inthehopeofattainingthisend，Charlesdeterminedtonameasuccessor。A
willwasaccordinglyframedbywhichthecrownwasbequeathedtotheBavarianPrince。Unhappily，thiswillhadscarcelybeensignedwhenthePrincedied。Thequestionwasagainunsettled，andpresentedgreaterdifficultiesthanbefore。