Ruqayyah Snyder
The War of the Austrian Succession was a conglomeration of related wars 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 and the subsequent debate over the right of his daughter, Maria Theresa, to succeed him as ruler of the Habsburg monarchy. Prussia, France, 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.
| 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 |
| Cause | The right of Maria Theresa to succeed her father, Emperor Charles VI, as ruler of the Habsburg monarchy |
| Participants | France, Prussia, Bavaria, Spain, Sardinia, Saxony, Sweden, Russia, Austria, Britain, the Dutch Republic, Hanover |
| Outcome | Prussia acquired Silesia from Austria, realignment known as the Diplomatic Revolution, outbreak of the Seven Years' War in 1756 |
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What You'll Learn
The death of Emperor Charles VI
Maria Theresa's right to inherit the Habsburg lands was questioned by several European powers, including Prussia, France, Bavaria, and Spain, who saw the succession crisis as an opportunity to challenge Habsburg power and acquire territories for themselves. Prussia, in particular, started the conflict by invading Silesia, a rich Habsburg province, in December 1740, leading to the First and Second Silesian Wars. The victory of King Frederick II of Prussia in Silesia suggested that the Habsburg dominions were weak and unable to defend themselves, encouraging other countries to join the war and pursue their own interests.
Maria Theresa, who became the ruler of the Habsburg Monarchy, faced opposition to her claim from German princely dynasties, who considered themselves as having equal rights as heirs through their marriages to the daughters of Emperor Joseph I. Despite this, Maria Theresa successfully defended her inheritance, with the support of Britain, Russia, and the Netherlands. She was ultimately recognised as the ruler of the Monarchy by the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle in October 1748, although she had to cede Silesia to Prussia.
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Maria Theresa's right to the throne
The War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748) was a conglomeration of related wars, two of which developed directly from the death of Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor and head of the Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg, in 1740. The war was fought primarily in Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
The immediate cause of the war was the death of Emperor Charles VI in 1740 and the inheritance of the Habsburg monarchy, often collectively referred to as Austria. The conflict was centred around the right of Charles VI's daughter, Maria Theresa, to succeed her father as ruler of the Habsburg monarchy. Maria Theresa's claim to her inheritance was not recognised by some of the European powers. Prussia, France, and Bavaria saw it as an opportunity to challenge Habsburg power, while Maria Theresa was backed by Britain, the Dutch Republic, Russia, and Hanover, collectively known as the Pragmatic Allies.
In December 1740, King Frederick II of Prussia invaded the Austrian province of Silesia, one of the richest Habsburg provinces. His victory suggested that the Habsburg dominions were incapable of defending themselves, prompting other countries to enter the fray. Prussia occupied the Austrian province of Silesia in 1740, and Prussia's possession of Silesia was later confirmed in the Peace of Dresden in December 1745. Maria Theresa deeply resented Britain's insistence that she cede Silesia to make peace and made regaining it her main objective.
The war also involved colonial conflict, particularly between Britain and France, over colonial possessions in India and North America. The French seized the British East India Company's trading base of Madras, while the British unsuccessfully besieged Pondicherry. The British took advantage of their naval power to expand the conflict into their colonies. They pursued a dual strategy of naval blockade and bombardment of enemy ports and utilised their ability to move troops by sea.
The conflict was ended by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in October 1748, which preserved the bulk of the Austrian inheritance for Maria Theresa and brought international recognition of her rule over the monarchy. The result from the perspective of the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty was that Maria Theresa had successfully defended most of her claims, with the exception of Silesia.
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The invasion of Silesia
The Prussian victory at Mollwitz in April 1741, which led to the swift occupation of Silesia, sent a powerful message to the rest of Europe: the Habsburg dominions were vulnerable. This emboldened other powers to invade Habsburg territories, and within a month, France had formed an alliance with Bavaria and Spain, later joined by Saxony and Prussia, against Austria. The invasion of Silesia was, therefore, a significant precursor to the wider war, signalling the weakness of the Austrian position and encouraging other powers to challenge Habsburg power.
The struggle for Silesia was a decisive conflict within the wider War of the Austrian Succession. In July 1742, the First Silesian War ended with a peace agreement between Prussia and Austria, which allowed Prussia to retain most of Silesia. However, this peace was short-lived, and in August 1744, Prussia invaded Bohemia, triggering the Second Silesian War. This invasion was intended to force Austria to conclude peace from a position of weakness, by fighting on two fronts. The Second Silesian War ended with the Peace of Dresden in December 1745, confirming Prussian possession of Silesia.
The loss of Silesia was a significant blow to Austria, and the province would become a source of resentment for Maria Theresa, who sought to regain it. Ultimately, the War of the Austrian Succession resulted in Prussia acquiring Silesia, which undermined the Anglo-Austrian Alliance, as Britain had insisted on the cession of Silesia as a condition of peace. This outcome contributed to a realignment of alliances, known as the Diplomatic Revolution, which set the scene for the outbreak of the Seven Years' War in 1756.
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The struggle for power in Europe
The War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748) was a struggle for power in Europe, primarily fought 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.
Maria Theresa's claim to the Habsburg crown was not recognised by some European powers, including Prussia, France, Bavaria, and Spain. They saw the succession crisis as an opportunity to challenge Habsburg power and acquire Habsburg territories for themselves. Prussia, in particular, sought to gain control of the Austrian province of Silesia, which it successfully invaded in 1740, marking the beginning of the war.
The conflict soon widened, drawing in other participants, including Britain, Russia, the Dutch Republic, and Hanover, who collectively became known as the Pragmatic Allies, backing Maria Theresa. Britain, in particular, feared that if France achieved hegemony in Europe, its commercial and colonial empire would be threatened. The war thus became a struggle between France and Britain, with both powers seeking to expand their influence and colonial possessions.
The fighting in the War of the Austrian Succession took place across multiple theatres, including Central Europe, Italy, and the Austrian Netherlands. It included notable battles such as the First and Second Silesian Wars, the Battle of Dettingen, and the Battle of Fontenoy. The war was concluded by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748, which preserved most of the Austrian inheritance for Maria Theresa and brought international recognition of her rule.
The War of the Austrian Succession had significant consequences for the balance of power in Europe. It led to the realignment of alliances, with Prussia emerging as a rival power in Central Europe and forming an alliance with Great Britain. This set the stage for the outbreak of the Seven Years' War in 1756, demonstrating the ongoing struggle for power and influence among the European great powers.
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The global conflict between Britain and France
The War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748) was a conglomeration of related wars, two of which developed directly from the death of Charles VI, the Holy Roman Emperor and head of the Austrian branch of the Habsburgs. The conflict centred on the right of his daughter, Maria Theresa, to inherit the Habsburg lands.
The war was fought primarily in Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea. However, it also involved a colonial conflict between Britain and France, which became part of a general war in Europe. This global conflict between Britain and France was one phase of a struggle between the two nations that lasted from 1689 to 1815.
In North America, British colonists, supported by the Royal Navy, captured the French fortress of Louisbourg. Meanwhile, 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 conflict and recognised Maria Theresa as the ruler of the Habsburg Monarchy.
The war demonstrated the fighting qualities of the British Army and proved the worth of British troops. However, the British also sought to avoid large-scale commitments of troops on the continent, instead utilising their naval power to harass enemy shipping and attack outposts, often with colonists from nearby British colonies. This strategy worked better in North America than in Europe, but it set the stage for the Seven Years' War, which broke out in 1756.
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Frequently asked questions
The War of the Austrian Succession began due to a dispute over the right of Maria Theresa, daughter of Emperor Charles VI, to succeed her father as ruler of the Habsburg monarchy.
Maria Theresa was backed by Britain, Russia, the Netherlands, and Hanover, collectively known as the Pragmatic Allies.
France, Prussia, and Bavaria opposed Maria Theresa's claim and saw the succession struggle as an opportunity to challenge Habsburg power and acquire Habsburg possessions.
The war ended in 1748 with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, which preserved most of the Austrian inheritance for Maria Theresa. However, Prussia acquired Silesia from Austria, leading to a realignment of alliances known as the Diplomatic Revolution.
The war demonstrated the vulnerability of Hanover, which was held in personal union with the British Crown. It also ended the long-standing rivalry between Austria and France, while Prussia emerged as a new rival power in Central Europe, setting the stage for the Seven Years' War in 1756.
