Versailles Century - dedicated to the arts, events, ideas, and people of the period 1682-1789
  • Home
  • Arts
  • Events
  • Ideas
  • People
  • Travel
  • Contact Me
Versailles Century - dedicated to the arts, events, ideas, and people of the period 1682-1789
Home
Arts
Events
Ideas
People
Travel
Contact Me
  • Home
  • Arts
  • Events
  • Ideas
  • People
  • Travel
  • Contact Me
Events, On This Day

On This Day in the Versailles Century: 16 December

It was on this day in the Versailles Century (1682-1789), 16 December 1740, that Frederick II of Prussia, not yet called ‘the Great,’ invaded the Austrian-held duchy of Silesia, thus launching the First Silesian War, which formed one theatre of the wider  War of the Austrian Succession.

Silesia, which bordered Prussia, Saxony, and Poland, had hitherto belonged to the crown of Bohemia, i.e. to the Habsburgs. On the death of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI in late October without a male heir, Frederick — himself only King of Prussia for less than half a year — saw his chance. Without a declaration of war, the invasion was a complete surprise and a complete success, blindsiding both the Austrians and the Saxons, who also had their eyes on the duchy. Within weeks, Frederick established complete control over the largely Protestant territory. Though a freethinker himself, he was not above posing as the protector of his nominal co-religionists, who welcomed his rule.

Meanwhile, the Habsburg heiress, Maria Theresa, was outraged by the highjacking of her duchy. Unfortunately, she was facing opposition on all fronts and could not properly respond to Frederick’s aggression. Gritting her teeth, she signed the Treaty of Breslau in 1742, recognizing Frederick’s sovereignty over most of Silesia in exchange for his support of her husband’s candidacy to the imperial throne and some financial considerations.

Needless to say, the story does not end here. It took 2 further wars to settle the matter. Maria Theresa started the Second Silesian War (1745-1748) in attempt to win the duchy back after she had gotten her consort, Francis Stephen of Lorraine, elected Holy Roman Emperor as Francis I, and established control over Bohemia.  The Third Silesian War (1756-1763), which was the local name for the global Seven Years War,  finally forced her to renounce her claim to Silesia forever. It seems she never got over it.

 

December 16, 2018by David Gemeinhardt
FacebookTwitterPinterestGoogle +Stumbleupon

MY INSTAGRAM FEED

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: API requests are being delayed. New posts will not be retrieved.

There may be an issue with the Instagram access token that you are using. Your server might also be unable to connect to Instagram at this time.

Error: API requests are being delayed for this account. New posts will not be retrieved.

There may be an issue with the Instagram access token that you are using. Your server might also be unable to connect to Instagram at this time.

Error: No posts found.

Make sure this account has posts available on instagram.com.

Click here to troubleshoot

CATEGORIES

  • Arts
    • Architecture
    • Decorative Arts
    • Fine Arts
    • Music
  • Events
    • Everyday Life
    • Historical Events
    • News
    • On This Day
  • Ideas
    • Book Reviews
    • Books
    • News
    • Reflections
    • Translations
  • People
    • Artists
    • Philosophers
    • Rulers
    • Soldiers
    • Statesmen
    • Writers
  • Travel
    • Hotels
    • Museums
    • Places
    • Restaurants
  • Uncategorised

POPULAR POSTS

Versailles Century, the Beginning — Part 3: Learning French

Versailles Century, the Beginning — Part 3: Learning French

Versailles: A Visit to the Private Apartments, Part 2

Versailles: A Visit to the Private Apartments, Part 2

The Golden Gate of Versailles: Today in History

The Golden Gate of Versailles: Today in History

Carnavalet Museum Closed for Renovations

Carnavalet Museum Closed for Renovations

TAGS

18th century A Childhood at Versailles A Novella of the 18th Century Austria Baroque books Carnavalet Museum Chateau de Versailles England Felipe V France Frederick II frederick the great French French Revolution furniture history La Maréchale d'Aubemer Lisbon Louis XIV Louis XV Louis XVI Madame de Pompadour Marie-Antoinette memoirs Mexico Mme Adélaïde Mme de Boigne MNAA Nancy Mitford New Spain novella on this day Paris Porto Portugal prussia rococo Rome Spain The Widow of Field Marshal d'Aubemer translation versailles Voltaire War of the Spanish Succession

RECENT POSTS

ON THIS DAY: 3 April

ON THIS DAY: 3 April

ON THIS DAY IN THE VERSAILLES CENTURY (1682-1789): 14 August

ON THIS DAY IN THE VERSAILLES CENTURY (1682-1789): 14 August

ON THIS DAY IN THE VERSAILLES CENTURY (1682-1789): 25 JULY

ON THIS DAY IN THE VERSAILLES CENTURY (1682-1789): 25 JULY

ON THIS DAY IN THE VERSAILLES CENTURY (1682-1789)

ON THIS DAY IN THE VERSAILLES CENTURY (1682-1789)

Recent Tweets

    Sorry, no Tweets were found.

SEARCH

Social

“France, indeed, had at that time an empire over mankind such as even the Roman Republic never attained: for, when Rome was politically dominant, she was in arts and letters the humble servant of Greece. France had over the surrounding countries at once the ascendancy which Rome had over Greece and the ascendancy which Greece had over Rome.” -- Lord Macaulay


My translation work

Go to top

My other blog and shop

© 2016 copyright VERSAILLES CENTURY // All rights reserved//

Designed, Hosted, & Maintained by SPIRITX WEB DESIGN