ABSTRACT
The mood in the early days of Versailles was militarist and triumphalist, matching its art. It was all too likely that the king, confronted by an issue of foreign policy, would see it exclusively in French terms, treating too lightly the possibility of hostile reaction. The policy of the reunions was, essentially, a simple one. It amounted to unilateral action to draw further advantage from the gains; to bring order to a medley of conflicting rights. Louis was innately cautious but he had a natural weakness for the ‘decisive’ stroke, that which brings tangible, instantly recognisable reward. Louis was sure that the Emperor would continue to work for the whole of the Spanish Succession and if necessary fight for it. Without committing France by treaty, Louis favoured the Hungarian rebels. After Nijmegen, he aided them.
