Ruqayyah Snyder
The War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748) was a conglomeration of related wars, two of which developed directly from the death of Emperor Charles VI, the head of the Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg, in 1740. The conflict was centred around the right of Charles' daughter, Maria Theresa, to inherit the Habsburg lands. The war began when Frederick II of Prussia invaded Silesia, a prosperous and strategically important Habsburg province, in December 1740. This invasion sparked the conflict, as other countries sought to exploit the succession struggle to acquire Habsburg possessions and diminish Austrian power.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 1740-1748 |
| Location | Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, the Atlantic Ocean, and 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 |
| Primary Contenders | Austria and Prussia |
| Secondary Contenders | France and Britain |
| Cause | Dispute over Maria Theresa's succession to the Austrian Habsburg crown |
| Outcome | Prussia acquired Silesia from Austria; realignment known as the Diplomatic Revolution |
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What You'll Learn
The death of Emperor Charles VI
Maria Theresa was backed by Britain, the Dutch Republic, and Hanover, collectively known as the Pragmatic Allies. They were opposed by France, Prussia, and Bavaria, who saw the succession crisis as an opportunity to challenge Habsburg power and claim parts of the Habsburg domain for themselves. Prussia, in particular, sought to exploit the situation to acquire Habsburg possessions and weaken Austrian power.
Prussia's invasion of the Austrian province of Silesia in December 1740 was a significant development. Frederick II of Prussia's victory over the Austrians suggested that the Habsburg dominions were incapable of defending themselves, prompting other countries to enter the war. Prussia's success also undermined the long-standing Anglo-Austrian Alliance, as Maria Theresa deeply resented Britain's insistence that she cede Silesia to make peace.
The conflict widened and drew in other participants, including Spain, Sardinia, Saxony, Sweden, and Russia. The war extended beyond Central Europe to the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea. It also involved colonial conflict, particularly between Britain and France, in North America and India.
The War of the Austrian Succession ended in 1748 with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, which preserved the bulk of the Austrian inheritance for Maria Theresa. However, the conflict had far-reaching consequences, including the realignment of alliances known as the Diplomatic Revolution, which set the stage for the outbreak of the Seven Years' War in 1756.
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Maria Theresa's succession
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 conflict was sparked by the death of Emperor Charles VI in 1740 and the question of his daughter Maria Theresa's right to succeed him as ruler of the Habsburg monarchy.
As a result, France, Prussia, and Bavaria saw the succession crisis as an opportunity to challenge Habsburg power. In December 1740, King Frederick II of Prussia invaded the Austrian province of Silesia, suggesting that the Habsburg dominions were incapable of defending themselves. This prompted other countries to enter the fray, with Prussia eventually allying itself with France, Bavaria, Spain, Sweden and Saxony. These states all sought to exploit the succession struggle to acquire Habsburg possessions for themselves and diminish Austrian power.
Ranged against them were Austria, Britain, the United Provinces and Russia, collectively known as the Pragmatic Allies. Britain’s European war aims were to prevent the French from overrunning the Austrian Netherlands (now Belgium) and to protect its Hanoverian territory (King George II of Britain was also Elector of Hanover). The British pursued a dual strategy of naval blockade and bombardment of enemy ports, as well as utilising their ability to move troops by sea.
The conflict was ended by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, signed in October 1748, which confirmed Maria Theresa as Austrian ruler. However, the Peace turned out to be little more than a truce, as hostilities continued in India and Canada, and would soon break out again between Prussia and Austria.
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Invasion of Silesia
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 invasion of Silesia was the spark that ignited the conflict.
The invasion of Silesia was a key event in the War of the Austrian Succession, marking the onset of the war in December 1740. King Frederick II of Prussia, also known as Frederick the Great, invaded and quickly occupied the prosperous, resource-rich, and strategically located Austrian province of Silesia. This invasion was driven by Frederick's desire to unify his disconnected lands and his own claim on Silesia, disputing the right of Maria Theresa to succeed her father, Emperor Charles VI, as ruler of the Habsburg monarchy.
Prussia's invasion of Silesia was strategically significant due to the province's resources and central location. By the end of January 1741, nearly all of Silesia was under Prussian control, with the remaining Austrian strongholds of Glogau, Brieg, and Neisse under siege. The swiftness of Prussia's victory suggested that the Habsburg dominions were vulnerable, encouraging other countries to join the conflict. This invasion sparked a wider war as Austria, Britain, the United Provinces, and Russia allied against Prussia, which formed its own coalition with France, Bavaria, Spain, Sweden, and Saxony.
The First Silesian War (1740-1742) was followed by the Second Silesian War (1744-1745), which ended with the Treaty of Dresden in 1745. Despite this treaty, the underlying conflict over Silesia remained unresolved, and both sides prepared for renewed fighting. The Third Silesian War (1756-1763) was a theatre of the global Seven Years' War, in which Austria led a coalition aiming to seize Prussian territory. Prussia ultimately acquired Silesia from Austria, setting the stage for the outbreak of the Seven Years' War in 1756.
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European powers' involvement
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.
European Powers Involvement
The European powers involved in the War of the Austrian Succession were divided into two main alliances: the Pragmatic Allies, who supported Maria Theresa's right to succeed her father, and the coalition of France, Prussia, and Bavaria, who sought to challenge Habsburg power.
The Pragmatic Allies were led by Britain, the Dutch Republic, and Hanover. Britain sought to prevent French hegemony in Europe and protect its commercial and colonial empire. They provided Maria Theresa with her main foreign support and utilised their naval power to blockade and bombard enemy ports, harass shipping, and attack outposts. The British also deployed troops on the ground, who proved their worth as soldiers, although they experienced mixed fortunes on the battlefield.
Hanover, which was held in personal union with the British Crown, was vulnerable to Prussian attacks and was a key area of concern for Britain. The Dutch Republic, alongside Britain, provided critical naval support to the Pragmatic Allies.
The coalition opposing the Pragmatic Allies was led by France, Prussia, and Bavaria. France sought to challenge Habsburg power and supported the claims of Bavaria, Saxony, and Spain to parts of the Habsburg domain. Prussia, led by King Frederick II, invaded the Austrian province of Silesia in 1740, sparking the wider conflict. Prussia's victory in Silesia suggested that the Habsburg dominions were incapable of defending themselves, prompting other countries to join the war. Prussia eventually allied itself with France, Bavaria, Spain, Sweden, and Saxony, with the shared goal of diminishing Austrian power and acquiring Habsburg possessions.
As the conflict widened, other European powers became involved, including Spain, Sardinia, Saxony, Sweden, and Russia. Spain and France worked together, with a combined fleet fighting a British naval force at the Battle of Toulon in 1744. Sardinia joined forces with Austria and successfully defended against Spanish attacks in Northern Italy. Saxony, Sweden, and Russia also joined the coalition against the Pragmatic Allies.
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The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle
The treaty was negotiated and put together by the British and French, who persuaded their respective allies to sign. 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. France withdrew from the Austrian Netherlands and returned the Dutch Barrier forts, Maastricht, and Bergen op Zoom. Britain and France exchanged Louisbourg on Île-Royale (in North America) for Madras in India. Britain had captured Louisbourg with support from the Royal Navy and colonists from nearby British colonies. France's successful invasion of the Austrian Netherlands gave them dominance on land, while Britain's victories at sea, such as the Battle of Toulon, cemented its naval power.
Prussia kept the former Austrian province of Silesia, which was a significant gain for Prussia and a blow to Austria. This concession was deeply resented by Maria Theresa, who had to abandon her attempts to regain the province. Don Philip of Spain was granted the dukedom of Parma, and Anglo-Spanish trade disputes were settled.
The treaty also had some diplomatic consequences. For instance, France agreed to expel the Jacobite Prince of Wales, Charles Edward Stuart, from its lands. The decline of the Dutch Republic as a military power also exposed the vulnerability of Hanover, which was held in personal union with the British Crown.
Overall, the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle failed to satisfy most signatories, who felt they had gained little or conceded too much. The issues left unresolved by the treaty, combined with other factors, led to the outbreak of the Seven Years' War in 1756.
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Frequently asked questions
The main cause of the War of Austrian Succession was the death of Emperor Charles VI in 1740, which led to a dispute over the right of his daughter, Maria Theresa, to succeed him as ruler of the Habsburg monarchy.
The war primarily involved the nations of Austria, Prussia, France, and Britain. Austria was supported by Britain, the Dutch Republic, and Hanover, collectively known as the Pragmatic Allies. Prussia was allied with France, Bavaria, Spain, Sweden, and Saxony.
Prussia, led by Frederick II (or Frederick the Great), sought to unify its disconnected lands by invading and occupying the Austrian province of Silesia, one of the richest Habsburg provinces.
Prussia was considered the clear winner of the conflict, as it acquired Silesia from Austria. This outcome, however, undermined the long-standing Anglo-Austrian Alliance and led to a realignment of alliances, known as the Diplomatic Revolution, with Austria and France ending their rivalry and Prussia allying with Great Britain.
The War of Austrian Succession was part of a broader struggle between France and Britain for colonial possessions in India and North America. It set the stage for subsequent conflicts, including the Seven Years' War (1756-1763) and the original 'world war', fought between 1756 and 1763.
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