Elector Max II. Emanuel of Bavaria had grand ambitions for his kingdom, particularly during the late 17th century when the fate of Europe seemed to hinge on his son, Joseph Ferdinand's claims to the Spanish throne. In January 1699, Joseph Ferdinand was poised to inherit the vast Spanish Empire, a potential that sowed the seeds for Bavaria's rise as a major European power. This planned succession was agreed upon by England and the Netherlands in diplomatic discussions with the French monarch, Louis XIV, marking a significant moment in European power dynamics.