at the beginning of the war , the french army of the rhine was routed in northern alsace .

in recognition Know of the french defense of belfort , under the terms of the treaty of frankfurt , the city and its surrounding area were not handed over Giving to germany , unlike the remainder of alsace .

by the terms of the treaty of ryswick ( 1697 ) louis xiv retained Preserving the whole of alsace but was forced Hostile_encounter to return lorraine to its ruler and give up Process_end any gains on the right bank of the rhine .