Ruqayyah Snyder
The War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748) was a pivotal conflict that embroiled most of Europe's great powers, including Prussia, Austria, Britain, France, and their respective allies. The war was sparked by a dispute over the succession of Maria Theresa to the Austrian Habsburg crown following the death of her father, Emperor Charles VI, in 1740. The conflict centred around the right of Maria Theresa, as a woman, to inherit the Habsburg lands, with Prussia, France, and Bavaria challenging Habsburg power. The war had significant geopolitical consequences, including the realignment of alliances, the rise of Prussia as a major power, and the demonstration of British military prowess, setting the stage for the subsequent Seven Years' War and shaping colonial conflicts in North America and India.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 1740-1748 |
| Location | Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea |
| Related Conflicts | King George's War in North America, the War of Jenkins' Ear, the First Carnatic War, the First and Second Silesian Wars |
| Pretext | The right of Maria Theresa to succeed her father, Emperor Charles VI, as ruler of the Habsburg monarchy |
| Participants | Austria, Britain, the Dutch Republic, Hanover, France, Prussia, Bavaria, Spain, Sardinia, Saxony, Sweden, Russia |
| Outcome | Prussia acquired Silesia from Austria; realignment of alliances, including Austria and France ending their rivalry and Prussia allying with Great Britain; set the scene for the outbreak of the Seven Years' War in 1756 |
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What You'll Learn
- The conflict was caused by the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the Austrian crown
- The war was fought between 1740 and 1748
- The war was primarily fought in Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea
- The war was ended by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle
- The war demonstrated the fighting qualities of the British Army
The conflict was caused by the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the Austrian crown
The War of the Austrian Succession was a conflict fought between 1740 and 1748, primarily in Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The war was caused by the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the Austrian crown. Maria Theresa was the eldest daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI. In 1711, Charles VI found himself as the sole remaining male Habsburg. An old European law, the Salic Law, prohibited a woman from inheriting her father's kingdom. Concerned that he might not father a son, Charles VI issued a decree in 1713, known as the Pragmatic Sanction. This document guaranteed the right of succession to his daughter.
At this time, many of the great powers of Europe agreed to her succession of power, at a price. However, upon his death, Saxony, Prussia, Bavaria, and France all repudiated the sanction they had recognised during his lifetime. Maria Theresa's right to succeed her father was questioned, and several countries entered the fray, including France, Prussia, and Bavaria, who saw it as an opportunity to challenge Habsburg power. Maria Theresa was backed by Britain, the Dutch Republic, and Hanover, collectively known as the Pragmatic Allies.
During the last several years of her father's reign, two wars had already left the monarchy financially compromised, and the army weakened. Charles VI had believed that his daughter would surrender true power to her husband, Francis Stephen of Lorraine, and so did not prepare her for the role. Maria Theresa found herself in a difficult situation, without money, a strong army, or knowledge of state affairs. She began addressing the Diet in Latin, asserting that "the very existence of the Kingdom of Hungary, of our own person and children, and our crown, are at stake. Forsaken by all, we place our sole reliance in the fidelity and long-tried valor of the Hungarians." Despite the boorish response she received, she managed to win the sympathy of the members, who declared that they would die for her.
In December 1740, King Frederick II of Prussia invaded the Austrian province of Silesia, beginning the War of Austrian Succession. Bavaria and France joined in and invaded Maria Theresa's lands from the west. Maria Theresa successfully maintained her rule over most of the Habsburg monarchy during the war, losing only Silesia and a few minor Italian territories. The conflict was ended by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748, which recognised Prussia's possession of Silesia.
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The war was fought between 1740 and 1748
The War of the Austrian Succession was fought between 1740 and 1748, primarily in Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The war was sparked by the death of Emperor Charles VI in 1740, and the question of whether his daughter, Maria Theresa, could succeed him as ruler of the Habsburg monarchy.
The conflict began when Frederick II of Prussia invaded Silesia, a rich Habsburg province, in December 1740. Frederick's victory over the Austrians suggested that the Habsburg dominions were incapable of defending themselves, prompting other countries to enter the war. Prussia, France, and Bavaria saw the war as an opportunity to challenge Habsburg power, while Maria Theresa was backed by Britain, the Dutch Republic, and Hanover, collectively known as the Pragmatic Allies.
The war was fought across multiple theatres, including Central Europe, Italy, and the Austrian Netherlands, with a wider naval conflict in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. The British troops proved their worth as soldiers, but the armies they served in enjoyed mixed fortunes on the battlefield. The war also involved colonial conflict, particularly between Britain and France, in places such as India and North America.
The war dragged on indecisively from 1746 to 1748, with the financial burden pushing the powers to negotiate. The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, signed in October 1748, preserved the bulk of the Austrian inheritance for Maria Theresa. By the treaty, France agreed to leave the Austrian Netherlands and give back possessions like Louisbourg in return for receiving back other possessions like Madras.
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The war was primarily fought in Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea
The War of the Austrian Succession was fought between 1740 and 1748, primarily in Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The war was sparked by the death of Emperor Charles VI in 1740 and the question of whether his daughter, Maria Theresa, had the right to succeed him as ruler of the Habsburg monarchy. France, Prussia, and Bavaria saw this as an opportunity to challenge Habsburg power, while Maria Theresa was backed by Britain, the Dutch Republic, and Hanover, collectively known as the Pragmatic Allies.
The conflict in Central Europe focused on the Silesian Wars between Prussia and Austria, with Prussia occupying the Austrian province of Silesia in 1740. This marked the beginning of the war, and Prussia is often considered the clear winner of the conflict as they acquired Silesia from Austria in the end. The First and Second Silesian Wars were two separate but connected conflicts, with the second being a renewed Prussian invasion after the first ended in 1742.
In the Austrian Netherlands, the French, skillfully conducted and marching rapidly, joined forces. However, their situation was critical as the army of the King of Sardinia was in pursuit, and before them lay the main Austrian army. The pitched Battle of Piacenza on 16 June 1746 ended in an Austrian victory, with the Spanish army heavily mauled. Despite this, the Austrian army soon retreated back to Genoa, and the Austrians occupied the Republic of Genoa on 6 September 1746. The French invasion of the Austrian Netherlands in 1744, with the help of divisions among the Pragmatic Allies, established their dominance in the region.
In Italy, the war was fought between Austria and Sardinia, who were able to defeat Spanish attacks in Northern Italy, and a Franco-Spanish army. The Franco-Spanish army defeated the Sardinians at Bassignano on 27 September 1745 and captured several towns. However, the Spanish fleet was unable to support the invasion attempt due to the British naval force commanded by Admiral Mathews in the February 1744 Battle of Toulon. This allowed Spain to land troops in Northern Italy and capture the important port of Villefranche-sur-Mer in April.
The conflict in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea involved the British Royal Navy, which took advantage of its naval power to expand the war into the colonies. The British pursued a dual strategy of naval blockade and bombardment of enemy ports, harassing enemy shipping, and attacking outposts. This strategy worked better in North America than in Europe but set the stage for the Seven Years' War. The British were also able to prevent a combined Franco-Spanish fleet from exiting the Mediterranean and supporting the invasion attempt of Northern Italy in 1744.
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The war was ended by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle
The War of the Austrian Succession was ended by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, which was signed on 18 October 1748. The treaty was also referred to as the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle. It was a suspension of hostilities between rival European coalitions, rather than a stable solution to the serious problems that had caused the war.
The treaty was negotiated between March and November 1748, with the British and French putting together an agreement that their respective allies then signed. The signatories were Great Britain, France, the Habsburg Empire, the United Provinces of the Low Countries (Netherlands), Prussia, Spain, Modena, Genoa, and Sardinia.
The treaty restored conquered territory to its original owners, with a few exceptions. For example, Prussia kept the former Austrian province of Silesia, and France regained the fortress of Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Maria Theresa was confirmed as empress of Austria, but Britain forced Austria to concede Silesia to Prussia, which soured Anglo-Austrian relations. French stature was enhanced, and Prussia was enlarged, by Frederick II's successful aggression against Austria.
The treaty failed to resolve many of the issues that had caused the war, and most of the signatories were unhappy with the terms. For example, Maria Theresa resented Austria's exclusion from the talks and blamed Britain for forcing her to accept concessions. British politicians also felt they had received little benefit for the financial subsidies paid to Austria. These issues, combined with other factors, led to the outbreak of the Seven Years' War in 1756.
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The war demonstrated the fighting qualities of the British Army
The War of the Austrian Succession was a conflict fought between 1740 and 1748, primarily in Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The war was caused by the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the Austrian Habsburg crown following the death of her father, Emperor Charles VI, in 1740. Maria Theresa's right to inherit the Habsburg lands was contested by France, Prussia, and Bavaria, who saw it as an opportunity to challenge Habsburg power. Maria Theresa was backed by Britain, the Dutch Republic, and Hanover, collectively known as the Pragmatic Allies.
During the war, Britain's European war aims were to prevent the French from overrunning the Austrian Netherlands (now Belgium) and to protect its Hanoverian territory, as King George II of Britain was also Elector of Hanover. The British tried to avoid large-scale commitments of troops on the Continent, instead allying themselves with Continental powers whose interests were antithetical to those of their enemies, particularly France.
The war also involved colonial conflict, particularly between Britain and France. The French seized the British East India Company's trading base of Madras, while the British unsuccessfully besieged Pondicherry. In Canada, British colonists, supported by the Royal Navy, captured the French fortress of Louisbourg. The expectation was that military victory in Europe would compensate for any colonial losses.
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Frequently asked questions
The War of Austrian Succession was a conflict fought between 1740 and 1748, primarily in Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
The cause of the war was the death of Emperor Charles VI in 1740 and the question of whether his daughter, Maria Theresa, could succeed him as ruler of the Habsburg monarchy.
Most of Europe's great powers were involved in the conflict. Prussia, France, Bavaria, and Spain sought to challenge Habsburg power, while Maria Theresa was backed by Britain, the Dutch Republic, and Hanover.
Prussia was considered the clearest winner of the war, acquiring Silesia from Austria. The war also demonstrated the vulnerability of Hanover, which was held in personal union with the British Crown. The conflict set the stage for the outbreak of the Seven Years' War in 1756.
The war had significant consequences for colonial possessions, particularly in North America and India. The French seized the British East India Company's trading base of Madras, while the British captured the French fortress of Louisbourg in Canada.
