The War of the Quadruple Alliance sees the defeat of Spain by an alliance of Britain, France, Austria, and the Dutch Republic.

The war is a result of the ambitions of King Philip V of Spain, his wife, Isabella Farnese, and his chief minister Giulio Alberoni in Italy, where the Spanish have traditional claims and Isabella several dynastic claims to advance; and for the crown of France, where Philip's infant nephew Louis XV is King, and his cousin the Duc d'Orléans is Regent.Opposition to Philip's ambitions leads France, Britain, and The Seven United Netherlands, to join together in the Triple Alliance on January 4, 1717, and later in the year, to strengthen the Treaty of Utrecht, Britain, France and Austria contemplate ceding Sicily to the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI.

This arrangement displeases Spain, who wants to recover the island and in November Philip begins hostilities against the Holy Roman Empire by invading the island of Sardinia, given to Austria by the Treaty of Utrecht ending the War of the Spanish Succession.

Shortly hereafter, the Spanish advance, invading Sicily, which has been awarded to the Duke of Savoy.This leads, on August 2, 1718, to the formation of the Quadruple Alliance, with the Emperor now joining the Triple Alliance.