The Seven Years War was the first global conflict. It had two main fronts. The first, in Europe, was the hostility between Prussia and Austria, still simmering after the War of the Austrian Succession , which expanded through alliances to include all of Europe. The second was the colonial rivalries between Britain, France and Spain, known in America as the French and Indian War, which begin in 1754 with conflict over control of the Ohio valley. The Seven Years War started in a flurry of diplomatic activity which resulted in a diplomatic revolution and the reversal of the alliances of the War of the Austrian Succession. First Britain and Prussia formed an alliance (January 1756), followed by France and Austria, who had been traditional enemies. The fighting started with Frederick II of Prussia's invasion and defeat of Saxony (August-October 1756), although the main conflict did not start until the following year.
In January 1757 the Holy Roman Empire, led by Maria Theresa of Habsburg, empress of Austria (although her husband Francis I was Holy Roman Emperor), declared war on Prussia, who now found herself surrounded by enemies, with much greater populations and resources. Frederick's response was to invade Bohemia, where he defeated the Austrians at the Battle of Prague (6 May 1757), although he was himself defeated at Kolin (18 June 1757) and forced to withdraw, although he then defeated a French and Austrian army in Saxony at the Battle of Rossbach (5 November 1757), and an Austrian army invading Silesia at the battle of Leuthen (5 December 1757. The same year saw Clive of India defeat the French in India at the Battle of Plassey (23 June), and the French occupy Hanover, having defeated the duke of Cumberland at Hastenbeck, forcing him to sign the Convention of Kloster-Zeven
The French occupation of Hanover was short lived, and a joint British and Hanoverian army defeated a Franco-Austrian one at Crefeld (June 1758), followed two months later by Frederick's victory over the Russians at Zorndorg (August 1758), halting their advance. The Austrians were able to inflict a rare defeat on Frederick at Hochkirck (October 1758), but failed to take advantage of it
Read Full Article »
