Editing Peace of Utrecht

{{Era|Timeline}}{{WP-REAL}}      
[[File:ACI - Utrecht.jpg|thumb|250px|Front page of the 1713 Treaty between England and Spain]]
The '''Peace of Utrecht''' was a series of peace treaties signed by the powers involved in the [[War of the Spanish Succession]], namely Spain, Great Britain, France, Portugal, Savoy and the Dutch Republic,<ref name="Journal">''[[Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag: Blackbeard – The Lost Journal]]'' – 28 July, 1713</ref> between April 1713 and February 1715 in the city of {{Wiki|Utrecht}}. The treaties ended the War, resolving many territorial disputes and settling the question of the Spanish Succession, allowed [[Philip V of Spain]] to remain as King of Spain<ref name="Initiates DB">''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]'' – [[Database: Before the Golden Age]]</ref> in return for permanently renouncing his claim to the French throne.<ref name="Wiki">{{WP|Peace of Utrecht}}</ref> Missing from any of the treaties, however, was the problem of the unprotected coastline in the Caribbean.<ref name="Initiates DB"/>

With the end of hostilities between the major empires, prospects of British privateers dried up,<ref name="BF DB Kenway">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Database: Edward Kenway (Black Flag)|Database: Edward Kenway]]</ref> with Great Britain demobilizing a large part of its navy. Taking advantage of the lack of authority in the region, several unemployed sailors regrouped and formed crews to attack Spanish ships.<ref name="Initiates DB"/>

On 28 July 1713, then-privateer [[Edward Thatch]] received a message informing him of the treaties being signed.<ref name="Journal"/> Rather then becoming one of hundreds of unemployed sailors,<ref name="Initiates Dossier">''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]'' – Dossier: "Blackbeard"</ref> he then announced to his crew that they would become a pirate vessel and allowed them to leave if they wanted. [[Edward Kenway]] and [[Charles Johnson]] both decided to remain with Thatch.<ref name="Journal"/> Thatch would later adopt the moniker of "Blackbeard" and become one of the most notorious pirates active in the region.<ref name="Echoes">''[[Echoes of History]] – Behind the Legends'' – Episode 6: Blackbeard</ref><ref name="BF DB Blackbeard">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Database: Edward "Blackbeard" Thatch]]</ref>

The signing of the final treaty in 1715 marked the start of the [[Golden Age of Piracy|Third Golden Age of Piracy]],<ref name="Trials">''[[The Twelve Trials]]'' – Set 7, Question 7</ref> and barely a year later, it had become impossible to keep up honest work as a privateer, as British Governors were skittish about breaking the terms of the treaty.<ref name="BF DB Vane">''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' – [[Database: Charles Vane]]</ref>

==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag]]'' {{Mdat}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag: Blackbeard – The Lost Journal]]'' {{Mo}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Initiates]]'' {{Mdat}}
*''[[Echoes of History]]'' {{Mo}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}