Seven Years' War

Prussia

Prussia stood alone against several great powers.

💡 Did you know? Only Britain supported it with money.

Frederick the Great

He is regarded as a military genius and reformer.

💡 Did you know? He was also called “Old Fritz”.

It was fought on several continents

Fighting raged in Europe, North America and India.

💡 Did you know? It was about supremacy and colonies at once.

1756

Frederick the Great pre-empted an attack and marched into Saxony.

💡 Did you know? Beforehand the alliances had surprisingly reversed.

Silesia

Frederick had earlier seized Silesia; Austria wanted it back.

💡 Did you know? Silesia remained Prussian in the end.

Maria Theresa

She forged an alliance against Prussia.

💡 Did you know? Even the old arch-enemy France became her ally.

The reversal of alliances

Austria allied with its arch-enemy France.

💡 Did you know? Prussia and Britain, by contrast, came together.

Britain

It funded Prussia and fought France overseas.

💡 Did you know? Britain used the war to expand its colonial empire.

Battle of Rossbach

He defeated a far more numerous enemy.

💡 Did you know? Soon after he also won at Leuthen.

French and Indian War

Britain and France fought over North America.

💡 Did you know? The young George Washington took part here.

Canada

After the capture of Quebec, New France fell to Britain.

💡 Did you know? This made North America largely British.

In India

The British East India Company gained the upper hand.

💡 Did you know? This began Britain's dominion over India.

The death of Tsarina Elizabeth

Her successor Peter III admired Frederick and made peace.

💡 Did you know? It was called the “Miracle of the House of Brandenburg”.

Treaty of Hubertusburg

Prussia kept Silesia.

💡 Did you know? Borders largely returned to their pre-war state.

Treaty of Paris

France ceded Canada and territories in India.

💡 Did you know? Britain became the leading colonial power.

Silesia

This sealed Prussia's rise to a great power.

💡 Did you know? Austria had to accept the loss for good.

A European great power

It now counted among the five leading powers.

💡 Did you know? The foundation for the later German Empire was laid.

Leading colonial power

It now dominated North America and much of India.

💡 Did you know? The path to the British Empire lay open.

New taxes for the colonies

Britain burdened the American colonies with duties.

💡 Did you know? The resulting anger led to the American Revolution.

Seven years

From 1756 to 1763: hence the name.

💡 Did you know? For Prussia it was a fight for sheer survival.