War of the Austrian Succession: Prussia gains control of Silesia at the Battle of Mollwitz.

The War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748) was a major European conflict that began after the death of Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI in 1740. Because Charles had no male heir, he had issued the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713, which declared that his daughter, Maria Theresa, could inherit the Habsburg lands. Although many European powers had previously recognized this arrangement, several rulers challenged her claim once Charles died. This succession dispute quickly escalated into a wider struggle for power, as states such as Prussia, France, Bavaria, and Spain sought to weaken Austria and gain territory.

A key turning point came when Frederick II of Prussia invaded the wealthy province of Silesia in December 1740. His invasion transformed what had been a dynastic dispute into a continental war. Prussia’s military successes encouraged other powers to join the conflict against Austria. France supported Bavaria’s claim to the imperial throne, while Great Britain and the Dutch Republic backed Maria Theresa, largely to contain French expansion. The war soon spread beyond central Europe, involving battles in the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, and even overseas colonies in North America and India.

Despite facing serious setbacks early in the war, Maria Theresa proved to be a determined and capable ruler. She rallied support from Hungary and reorganized Austria’s military and finances, allowing her to recover much of her position. Important battles such as Dettingen (1743) and Fontenoy (1745) demonstrated the scale of the conflict and the shifting fortunes of the major powers. Although Austria managed to preserve most of its territories, it was unable to regain Silesia from Prussia, which emerged from the war as a major European power.

The war ended with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748. The treaty largely restored the prewar balance of power, but it confirmed Prussia’s possession of Silesia, a major loss for Austria. Maria Theresa’s husband, Francis Stephen, was recognized as Holy Roman Emperor, helping preserve Habsburg prestige. However, the peace settlement satisfied few of the participants and left many rivalries unresolved. These tensions, especially Austria’s desire to recover Silesia and the growing competition between Britain and France, directly contributed to the outbreak of the Seven Years’ War in 1756.