Secret Alliance between the Emperor and Brandenburg, signed at Berlin, 22 March (1 April) 1686

The German original of this Alliance between Emperor Leopold I and Elector Friedrich Wilhelm of Brandenburg, entered into for a period of 20 years (Art. 11), is reproduced from Moerner, Kurbrandenburgs Staatsvertraege von 1601 bis 1700, p. 750, who takes it from the Royal archives at Berlin. On the basis of the Peace of Westphalia and the Truce of Ratisbon of 15 August 1684 the parties promise each other military assistance for the defence of the Empire and their respective territories against France (Arts. 1-13). By Arts. 14 and 15 the Emperor cedes the Circle of Schwiebus in Silesia and the claims arising out of the so-called Lichtenstein debt of East Friesland to the Elector, who, in return, renounces all his rights as regards the Duchies of Jägersdorf, Liegnitz, Brieg and Wöhlaw in Silesia (Art. 16). The Elector undertakes for himself and for his successors to give his vote at the Imperial Election to the House of Habsburg (Art. 17), and to support the Emperor in the question of the Spanish succession in return for certain subsidies (Arts. 7 and 18). The Treaty is not to enter into force unless a separate Treaty regulating details of the cession of Schwiebus and the Lichtenstein debt is negotiated. (Art. 23). This provision was given effect to by the Treaties of 7 May 1686 and 30 September 1687. The exchange of ratifications is to be made within four weeks (Art. 24). The Alliance was ratified by the Emperor on 8 April 1686 at Vienna and by the Elector on 16(26) April 1686 at Crossen. The text reproduced contains also a declaration of the Prince-Elector Frederic relating to the restitution of the Schwiebus district, dated 28 February 1686, again taken from Moerner, p. 750. See also the Treaty of 10(20) December 1694 relating to the restitution of Schwiebus. The Alliance was renewed by the Secret Alliance of 16 November 1700.