An Introduction to the War of Austrian Succession
The war of the Austrian succession went on from the year 1740 to the year 1748. It turned out to be a series of wars. It resulted in the death of Charles VI who was the Holy Roman emperor during that time. He was also the ruler of the Habsburg Monarchy.
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The death of Charles VI took place on the 20th of October, 1740. During the war, France managed to provide their support to the false claims made by the regions of Spain, Saxony, and Bavaria regarding the regions of the Habsburg domain. France also provided aid to the claims of Charles Albert who was the elector of Bavaria during that time. The country supported his claim to the imperial crown. This was all done in order to cripple the region of Austria which was during that time the longest-standing enemy of France. The war of Austrian succession has a very important historical significance because it led to an array of other wars that dominated the entire European history due to the effect that it had.
What Caused The War of Austrian Succession?
Another very important war that was a part of the Austrian war of succession was the First and the Second Silesian War. The first Silesian war occurred from 1740 to 1742 while the second one was from 1744 to 1745. In this particular war, Frederick II who was the representative of Prussia signed an alliance with France. After that, he managed to wrest the provinces of Silesia from Austria and then managed to hold on to the region for a very long period of time as well. There was also the third series of wars which came to effect due to the continued efforts of France and Britain in order to have power over the regions of North America and India. These wars were also a part of the war of the Austrian succession.
What everyone knows today about the war of Austrian succession actually began on the 16th of December 1740. This was when Frederick II managed to invade the region of Silesia. The region of Silesia during that time was known to be one of the richest provinces of Habsburg. The army of Federick II managed to defeat the Austrian army on April 1741 at Mollwitz. This was when he overran Silesia on the commands of France. The victory of Frederick II confirmed the suspicions in the European regions that the dominions of Habsburg weren’t capable of providing proper defense and hence the war would have a general direction from then.
It was during that time of the Austrian war of succession when Charles-Louis-Auguste Fouquet of France formed an alliance with Spain and Bavaria and then with Prussia and Saxony against the Austrian regime. The rule of Austria during that time was Maria Theresa who was the daughter of Charles VI. She derived main support from Great Britain who already had a fear of losing the colonial empire from France. Thus, the basic idea of the Austrian War of Succession was just a struggle for power between France and Great Britain.
The Aftermath of What Happened in The War of Austrian Succession
The result of the invasion occurring in Bohemia and Austria by the Bavarian Forces and the French forces didn’t end successfully due to a lack of military capability and unity amongst the forces. Austria managed to neutralize Prussia during that time by allowing the retention of Silesia and also managed to drive out the forces of Bavaria and France from Bohemia. It was during the Battle of Dettingen where the French army lost from Austria.
The final success of France was during the conquest of Marshal Maurice de Saxe for the capture of the Netherlands during the Battle of Fontenoy. The war of Austrian succession ran indecisively from 1746 to 1748. The British army had already withdrawn to England in order to fight the opposing forces of France leader Charles Edward in order to win the lands of England and Scotland. In the end, the powers of the countries were forced to the table as the financial burden of the wars was too much to handle for the kingdoms. This was when the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle came into existence in 1748. The treaty was signed in the month of October 1748 by the regions of France, Great Britain, and other prevailing nations as well. This treaty preserved a major share of the inheritance of Duchess Maria Theresa. Prussia gained control of Silesia as the treaty was signed. However, the colonial conflicts between Great Britain and France remained unresolved.
The war of Austrian succession significance is a lot in history because of the fact that it led to the falling out of many regimes and regions during the time. The main contestants of the war, Great Britain and France, however, didn’t manage to resolve their conflicts in the end.
FAQs on War of The Austrian Succession
1. What was the main cause of the War of the Austrian Succession?
The war started because of a succession dispute in Austria. The Habsburg Emperor, Charles VI, died without a male heir. Before his death, he created a rule called the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713 to allow his daughter, Maria Theresa, to inherit all his territories. However, after he died in 1740, other European powers, especially Prussia, rejected her claim and tried to seize parts of her land.
2. Who were the main participants in the War of the Austrian Succession?
The war was fought between two major alliances. On one side, Austria was supported by its main allies, Great Britain and the Dutch Republic. On the other side was a coalition led by Prussia and France, who were joined by Spain and Bavaria.
3. What was the significance of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle?
The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, signed in 1748, officially ended the War of the Austrian Succession. Its most important outcomes were:
- It confirmed Maria Theresa as the ruler of the Habsburg lands.
- It forced Austria to give the valuable province of Silesia to Prussia.
- It did not solve the underlying colonial conflicts between Britain and France, which set the stage for future wars.
4. Did anyone actually win the War of the Austrian Succession?
No single country won a decisive victory. Austria succeeded in having Maria Theresa's rule accepted, which was a major goal. However, the biggest winner was arguably Prussia, which successfully conquered and kept the rich territory of Silesia. For other powers like Britain and France, the war ended more like a draw, with most captured territories returned.
5. How did this war change the balance of power in Europe?
The war had a huge impact on the European power structure. Most importantly, it marked the rise of Prussia as a major military power that could challenge the traditional dominance of Austria. This new rivalry between Austria and Prussia became a central issue in European politics and directly led to the Seven Years' War just a few years later.
6. Why did powers like Great Britain and France get involved in a war about Austrian succession?
For Great Britain and France, the war was less about who ruled Austria and more about their own long-standing global rivalry. Great Britain supported Austria to maintain the balance of power and prevent France from becoming too dominant. France supported Prussia to weaken its traditional enemy, Austria. The conflict was an extension of their competition for colonies, trade routes, and global influence.
7. Why is the War of the Austrian Succession sometimes considered a global conflict?
Although the main cause was in Europe, the fighting spread to other parts of the world. The rivalry between Britain and France led to battles in North America, where it was known as King George's War, as well as in the Caribbean and India. This involvement of overseas colonies and global trade routes makes it one of the first major conflicts with a truly global dimension.
