Editing Prince Eugene of Savoy (section)

==== Interlude in the west: Nine Years' War ====
{{Main|Nine Years' War}}
Just as [[Belgrade]] was falling to Imperial forces under Max Emmanuel in the east, French troops in the west were crossing the [[Rhine]] into the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. Louis XIV had hoped that a show of force would lead to a quick resolution to his dynastic and territorial disputes with the princes of the Empire along his eastern border, but his intimidatory moves only strengthened German resolve, and in May 1689, Leopold I and the Dutch signed an offensive compact aimed at repelling French aggression.<ref>Lynn: ''The Wars of Louis XIV, 1667–1714'', pp. 192–193</ref>

[[File:Max II. Emanuel.png|thumb|188x188px|[[Maximilian II Emanuel|Max Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria]], Eugene's early mentor before becoming his opponent in the War of the Spanish Succession, painting by [[Joseph Vivien]]|left]]

The [[Nine Years' War]] was professionally and personally frustrating for the prince. Initially fighting on the Rhine with Max Emmanuel—receiving a slight head wound at the [[Siege of Mainz (1689)|Siege of Mainz]] in 1689—Eugene subsequently transferred himself to Piedmont after Victor Amadeus joined the [[Grand Alliance (League of Augsburg)|Alliance]] against France in 1690. Promoted to general of cavalry, he arrived in [[Turin]] with his friend the [[Charles, Prince of Commercy|Prince of Commercy]]; but it proved an inauspicious start. Against Eugene's advice, Amadeus insisted on engaging the French [[Battle of Staffarda|at Staffarda]] and suffered a serious defeat—only Eugene's handling of the Savoyard cavalry in retreat saved his cousin from disaster.{{sfn | McKay | Baker | von Savoyen | 1977 | p=33}} Eugene remained unimpressed with the men and their commanders throughout the war in Italy. "The enemy would long ago have been beaten", he wrote to Vienna, "if everyone had done their duty."{{sfn | Henderson | 1964 | p=32}} So contemptuous was he of the Imperial commander, [[Antonio Carafa (general)|Count Carafa]], he threatened to leave Imperial service.{{sfn | Henderson | 1964 | p=33}}

In Vienna, Eugene's attitude was dismissed as the arrogance of a young upstart, but so impressed was the Emperor by his passion for the Imperial cause, he promoted him to Field-Marshal in 1693.{{sfn | Henderson | 1964 | p=34|ps=: "His promotion had as much to do with the lack of good Imperial commanders as much as Eugene's proven ability thus far. There were more than 20 other Field-Marshals in Imperial service at that time.}} When Carafa's replacement, [[Aeneas de Caprara|Count Caprara]], was himself transferred in 1694, it seemed that Eugene's chance for command and decisive action had finally arrived. But Amadeus, doubtful of victory and now more fearful of Habsburg influence in Italy than he was of French, had begun secret dealings with Louis XIV aimed at extricating himself from the war. By 1696, the deal was done, and Amadeus transferred his troops and his loyalty to the enemy. Eugene was never to fully trust his cousin again; although he continued to pay due reverence to the Duke as head of his family, their relationship would forever after remain strained.{{sfn | McKay | Baker | von Savoyen | 1977 | p=37}}

Military honours in Italy undoubtedly belonged to the French commander [[Nicolas Catinat|Marshal Catinat]], but Eugene, the one Allied general determined on action and decisive results, did well to emerge from the Nine Years' War with an enhanced reputation.{{sfn | McKay | Baker | von Savoyen | 1977 | p=37}} With the signing of the [[Treaty of Ryswick]] in September/October 1697, the desultory war in the west was finally brought to an inconclusive end, and Leopold I could once again devote all his martial energies into defeating the Ottoman Turks in the east.