In 1740 the Holy Roman emperor Charles VI died, and had no male heirs. His daughter, Maria Theresa, received his Austrian lands. Other kings of Europe had earlier agreed to this, but now rulers of Europe tried to get his lands.
Frederick II, the king of Prussia, started the war when he invaded and occupied Silesia, a province within Austria. Spain, France, Poland, Bavaria, and Saxony supported him. Hungary, Britain and the Netherlands helped Maria Theresa. Maria allowed Prussia to occupy most of Silesia, and Prussia withdrew from the war. The French were defeated by the British and Hanoverians at Dettingen. Charles Albert of Bavaria became the emperor Charles VII in 1742. Maria was married to Francis Stephen of Lorraine, and in 1745 with
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In 1756 Frederick the Great of Prussia attacked Saxony and Bohemia. Austria, who was allied with France, Russia and Sweden attacked Prussia. Britain and Hanover joined the war on the side of Prussia. In 1762 Russia agreed to a peace, and Austria in 1763. Britain and France continued the war in North America and India.
The Peace of Paris was signed in 1763 between Britain and France who was allied with Spain. Britain gained territories in America and India. Spain too gained in the war. (see Chapter 19) Prussia and Austria signed the Treaty of Hubertsburg in 1763. By this, Prussia retained its hold on Silesia.
THE LAST DAYS OF THE EMPIRE
The Habsburg emperors remained concerned with the rising power of Prussia. Meanwhile the French revolution (1789) took place and there was the threat of an invsaion by France. From 1792 -1802 Austria, Prussia and other states of the empire joined together in an attempt to defeat France. However, they were not able to do so, and France continued to expand her territories. By 1806, seventeen states of the Holy Roman empire, which had been conquered by France, were reorganized by Napoleon, emperor of France, and named the Confederation of the Rhine. Then on 6 August 1806, the Holy Roman empire, was formally