War of Austrian Succession
When a throne passed to a woman, the continent ignited: dynasties clashed, empires bled, and the fate of Europe was hammered out in fire and mud. The War of the Austrian Succession—where ambition, betrayal, and desperation redrew the map of an age.
Quick Facts
- Period
- 1740 - 1748
- Region
- Europe
- Casualties
- Estimated 450,000–800,000 military and civilian deaths
- Outcome
- Austria survived but ceded Silesia to Prussia, and the balance of power in Europe shifted, setting the stage for future conflict.
- Key Figures
- Charles VII (Charles Albert of Bavaria), Duke of Cumberland (Prince William Augustus), Frederick II (Frederick the Great) +2 more
Key Figures
Charles VII (Charles Albert of Bavaria)
Holy Roman Emperor
Bavaria/France CoalitionCharles VII, born Charles Albert of Bavaria, was a man torn between dazzling ambition and persistent self-doubt—a prince...
Duke of Cumberland (Prince William Augustus)
British Army Commander
BritainPrince William Augustus, the Duke of Cumberland, stands as one of the most polarizing figures in eighteenth-century Brit...
Frederick II (Frederick the Great)
King of Prussia
PrussiaFrederick II of Prussia, known to history as Frederick the Great, was an enigma: a philosopher-king whose enlightenment ...
Louis XV
King of France
FranceLouis XV of France, grandson of the illustrious Sun King, was a monarch shaped—and often overshadowed—by the legacy of h...
Maria Theresa
Archduchess of Austria, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia
AustriaMaria Theresa entered the world of power with the odds stacked against her, and every step of her reign reflected the cr...
The Story
This narrative combines documented history with dramatized scenes for storytelling purposes.
Tensions & Preludes
In the early years of the eighteenth century, the thrones of Europe were chessboards, and the players—kings, queens, ministers—were all too aware that a single ...
Spark & Outbreak
Dawn broke cold and gray over Vienna on October 20, 1740. The city’s bells tolled, not for celebration, but for mourning: Charles VI was dead. In the palace, bl...
Escalation
**CHAPTER 3: Escalation** The spring of 1742 brought no relief to Europe’s battered landscape. The siege of Prague, a city once renowned for its spires and sch...
Turning Point
CHAPTER 4: Turning Point The year 1745 dawned over a Europe battered nearly to breaking point. Frost gripped the muddy fields of Saxony, where Prussia’s Freder...
Resolution & Aftermath
CHAPTER 5: Resolution & Aftermath In the autumn of 1748, after eight grueling years that had seen Europe’s fields and cities transformed into battlegrounds, th...
Timeline
Death of Charles VI
Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI dies in Vienna, triggering the succession crisis that leads to the outbreak of war. Maria Theresa inherits the Habsburg lands, but her right to rule is immediately contested.
Location: Vienna, Austria
Prussia Invades Silesia
Frederick II of Prussia launches a surprise invasion of the Austrian province of Silesia, initiating the military conflict. The occupation is marked by swift advances and harsh measures against resistance.
Location: Silesia, Austria (now Poland)
Battle of Mollwitz
The first major battle of the war sees Prussian forces defeat the Austrians in Silesia. Frederick II's disciplined infantry prove decisive, despite his own near-panic on the field.
Location: Mollwitz, Silesia
Capture of Prague
Bavarian and French forces capture Prague after a prolonged siege, crowning Charles Albert of Bavaria as King of Bohemia. The city suffers looting and hardship during the occupation.
Location: Prague, Bohemia
Charles Albert Crowned Holy Roman Emperor
Charles Albert of Bavaria is crowned as Emperor Charles VII in Frankfurt, breaking centuries of Habsburg dominance over the imperial title.
Location: Frankfurt, Holy Roman Empire
Battle of Chotusitz
Austrian and Prussian forces clash in Bohemia. Frederick II secures another victory, forcing Austria to negotiate and cede Silesia in the Treaty of Breslau.
Location: Chotusitz, Bohemia
France Declares War on Britain and Austria
France officially enters the war against Britain and Austria, escalating the conflict into a wider European and colonial struggle.
Location: Versailles, France
Battle of Toulon (Naval)
French and Spanish fleets engage the British Royal Navy off Toulon. The inconclusive battle sees heavy casualties and signals the global reach of the war.
Location: Toulon, France (Mediterranean Sea)
Battle of Fontenoy
French forces under Marshal Saxe defeat British, Dutch, and Austrian troops near Tournai. The battle is one of the bloodiest of the war and a major French victory.
Location: Fontenoy, Austrian Netherlands (now Belgium)
Battle of Hohenfriedberg
Frederick the Great decisively defeats Austrian and Saxon forces in Silesia, solidifying Prussian control of the region and marking a turning point in the Silesian campaigns.
Location: Hohenfriedberg, Silesia
Battle of Piacenza
Austrian and Sardinian forces defeat the Franco-Spanish armies in northern Italy, halting Bourbon advances and inflicting heavy losses on both sides.
Location: Piacenza, Italy
Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle Signed
The peace treaty ends the War of the Austrian Succession. Maria Theresa is confirmed as ruler, but Prussia retains Silesia, and France and Britain return to the status quo, leaving many issues unresolved.
Location: Aachen, Holy Roman Empire (now Germany)
Sources
- wikipediaWar of the Austrian Succession
Comprehensive overview of the conflict
- documentaryMaria Theresa: Europe’s Mother-in-Law
BBC documentary on Maria Theresa's life and reign
- encyclopediaFrederick the Great: King of Prussia
Biography and analysis of Frederick II
- bookThe War of the Austrian Succession by Reed Browning
Academic monograph on the war's origins and consequences
- encyclopediaThe Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748)
Treaty details and summary
- museumEurope in the Age of Enlightenment and Revolution, 1700-1850
Metropolitan Museum of Art—contextual overview
- bookThe Habsburg Monarchy, 1618–1815 by Charles W. Ingrao
Wider history of the Habsburg monarchy
- academic articleThe Army of Frederick the Great
Detailed look at Prussian military organization
- bookA Companion to Eighteenth-Century Europe
Background on the social and political context
Connected Across The Archives
Explore specific connections to other archives—civilizations, dynasties, companies, and treaties that share history with this conflict.
Civilization Archive
(2)Anglo-Saxon Civilization
The War of Austrian Succession was influenced by Anglo-Saxon legal traditions, impacting European power balances and colonial expansions.
Austrian Empire
The War of Austrian Succession solidified the Habsburg Monarchy's power, leading to the formal establishment of the Austrian Empire in 1804.
Treaty Archive
(2)Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748)
The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748 concluded the War of Austrian Succession, maintaining European balance but sowing future discord.
Treaty of Utrecht
The Treaty of Utrecht's territorial redistributions fueled rivalries that escalated into the War of Austrian Succession, altering European alliances.
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