When Did the War of the Austrian Succession Take Place?
The Complex Web of Succession Crisis
The War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) was a global conflict that involved many of the major powers of Europe and North America. The war was sparked by a complex web of succession crises in Central Europe, which resulted in a global conflict involving over 80% of the European population. But when did the war start?
1740 – The Beginning of the End
The war began in August 1740 when Prussia, led by King Frederick the Great, invaded Silesia, a province of the Kingdom of Bohemia in response to the death of Empress Maria Theresa’s husband, Karl VI. Carl VI had named his daughters Maria Theresa, then 23 years old, as the sole heiress to the throne in a decree known as Pactum Mutuum Successionis or Mutual Succession Pact.
Opposition to the Succession
However, other powers opposed the succession of Maria Theresa, claiming that Carl VI’s daughters were inferior heirs. The most influential opposition came from Austria’s rival powerhouses:
• Bavaria: Maria Theresa’s husband was also considered by Bavaria to have no claim to the throne of the Habsburg empire, which made them legitimate candidates.
• Saxony: Saxony supported the Prussian bid to claim Silesia.
• Prussia: Prussia wanted to claim Silesia outright.
• Spain (and her allies France, Naples, and Piedmont): The Spanish Royal Family claimed that Maria Theresa was illegitimate due to the Pactum Mutuum Successionis and the previous claim of her cousin Karl VII.
Alliances and Battlefronts
During the war, the Great Powers of Europe formed temporary alliances to secure their positions. Here is a quick glance at the alliances involved:
| Alliances |
|---|
| Alliance of Austria, Bavaria, and Saxony vs. Prussia, led by King Frederick the Great. |
| Spanish coalition: Spain, France, Naples, and Piedmont against Austria and her allies. |
| Quadruple Alliance: Great Britain, Netherlands, Sardinia, and Prussia forming a coalition to counter-balance the French-Spanish alliance. |
On various battlefronts across Europe, conflicts broke out between these opposing alliances, with Battle of the Schellenberg (1744) being an important turning point. At the same time, American and Canadian theater, especially King George’s War, also started around 1744-1749, which marked the height of European intervention in America during the period.
Consequences of the War
The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748) officially ended the conflict, but it came with no major territorial changes for major European powers, apart from Silesia being acknowledged as Prussia’s sovereignty.
The War of the Austrian Succession, with its 8 major conflicts and more than a year of brutal warfare on several continents, has profound and lasting implications:
- The war further divided Central European powers into pro-and anti-Austrian camp, strengthening the rise of anti-Habsburg coalition and anti-Maria Theresa sentiments.
In summary, the war started in August 1740 with Prussia invading Silesia in opposition to the succession of Maria Theresa, daughter and heir of the deceased emperor Karl VI, leading a chain of global conflicts till its official conclusion with Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748.
Note: Many key events, including dates mentioned above, might seem irrelevant.
