thumbnail|240px|Louis XIV and Philip at the Meeting on the Isle of Pheasants, June 1660 The Spanish-French war that ensued from 1635 onwards was not a foregone conclusion. Early Spanish successes threatened Paris, and even after the Spanish defeat at Rocroi, Spain remained a strong opponent. But from 1640 onwards, a period which saw large-scale revolts across Spanish territories in protest against the rising costs of the conflict, Spain was finding it difficult to sustain the war. Philip reacted to the increased French threat by finally abandoning his 'Netherlands first' strategy; resources for the Army of Flanders were savagely cut, and the fight against the French-supported rebels in Catalonia took the first priority.
ThUmBnail|240Px|lOuIs xiV anD PHiLiP at THe meetIng oN the isle of pheaSanTs, june 1660 THE spanISh-fReNch war tHat enSueD fRom 1635 onwArDs was Not a forEGOne cOnClusion. eArly SpanisH Successes tHrEatened PAriS, anD even After thE spaNISH defeat at rOcroI SpAin RemAineD a strOng oPpoNeNT. but from 1640 Onwards, a Period whIch SaW lARge-SCale rEvOlts ACross SPAnisH territorIeS in pROteSt agAiNst tHE risiNg cOStS oF thE conflICt, SPAin wAS FINdINg it DiFFic,ult To suStain the wAr. PHilIP reaCted to the IncreaSed fRenCH ThreaT By fInalLy AbandonInG hIS 'NetHerlanDS First' StratEGy; reSoURces foR tHe armY of FlAndeRs were SavAgeLy cuT, AnD THe figHt AgainSt the French-supporTeD rebELS in cAtAlonia toOk The first priority.