Lyla Lindsey
The War of the Austrian Succession was a conflict that took place between 16 December 1740 and 18 October 1748, involving most of Europe's great powers. The war was caused by the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the Austrian Habsburg crown following the death of Emperor Charles VI, her father. The conflict was ended by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, which confirmed Maria Theresa in her titles but failed to resolve underlying tensions between the signatories.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the Treaty | Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle |
| Date | October 1748 |
| Parties Involved | Prussia, France, Britain, Austria, Spain, Bavaria, Saxony, Russia, the United Provinces |
| Terms | Maria Theresa confirmed as Archduchess of Austria and Queen of Hungary; France withdrew from Austrian Netherlands; France returned Madras to Britain; Prussia acquired Silesia from Austria |
| Outcome | Stalemate; underlying tensions between signatories left unresolved; minimal gains for France and Britain; Prussia considered the clear winner |
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What You'll Learn
The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle
However, the treaty failed to resolve the underlying tensions between the signatories, and many were left unhappy with the terms. Maria Theresa, for example, resented Austria's exclusion from the talks and blamed Britain for forcing her to accept concessions. Prussia acquired Silesia from Austria, an outcome that undermined the Anglo-Austrian Alliance and caused resentment in Austria. Prussia's rise to the rank of a great power was also a source of resentment for Austria.
The Spanish gained the Duchies of Parma, Piacenza, and Guastalla in Italy, while Britain secured the return of the fortress of Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. The treaty also included a provision for the expulsion of the Jacobite Prince of Wales, Charles Edward Stuart, from France.
Overall, the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle was a temporary truce in the Anglo-French conflict in India and North America, and it failed to resolve the underlying issues that had caused the war. The war broke out again eight years later as the Seven Years' War.
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Maria Theresa's titles
The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, signed in October 1748, confirmed Maria Theresa in her titles.
Maria Theresa was the only woman to rule the Habsburg monarchy, from 1740 until her death in 1780. She was the sovereign ruler of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Transylvania, Slavonia, Mantua, Milan, Moravia, Galicia and Lodomeria, Dalmatia, the Austrian Netherlands, Carinthia, Carniola, Gorizia and Gradisca, Lusatia, Styria and Parma, among others. She was also the Archduchess of Austria and Queen of Hungary and Bohemia by birthright. Through her marriage to Francis I, Duke of Lorraine, she became Duchess of Lorraine, Grand Duchess of Tuscany, and Holy Roman Empress.
Maria Theresa was the eldest daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI, who issued the Pragmatic Sanction to allow her to succeed him. She was also the cousin of Emperor Peter II of Russia, and of Queen Juliana Maria of Denmark and Norway.
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Prussia's acquisition of Silesia
The War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748) was caused by a question of Maria Theresa's succession to the Austrian Habsburg crown. In December 1740, King Frederick II of Prussia invaded the Austrian province of Silesia, which had been a possession of the Bohemian crown since 1335 and was passed to the Austrian Habsburgs in 1526. This invasion sparked a conflict that eventually led to Prussia allying itself with France, Bavaria, Spain, Sweden, and Saxony. These states sought to exploit the succession struggle to acquire Habsburg possessions and weaken Austrian power.
Prussia's invasion of Silesia was welcomed by many Silesians, not only by Protestants or Germans. Frederick based his claims on the Treaty of Brieg, and his invasion marked the beginning of the First Silesian War. By the end of this war, in 1742, Prussia had conquered almost all of the Habsburg crown land in Silesia. The conquest marked the beginning of the era of Prussian Silesia. According to the peace treaties of Breslau and Berlin, only some smaller parts in the extreme southeast, like the Duchy of Cieszyn and Opava, remained possessions of the Crown of Bohemia and the Austrian Habsburg monarchy.
The acquisition of Silesia by Prussia was one of the outcomes of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, which concluded the War of the Austrian Succession. Prussia was considered the clearest winner of the war, as it acquired Silesia from Austria. This outcome undermined the long-standing Anglo-Austrian Alliance, as Maria Theresa deeply resented Britain's insistence that she cede Silesia to make peace. She made it her main objective to regain Silesia, and the Treaty of Fontainebleau in 1743 reflected this ongoing conflict, as it included a proposed invasion of Britain, aiming to restore the exiled Stuarts.
The First Silesian War was followed by the Second and Third Silesian Wars, which were part of the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). The Third Silesian War confirmed Prussian control over most of Silesia, and due to its predominantly Protestant population, especially in Lower Silesia, it became one of the most loyal territories of the House of Hohenzollern. During the War of the Austrian Succession, Prussia installed its own administration in Silesia, which met the needs of a modern state. They strengthened fortifications and increased the number of soldiers tenfold.
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France's withdrawal from the Low Countries
The War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748) involved most of Europe's great powers. The conflict was caused by the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the Austrian Habsburg crown. During the war, Britain's primary aim was 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).
In 1744, the French succeeded in overrunning much of western Flanders. They resumed their offensive in 1745 and laid siege to the fortress of Tournai. In May 1745, the British Army, under the command of the King's son, the Duke of Cumberland, marched to relieve Tournai with an army of 47,000 including 23,000 British soldiers. On 11 May, Cumberland clashed with Marshal Maurice de Saxe's French Army at Fontenoy. Although the French occupied a strong position, Cumberland decided to attack. The Austrians and the Dutch made little progress, but in the centre, the British and Hanoverian infantry broke into the French position. Saxe counter-attacked with all his available infantry, cavalry and artillery. The British and Hanoverians withstood numerous assaults until, heavily outnumbered, they were forced to withdraw. Tournai surrendered ten days later. Saxe then continued to capture towns in the Austrian Netherlands, culminating with the fall of the capital, Brussels, in February 1746.
In 1747, Cumberland returned, but on 2 July, he was defeated by Saxe at the Battle of Lauffeld, fought near Tongeren and Maastricht. Saxe followed this up with victories at Bergen op Zoom (September 1747) and Maastricht (May 1748). By early 1748, France held most of the Austrian Netherlands, but was close to bankruptcy due to the cost of the war and a crippling British naval blockade. The stalemate led to the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, which confirmed Maria Theresa in her titles but failed to resolve underlying tensions between the signatories. By the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, signed in October 1748, France agreed to leave the Austrian Netherlands and give back Madras in return for Louisbourg.
Thus, France's withdrawal from the Low Countries was a result of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, which ended the War of the Austrian Succession.
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Britain's colonial conflict with France
The War of the Austrian Succession was a European conflict fought between 1740 and 1748. The conflict was caused by the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the Austrian Habsburg crown. 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.
In India, the French seized the British East India Company's trading base of Madras, which was later returned to Britain as part of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. This treaty, signed in October 1748, ended the War of the Austrian Succession and confirmed Maria Theresa in her titles, but it failed to resolve the underlying tensions between the signatories, particularly the colonial conflicts between Britain and France.
The War of the Austrian Succession was followed by the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), which was fought in Europe, North America, and India. The Battle of Quebec in 1759 was a significant victory for the British in this conflict, leading to their conquest of Canada.
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Frequently asked questions
The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle concluded the War of Austrian Succession in 1748.
The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle confirmed Maria Theresa as Archduchess of Austria and Queen of Hungary, and she retained her titles. France agreed to leave the Austrian Netherlands and give back Madras.
No, the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle did not resolve the underlying tensions between the signatories. Most of the commercial issues that had led to the war were left unresolved, and many of the signatories were unhappy with the terms.
The War of Austrian Succession established Prussia as a regional hegemon, altering the balance of power in Europe. It also resulted in the First Carnatic War between Britain and France in India.
