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The War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) was a European conflict fought primarily in Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea. Related conflicts include King George's War in North America, which was the name of the War of Austrian Succession in America. The war was caused by the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the Austrian Habsburg crown after the death of her father, Emperor Charles VI.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Dates | 1740-1748 |
| Location | Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea |
| Related Conflicts | King George's War, War of Jenkins' Ear, First Carnatic War, First and Second Silesian Wars |
| Pretext | Right of Maria Theresa to succeed her father, Emperor Charles VI, as ruler of the Habsburg monarchy |
| Participants | France, Prussia, Bavaria, Austria, Britain, Dutch Republic, Hanover, Spain, Sardinia, Saxony, Sweden, Russia |
| Outcome | Prussia acquired Silesia from Austria, leading to a realignment known as the Diplomatic Revolution; Austria and France ended their rivalry, while Prussia allied with Great Britain |
| Impact | Demonstrated how conflict in Europe could expand overseas, setting the stage for the Seven Years' War and future conflicts in North America and India |
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What You'll Learn
King George's War
The war was characterised by bloody raids on both sides, with the French and their Native American allies, including the Mi'kmaq, Maliseet, and Wabanaki, attacking British settlements on the border of Acadia in Nova Scotia, northern New England, and the Ohio Valley. The British colonists, aided by the Iroquois and Mohawk nations, raided French settlements in Quebec and New France (Canada). The war took a heavy toll, especially in the northern British colonies, with Massachusetts bearing the brunt of the casualties, losing an estimated 8% of its adult male population.
The only significant victory of the war was the capture of the French fortress at Louisbourg, Cape Breton Island, by New Englanders on June 15, 1745. However, in the subsequent Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, Louisbourg was returned to the French in exchange for the city of Madras in India, which the French had captured from the British.
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War of Jenkins' Ear
The War of the Austrian Succession was fought in Europe and North America between 1740 and 1748. In North America, it was known as King George's War.
Now, onto the War of Jenkins' Ear. This conflict was a war between Great Britain and Spain that began in October 1739 and eventually merged into the War of the Austrian Succession. It was fought primarily in the British colony of Georgia and the Spanish colony of Florida. The war was precipitated by an incident in 1731 when a British captain, Robert Jenkins, had his ear cut off by Spanish coast guards who had caught him smuggling and pillaging. In 1738, Jenkins appeared before the House of Commons and exhibited his severed ear, enraging the English public and leading to widespread calls for retribution.
The conflict was also driven by economic factors, as the British viewed the 1733 Pacte de Famille between France and Spain as a threat to their economic interests. The war centred on disputed land claims between the two colonies, with both sides frequently engaging in acts of piracy against each other. The war also had a significant impact on the colony of Georgia, with settlers cooperating with Indian forces to repel Spanish attacks and ultimately secure Georgia as an English colony.
The war saw several military engagements, including the Battle of Bloody Mose, where Spanish and free black forces repelled a British attack, and the Battle of Bloody Marsh in 1742, where British soldiers under General Oglethorpe defeated the only Spanish invasion of Georgia during the war. Despite these clashes, the war ended inconclusively in 1742 as both sides shifted their focus to the larger War of the Austrian Succession.
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First Carnatic War
The War of the Austrian Succession was a European conflict fought between 1740 and 1748, primarily in Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Related conflicts include King George's War in North America, the First and Second Silesian Wars, and the First Carnatic War.
The First Carnatic War was a colonial conflict between Britain and France, fought in India from 1744 to 1748. It was triggered by the War of the Austrian Succession and saw the French win a series of victories over their British rivals in southern India. The war was principally notable in India as the first military experience of Robert Clive, who participated in the defence of Cuddalore and the siege of Pondicherry. The French retained their position as the protectors of the nizams of Hyderabad.
The First Carnatic War was fought between the nominal allies of the Kingdom of Prussia, Spain, France, Bavaria, Sweden, and the Mughal Empire on one side, and the Habsburg Monarchy, England, Dutch Republic, and Russia on the other. The war was fought within the territories of Mughal India with the assistance of various fragmented polities loyal to the "Great Moghul". The British East India Company and the French East India Company were the primary representatives of their respective nations in the conflict.
The First Carnatic War ended with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748, which restored the pre-war situation. Madras was returned to the British in exchange for the French fortress of Louisbourg in North America. The peace in India was short-lived, and the British and French were soon dragged into a succession crisis in Hyderabad, leading to the Second Carnatic War from 1749 to 1754.
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First and Second Silesian Wars
The War of the Austrian Succession was a European conflict fought between 1740 and 1748, primarily in Central Europe. Related conflicts include the First and Second Silesian Wars.
First Silesian War
The First Silesian War was fought between Prussia and Austria from 1740 to 1742 and resulted in Prussia seizing most of the region of Silesia (now in south-western Poland) from Austria. The war was fought mainly in Silesia, Moravia, and Bohemia (the lands of the Bohemian Crown) and formed one theatre of the wider War of the Austrian Succession. It was the first of three Silesian Wars fought between Frederick the Great's Prussia and Maria Theresa's Austria in the mid-18th century, all three of which ended in Prussian control of Silesia.
Prussia's ruling House of Hohenzollern held dynastic claims to various duchies within the Habsburg province of Silesia, a populous and prosperous region contiguous with Prussia's core territory in the Margraviate of Brandenburg. Besides its value as a source of tax revenue, industrial output (particularly minerals), and military recruits, Silesia held great geostrategic importance. Maria Theresa's contested succession to the Habsburg monarchy provided an opportunity for Prussia to strengthen itself relative to regional rivals such as Saxony and Bavaria.
The First Silesian War marked the unexpected defeat of the Habsburg monarchy by a lesser German power and initiated the Austria-Prussia rivalry that would shape German politics for more than a century.
Second Silesian War
The Second Silesian War was fought between Prussia and Austria from 1744 to 1745 and confirmed Prussia's control of the region of Silesia. The war was fought mainly in Silesia, Bohemia, and Upper Saxony and formed one theatre of the wider War of the Austrian Succession. It was the second of three Silesian Wars fought between Frederick the Great's Prussia and Maria Theresa's Austria in the mid-18th century, all three of which ended in Prussian control of Silesia. The conflict has been viewed as a continuation of the First Silesian War, which had concluded just two years prior.
The Second Silesian War was concluded by the Treaty of Dresden in December 1745. Despite the commitments made under the Treaty of Dresden, Maria Theresa still refused to give the Holy Roman Empire's recognition of Prussia's sovereignty in Silesia, and Frederick, in turn, still declined to recognise Maria Theresa's legitimacy as sovereign in the Bohemian lands under the Pragmatic Sanction. The underlying conflict over Silesia was unresolved, and both sides spent the years of peace making preparations for renewed conflict.
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The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle
The treaty preserved the bulk of the Austrian inheritance for Maria Theresa, and her right to the Austrian lands was guaranteed. However, the Habsburgs were weakened by the guarantee to Prussia of its conquest of Silesia. This concession was made due to British pressure, and it soured Anglo-Austrian relations. Prussia was enlarged by Frederick II's successful aggression against Austria, and this outcome surprised the New England colonists, damaging relations between them and London.
The treaty also failed to resolve issues between Britain and France regarding their colonies in North America, particularly in the regions along the Ohio. It also did not settle Anglo-French imperial rivalries in India. The treaty confirmed the right of succession of the house of Hanover in Great Britain and Hanover. Maria Theresa, meanwhile, resented Austria's exclusion from the talks and blamed Britain for forcing her to accept concessions.
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Frequently asked questions
The War of Austrian Succession was a conflict that lasted from 1740 to 1748 and involved most of the powers of Europe. The war was triggered by the death of Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI in 1740, which left the succession of Austria and the Empire uncertain.
The primary issue was the eligibility of a woman to inherit the Habsburg lands, with Charles VI's daughter, Maria Theresa, being his chosen successor. However, this succession was contested by several European powers, leading to the outbreak of war.
The two main coalitions were Austria, Britain, the Dutch Republic, and Hanover on one side, with Prussia, France, Bavaria, and Spain on the other. There were also numerous smaller German states involved, as well as several non-European nations.
The conflict had a significant impact in North America, where it is known as King George's War. This theatre of the war saw fighting between British and French forces, along with their respective Native American allies, and was part of the broader colonial conflict.
The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, which ended the war, largely maintained the status quo in North America, but set the stage for further conflicts. The Treaty failed to resolve the issues between the colonial powers, leading directly to the French and Indian War, and ultimately, the global Seven Years' War.
