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Encyclopedia > Seven Years' War

Seven Years' War

The Battle of Kunersdorf, by Alexander Kotzebue, 1848.
Date 1754 or 1756–1763
Location Europe, Africa, India, North America, Philippines
Result Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Hubertusburg
Territorial
changes
Great Britain and Spain gained New France. Prussian control over most of Silesia did not change.
Belligerents
Flag of Prussia Kingdom of Prussia
Flag of the United Kingdom Kingdom of Great Britain and its American Colonies
Flag of Province of Hanover Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Hanover)
Iroquois Confederacy
Flag of Portugal Kingdom of Portugal
Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Flag of Hesse Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel
Flag of Habsburg Monarchy Holy Roman Empire
Flag of France Kingdom of France and its Colonies
Flag of Russia Russian Empire
Flag of Sweden Kingdom of Sweden
Flag of Spain Kingdom of Spain
Electorate of Saxony
Flag of Two Sicilies Kingdom of Naples and Sicily
Flag of Sardinia Kingdom of Sardinia
Commanders
Flag of Prussia Frederick II
Flag of Prussia Friedrich Wilhelm von Seydlitz
Flag of the United Kingdom John Manners
Flag of the United Kingdom Edward Boscawen
Flag of the United Kingdom Baron Clive
Flag of the United Kingdom James Wolfe
Flag of the United Kingdom Baron Amherst
Flag of Province of Hanover Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick
Flag of Habsburg Monarchy Count von Daun
Flag of Habsburg Monarchy Franz Moritz von Lacy
Flag of Habsburg Monarchy Charles Alexander of Lorriane
Flag of Habsburg MonarchyErnst von Laudon
Flag of France Louis XV
Flag of France Louis-Joseph de Montcalm
Flag of Russia Elizabeth
Flag of Russia Pyotr Saltykov
Frederick Augustus II

The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) involved all of the major European powers of the period, causing 900,000 to 1,400,000 deaths.[1] It enveloped both European and colonial theatres from 1756 to 1763, incorporating the Pomeranian War and the French and Indian War which was fought from 1754 to 1763. Prussia, Electorate Brunswick-Lüneburg, and United Kingdom of Great Britain (including British colonies in North America, the British East India Company, and Ireland) were pitted against Austria, France (including the North American colony of New France and the French East India Company), the Russian Empire, Sweden, and Saxony. Portugal (on the side of Great Britain) and Spain (on the side of France) were later drawn into the conflict, and a force from the neutral Netherlands was attacked in India. For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... This article is about a type of political territory. ... Combatants France First Nations allies: Algonquin Lenape Wyandot Ojibwa Ottawa Shawnee Great Britain American Colonies Iroquois Confederacy Strength 3,900 regulars 7,900 militia 2,200 natives (1759) 50,000 regulars and militia (1759) Casualties 3,000 killed, wounded or captured 10,040 killed, wounded or captured The French and... For other uses, see Prussia (disambiguation). ... Capital Hanover Head of State King of Hanover Hanover (German: Hannover) is a historical territory in todays Germany. ... For an explanation of terms such as Scotland, Wales, England, (Great) Britain and United Kingdom, see British Isles (terminology). ... British colonization of the Americas (including colonization under the Kingdom of England before the 1707 Acts of Union created the Kingdom of Great Britain) began in the late 16th century, before reaching its peak after colonies were established throughout the Americas, and a protectorate was established in Hawaii. ... The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as John Company, was the first joint-stock company (the Dutch East India Company was the first to issue public stock). ... Capital Quebec Language(s) French Religion Roman Catholicism Government Monarchy King See List of French monarchs Governor See list of Governors Legislature Sovereign Council of New France Historical era Ancien Régime in France  - Royal Control 1655  - Articles of Capitulation of Quebec 1759  - Articles of Capitulation of Montreal 1760  - Treaty... French and other European settlements in India. ... The subject of this article was previously also known as Russia. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ...


The war ended France's position as a major colonial power in the Americas (where it lost all of its possessions except French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Domingue and Saint Pierre and Miquelon) and its position as the leading power in Europe,[2] until the time of the French Revolution. Great Britain, meanwhile, emerged as the dominant colonial power in the world. The French Navy was crippled, which meant that only an ambitious rebuilding program in combination with the Spanish fleet would see it again threaten the Royal Navy's command of the sea.[3] On the other side of the world, the British East India Company acquired the strongest position within India, which was to become the "jewel in the imperial crown". The war was described by Winston Churchill as the first "world war",[4] as it was the first conflict in human history to be fought around the globe, although most of the combatants were either European nations or their overseas colonies. As a partially Anglo-French conflict involving developing empires, the war was one of the most significant phases of the 18th century Second Hundred Years' War.[5] The war began with Frederick the Great of Prussia's invasion of Saxony. World map showing the Americas CIA political map of the Americas in an equal-area projection The Americas are the lands of the New World, consisting of the continents of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions. ... Saint-Domingue was a French colony from 1697 to 1804 that is today the independent nation of Haiti. ... The French Revolution (1789–1815) was a period of political and social upheaval in the political history of France and Europe as a whole, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based on... The French Navy, officially called the National Navy (French: Marine Nationale) is the maritime arm of the French military. ... The Spanish Armada (in Spanish, Armada Española) is the maritime arm of the Spanish Military. ... This article is about the navy of the United Kingdom. ... Command of the sea is a technical term of naval warfare, which indicates a definite strategical condition. ... The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ... Churchill redirects here. ... A world war is a war affecting the majority of the worlds major nations. ... The Second Hundred Years War is a phrase used by some historians to describe the series of military conflicts between the Kingdom of Great Britain and France that occurred from about 1689 to 1815. ... Frederick the Great Frederick II of Prussia (Friedrich der Große, Frederick the Great, January 24, 1712 – August 17, 1786) was the Hohenzollern king of Prussia 1740–86. ... For other uses, see Prussia (disambiguation). ... Location Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) Administration Country NUTS Region DED Capital Dresden Minister-President Georg Milbradt (CDU) Governing parties CDU / SPD Votes in Bundesrat 4 (from 69) Basic statistics Area  18,416 km² (7,110 sq mi) Population 4,252,000 (11/2006)[1]  - Density 231 /km...

Contents

Names

In Canada and the United Kingdom, the Seven Years' War is used to describe the North American conflict as well as the European and Asian conflicts. In French Canada, however, the term War of the Conquest is commonly used. The conflict in India is termed the Third Carnatic War while the fighting between Prussia and Austria is called the Third Silesian War. Most of the U.S. continues to call it the Seven Years' War, despite separation from England. The North American theatre is called the French and Indian War in the United States but not in Britain, Canada, or France, where it is treated as part of the larger conflict. This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The Carnatic Wars were a series of battles that took place in the Carnatic region of modern-day southern India between the British, French, Marathas and Mysore for control of the region in the late eighteenth century. ... The Silesian Wars were a series of wars between Prussia and Austria (and their changing allies) for control of Silesia. ... Combatants France First Nations allies: Algonquin Lenape Wyandot Ojibwa Ottawa Shawnee Great Britain American Colonies Iroquois Confederacy Strength 3,900 regulars 7,900 militia 2,200 natives (1759) 50,000 regulars and militia (1759) Casualties 3,000 killed, wounded or captured 10,040 killed, wounded or captured The French and...


Causes

The Seven Years' War may be viewed as a continuation of the War of the Austrian Succession, in which King Frederick II of Prussia had gained the rich province of Silesia. Empress Maria Theresa of Austria had signed the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748) only in order to gain time to rebuild her military forces and to forge new alliances, which she did with remarkable success. The political map of Europe had been redrawn in a few years. During the so-called Diplomatic Revolution of 1756, century-old enemies France, Austria and Russia formed a single alliance against Prussia. Combatants Prussia France Spain Bavaria Naples and Sicily Sweden (1741 — 1743) Austria Great Britain Hanover Dutch Republic Saxony Kingdom of Sardinia Russia Commanders Frederick II Leopold I Leopold II Maurice de Saxe François-Marie de Broglie Charles VII Charles Emil Lewenhaupt Ludwig Khevenhüller Charles Alexander George II Charles... Frederick II (German: ; January 24, 1712 – August 17, 1786) was a King of Prussia (1740–1786) from the Hohenzollern dynasty. ... Silesia (English pronunciation [], Czech: ; German: ; Latin: ; Polish: ; Silesian: Ślůnsk) is a historical region in central Europe, located along the upper and middle Oder River, upper Vistula River, and along the Sudetes, Carpathian (Silesian Beskids) mountain range. ... Not to be confused with Maria Theresa of Austria (1816-1867). ... The second Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen) of 1748 ended the War of the Austrian Succession. ... For other uses, see Army (disambiguation). ... A military alliance is an agreement between two, or more, countries; related to wartime planning, commitments, or contingencies; such agreements can be both defensive and offensive. ... The Diplomatic Revolution refers to the alliances formed in 1756 as a result of the outbreak of the Seven Years War. ...


Prussia had the protection only of Great Britain, whose ruling dynasty saw its ancestral Hanoverian possession as being threatened by France. In Great Britain's alliance with Prussia the two powers complemented each other. The British already had the most formidable navy in Europe, while Prussia had the most formidable land force on continental Europe, allowing Great Britain to focus its soldiers towards its colonies. Capital Hanover Head of State King of Hanover Hanover (German: Hannover) is a historical territory in todays Germany. ... Naval redirects here. ...


The Austrian army had undergone an overhaul according to the Prussian system. Maria Theresa, whose knowledge of military affairs shamed many of her generals, had pressed relentlessly for reform. Her interest in the welfare of the soldiers had gained her their undivided respect.


The second cause for war arose from the heated colonial struggle between the British Empire and French Empire which, as they expanded, met and clashed with one another on two continents. These causes of the French and Indian War are described on that page The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ... For the French colonial postage stamps, see French Colonies. ... Combatants France First Nations allies: Algonquin Lenape Wyandot Ojibwa Ottawa Shawnee Great Britain American Colonies Iroquois Confederacy Strength 3,900 regulars 7,900 militia 2,200 natives (1759) 50,000 regulars and militia (1759) Casualties 3,000 killed, wounded or captured 10,040 killed, wounded or captured The French and...


Overall Strategies

For much of the eighteenth century, France approached its wars in the same way: it would let its colonies fend for themselves, sending only small numbers of troops—or perhaps inexperienced soldiers—abroad, expecting that battles for the colonies would likely be lost anyway. It would keep most of its army on the European continent, expecting that such a force would be victorious closer to home. The plan was to fight to the end of the war and then, in treaty negotiations, to trade territory gained in Europe in order to regain overseas possessions lost. This strategy did not serve France well in this war, as the colonies were indeed lost, but France had few counterbalancing European successes. The military history of France includes both those military actions centered on the territory encompassing modern France, and the military history of French-speaking peoples of European descent, in Europe and in its overseas possessions and territories. ...


The British, by contrast, strove to take advantage of their naval power and press the war in the colonies, not only by naval blockade and bombardment of enemy ports, but also using their ability to move troops by water. They would harass enemy shipping and attack enemy colonies, frequently using colonists from nearby British colonies. They sought to offset their natural disadvantage on the continent of Europe by allying themselves with one or more Continental powers whose interests were antithetical to those of their enemies, particularly France. For the Seven Years' War, the British allied themselves with the greatest military strategist of the day, Frederick the Great, and his kingdom, Prussia, then the rising power in central Europe, and paid Frederick substantial subsidies to support his campaigns. A Navy is the branch of a countrys military forces principally designated for naval warfare, namely maritime or ocean-borne combat operations and other functions. ... This article is about a type of political territory. ... Frederick II (German: ; January 24, 1712 – August 17, 1786) was a King of Prussia (1740–1786) from the Hohenzollern dynasty. ... For other uses, see Prussia (disambiguation). ...


War begins

The formal opening of hostilities in Europe was preceded by fighting in North America, where the westward expansion of the British colonies located along the eastern seaboard began to run afoul of French claims to the Mississippi valley in the late 1740s and early 1750s. In order to forestall the expansion of Virginia and Pennsylvania, in particular, the French built a line of forts in what is now western Pennsylvania, and British efforts to dislodge them in the mid-1750s led to conflicts generally considered to be part of the French and Indian War, as the Seven Years' War is known in North America. Flag In 1803, the United States concluded the Louisiana Purchase (green area) with France. ... The recorded History of Virginia began with settlement of the geographic region now known as the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States thousands of years ago by Native Americans. ... The History of Pennsylvania is as varied as any in the American experience and reflects the melting pot vision of the United States. ... Combatants France First Nations allies: Algonquin Lenape Wyandot Ojibwa Ottawa Shawnee Great Britain American Colonies Iroquois Confederacy Strength 3,900 regulars 7,900 militia 2,200 natives (1759) 50,000 regulars and militia (1759) Casualties 3,000 killed, wounded or captured 10,040 killed, wounded or captured The French and...


At the start of the war in Europe, Frederick crossed the border of Saxony, one of the smaller German states in league with Austria. The Saxon and Austrian armies were unprepared, and at the Battle of Lobositz, Frederick prevented the isolated Saxon army from being reinforced by an Austrian army under General count Browne. However, Saxony had successfully delayed the Prussian campaign. In the Mediterranean, the French opened the campaign against the British by an attack on Minorca; a British attempt at relief was foiled at the Battle of Minorca and the island was captured (for which Admiral Byng was court-martialed and executed). The Battle of Lobositz was a battle fought on October 1, 1756 during the Seven Years War. ... Maximilian Ulysses, Reichsgraf von Browne, Baron de Camus and Mountany (October 23, 1705 - May 6, 1757), Austrian generalfeldmarschall, was born at Basel. ... The naval Battle of Minorca took place on May 20, 1756, at the opening of the Seven Years War in the European theatre, shortly after the Kingdom of Great Britain had declared war on the House of Bourbon, off the Mediterranean island of Minorca between British and French squadrons. ... Portrait of John Byng by Thomas Hudson, 1749 John Byng (October 29, 1704 – March 14, 1757) was a British Admiral who was court-martialled and executed for failing to do his utmost during the Battle of Minorca, at the beginning of the Seven Years War. ...


In the spring of 1757, Frederick again took the initiative by marching on Prague. After the bloody Battle of Prague, the Prussians started to besiege the city, but had to lift the siege after Frederick's first defeat at the Battle of Kolin. In summer, the Russians invaded East Prussia and defeated a smaller Prussian force in the fiercely contested Battle of Gross-Jägersdorf. Combatants Prussia Austria Commanders King Frederick the Great Charles of Lorraine Reichsgraf von Browne Strength 65,000 62,000 Casualties 14,300 8,800 The Battle of Prague (in the Czech Republic known as the Battle of Å tÄ›rboholy) was a battle fought on May 6, 1757 during the Seven... Combatants Prussia Austria Commanders Frederick the Great Leopold Josef, Count von Daun Strength 32,000 44,000 Casualties 14,000 dead or wounded 9,000 dead or wounded The Battle of Kolin (Kolín) was a battle fought on June 18, 1757 during the Seven Years War. ... The Battle of Gross-Jägersdorf was a battle fought on August 30, 1757 during the Seven Years War. ...


Things were looking very grim for Prussia at this time, with the Austrians mobilizing to attack Prussian-controlled soil and a French army under Soubise approaching from the west. In what Napoleon would call "a masterpiece in maneuver and resolution", Frederick thoroughly crushed both the French at the Battle of Rossbach and the Austrians at the Battle of Leuthen in the space of a month. With these great victories, Frederick once again established himself as Europe's finest general and his men as Europe's finest soldiers. With Peter III, who admired Frederick, taking the Russian throne, Frederick had a powerful new alliance that would last until the first World War. Charles de Rohan, prince de Soubise (1715–July 4, 1787) was a peer and marshal of France, the grandson of the Princesse de Soubise, who is known to history as one of the mistresses of Louis XIV. He accompanied Louis XV in the campaign of 1744-1748 and attained high... For other uses, see Napoleon (disambiguation). ... Combatants Prussia France Holy Roman / Austrian Empire Commanders Frederick II Charles, prince de Soubise Joseph Frederick William, duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen Strength 22,000 79 guns 42,000 45 guns Casualties 169 dead, 379 wounded 5,000 dead or wounded 5,000 captured The Battle of Rossbach (November 5, 1757... Combatants Prussia Austria Commanders Frederick the Great Charles of Lorraine Strength 39,000 167 guns 58,500 210 guns Casualties 1,141 dead 5118 wounded 85 captured 3000 dead 7,000 wounded 12,000 captured 51 flags 116 cannons The Battle of Leuthen was a battle fought on December 5... Peter III (February 21, 1728 – July 17, 1762) (Russian: ) was Emperor of Russia for six months in 1762. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ...


British amphibious "descents"

Great Britain planned a "descent" (an amphibious demonstration or raid) on Rochefort, a joint operation to overrun the town and burn the shipping in the Charente. The expedition set out on September 8, 1757, Sir John Mordaunt commanding the troops and Sir Edward Hawke the fleet. On September 23, the Isle d'Aix was taken, but due to dithering by the military staff such time was lost that Rochefort became unassailable,[6] and the expedition abandoned the Isle d'Aix and returned to Great Britain on October 1. It has been suggested that Landing operation be merged into this article or section. ... Rochefort is a commune in western France, a seaport on the Atlantic Ocean. ... Joint warfare is a military doctrine which places priority on the integration of the various service branches of a states armed forces into one unified command. ... Charente (Saintongeais: Chérente, Occitan: TCharanto) is a department in central France named after the Charente River. ... is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1757 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... General Sir John Mordaunt, KB (1697 – 23 October 1780) was an English soldier and Whig politician, the son of Lieutenant-General Harry Mordaunt and Margaret Spencer. ... Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke, (February 21, 1705 - October 16, 1781) was an admiral in the Royal Navy. ... is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...


Despite the operational failure and debated strategic success of the descent on Rochefort, Pitt — who saw purpose in this type of asymmetric enterprise — prepared to continue such operations.[7] An army was assembled under the command of Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough; he was aided by Lord George Sackville. The naval escorts for the expedition were commanded by Anson, Hawke, and Howe. The army landed on June 5, 1758 at Cancalle Bay, proceeded to St. Malo, and burned the shipping in the harbor; the arrival of French relief forces caused the British to avoid a siege, and the troops re-embarked. An attack on Havre de Grace was called off, and the fleet sailed on to Cherbourg; but the weather being bad and provisions low, that too was abandoned, and the expedition returned, having damaged French privateering and provided a furth