War of the Austrian Succession

"Return this answer. They who want peace with me will give me what I desire. I am sick of ultimatums. I will have no more of them. My part is taken."

- Frederick the Great

The War of the Austrian Succession, also known as the War of Jenkins' Ear and the first two Silesian Wars, was waged from 1740-1748 over a combination of Central European rivalries and colonial competition between England and France. Emperor Charles VI died without male issue. He was succeeded by Maria Theresa, who claimed the throne based on the Pragmatic Sanction (pragmatic sanctions were temporary amendments to the constitution of the Holy Roman Empire enacted by Imperial decree; in this case it was a temporary alteration in the succession laws) which her father had made on her behalf. Recognition of the Sanction was bought by The Emperor from the states of Europe at high cost in concession.

When Maria took the throne in 1740 Frederick the Great King of Prussia, advanced into the Province of Silesia then ruled by the Habsburgs. Eager for a share of the Plunder several of the states of Europe joined him. This marked the beginning of a continent wide war.

The war lasted until 1748 through many convoluted twists and turns. At the last it subsided through lack of resources leaving things except for Frederick who ended up gaining Silesia and establishing Prussia as a respected power, at the cost of continuing enmity from the Habsburg throne. In the meantime the struggle between Great Britain and France remained undecided. This led to the Seven Years' War.


 * Beware the Nice Ones: Maria
 * Brits With Battleships
 * Canucks with Canoes
 * Cool Horse: Hussars
 * Cool Versus Awesome : Frederick Versus Maria
 * Crowning Moment of Awesome: Maria Theresa appeared before the Hungarian Diet carrying her newborn son and received a resounding She Is the King.
 * The Prussian Bayreuth Dragoons parading before Frederick after the battle of Hohenfriedberg (1745) with 67 captured colours, 2500 prisoners and 5 pieces of artillery. Before the Second Silesian War the king had been less than impressed with the regiment at a review, telling its colonel: "They're all drunkards!" Now it was all "What do you think of the drunkards now?" (The Hohenfriedberg March, named after the battle, was heavily used in Barry Lyndon.
 * The French fortress of Louisburg in Canada was taken by American militia alone with no help from the regulars. At the peace The British Empire gave it back allowing a French base for future campaigns in the area. This was one of the many petty annoyances that would lead to an unfortunate future misunderstanding.
 * Cultured Badass : A lot of them, but Frederick most notably.
 * Damsel in Distress : Maria. Subverted.
 * Dolled-Up Installment: Britain and Spain were already engaged in the War of Jenkins' Ear for entirely different reasons and in a completely different manner, being a mostly naval conflict. However, today said war is either completely forgotten or considered an 'Issue 0' of the War of Austrian Succession.
 * Dulcinea Effect : Maria
 * Friendly Enemy : Military people of the time had a colorful tradition of this, reflecting the fact that their leaders each considered themselves an Officer and a Gentleman.
 * Gambit Pileup
 * Gauls With Grenades
 * Handicapped Badass: Frederick was known for his limp.
 * Hey, It's That Guy!: Subverted. The "Captain Washington" at Cartagena de Indias wasn't that Washington, but his half-brother Lawrence.
 * Honor Before Reason: Possibly the French at Fontenoy: "Tirez les premiers, messieurs les Anglais!"
 * Insufferable Genius: Frederick
 * Lady of War: Maria
 * Magnificent Bastard: Frederick
 * Naive Newcomer: Maria. Frederick less so as his father was a Drill Sergeant Nasty.
 * Noble Fugitive : Bonnie Prince Charlie
 * Pregnant Badass: Maria Theresa
 * Prequel to The Seven Years' War
 * Proud Merchant Race: England
 * Real Men Love Jesus: According to legend, Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Dessau ("the Old Dessauer") prayed, before opening the battle of Kesselsdorf, which he won for the Prussians: "Dear God, please graciously help me today. Or if not, at least don't help that villain, the enemy, but see how things turn out."
 * Silly Reason for War: A merchant captain, Robert Jenkins had his ear cut off by the Spaniards. He preserved it and showed it to Parliament to convince them to declare war. Hence the name War of Jenkins Ear
 * The Spartan Way : Prussia.
 * Succession Crisis
 * The Sound of Martial Music
 * This Means War: Silesia
 * To Win Without Fighting: This was allegedly the basic slogan of eighteenth century military philosophy. Of course it didn't work out that way.
 * Training from Hell: Frederick. In his case it included being forced to watch while his best friend was beheaded. Frederick's father was a great believer in The Spartan Way.
 * Turks With Troops: Averted by Austrian diplomacy.
 * Underestimating Badassery : everyone underestimated Maria.
 * Frederick was underestimated as well
 * The British believed that the one-armed, one-legged, one-eyed Blas de Lezo and his ridiculous small army of 3000 soldiers would surrender without a fight. They were wrong. Very wrong.
 * Unwitting Pawn: Charles VI. Yeah Charlie of course the statesmanlike and peaceloving princes of Europe will respect the Pragmatic Sanction. Your faith in human nature is most commendable.
 * Warrior Prince: Frederick
 * George II was the last English monarch to personally command an army.
 * Wouldn't Hit a Girl : Averted Beyond the Impossible.
 * Wooden Ships and Iron Men
 * Yanks With Muskets
 * Xanatos Speed Chess


 * Axis Powers Hetalia includes a reasonably accurate arc on the war. Maria Theresa and Frederick the Great both get a good deal of screen time (revealing just how hard and fierce they were).
 * It could happen in Empire: Total War.