Quadruple Alliance

Quadruple Alliance, name given to several alliances in history. The first was the alliance formed in 1718 by Britain, France, the Netherlands, and Austria to maintain the European settlement effected by the Peace of Utrecht (1713), which ended the War of the Spanish Succession. It superseded and incorporated the Triple Alliance of 1717 that guaranteed the succession of the reigning families of Britain and France. In 1815 Britain, Russia, Austria, and Prussia formed a quadruple alliance to regulate European politics after the fall of Napoleon. Britain, France, Portugal, and Spain formed another quadruple alliance in 1834 to support Queen Maria II of Portugal and Queen Isabella II of Spain against pretenders to their thrones.