This movement had two sides, religious and political.

The Protestant States were enraged at the increasing persecutions of the French Protestants, and their feelings became stronger as the policy of James of England showed itself more and more bent toward Rome.

The Protestant northern States, Holland, Sweden, and Brandenburg, drew together in alliances; and they counted for support upon the Emperor of Austria and Germany, upon Spain and other Roman Catholic States whose motives were political apprehension and anger.
The emperor had latterly been successful against the Turks, thus freeing his hands for a move against France.

July 9, 1686, there was signed at Augsburg a secret agreement between the emperor, the kings of Spain and Sweden, and a number of German princes.

Its object was at first defensive only against France, but it could readily be turned into an offensive alliance.