The Seven Years War in Europe by Franz A.J. Szabo

Many middle and small powers in Europe, unlike in the previous wars, tried to steer clear away from the escalating conflict, even though they had interests in the conflict or with the belligerents, like Denmark–Norway. The Russian Empire was originally aligned with Austria, fearing Prussia's ambition on the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, but switched sides upon the succession of Tsar Peter III in 1762. Spain, bound by the Pacte de Famille, intervened on behalf of France and together they launched an utterly unsuccessful invasion of Portugal in 1762. Sweden, fearing Prussia's expansionist tendencies, went to war in 1757 to protect its Baltic dominions, seeing its chance when virtually all of Europe opposed Prussia. The Anglo-Prussian alliance was joined by smaller German states (especially Hanover). Reluctantly, by following the imperial diet, most of the states of the empire joined Austria's cause. Because of Austria's alliance with France to recapture Silesia, which had been lost in a previous war, Prussia formed an alliance with Britain.

Realizing that war was imminent, Prussia preemptively struck Saxony and quickly overran it. In 1756, the major powers ' switched partners'. Meanwhile, rising power Prussia was struggling with Austria for dominance within and outside the Holy Roman Empire in central Europe. SummaryĬonflict between Great Britain and France broke out in 1754–1756 when the British attacked disputed French positions in North America and seized hundreds of French merchant ships. For the first time, aiming to curtail Britain and Prussia's ever-growing might, France formed a grand coalition of its own, which ended with failure as Britain rose as the world's predominant power, altering the European balance of power. The conflict split Europe into two coalitions, led by the Kingdom of Great Britain on one side and the Kingdom of France on the other. It involved every European great power of the time except the Ottoman Empire, spanning five continents, and affected Europe, the Americas, West Africa, India, and the Philippines.

The Seven Years' War was a war fought between 17, the main conflict occurring in the seven-year period from 1756 to 1763. Maximilian III Joseph Empress Elizabeth (until 1762) Vincent, Tobago, Dominica) and France ( St. Four 'neutral' Caribbean islands divided between Britain ( St.France cedes Louisiana west of the Mississippi River to Spain.France cedes its possessions east of the Mississippi River, Canada (except Saint-Pierre and Miquelon), the island of Grenada, and the Northern Circars in India to Great Britain.Transfer of colonial possessions between Great Britain, France, Spain, and Portugal. Anglo-Prusso-Portuguese Coalition victory

The Seven Years War in Europe by Franz A.J. Szabo