Wars of Silesia

The wars of Silesia are a whole of 3 conflicts which begin in 1740 with the War of succession of Austria and finish five days after the end of the Seven Year old Guerre in 1763.

These conflicts oppose the Prussia Hohenzollern S and the Austria of the Habsbourg S mainly about the domination of the Silesia and ends in the victory of Prussia which by the Traité of Hubertusburg conquers the Silesia definitively. Thanks to this annexation, the Prussian population doubles and obtains a rich area.

Frederic II of Prussia decides to attack Silesia while counting inter alia on the growing hostility which existed within the population between the Protestants Luthérien S (majority) and the Habsbourg S catholics (which dominated Silesia).

1st war of Silesia 1740 - 1742

As of the December 16th, without declaration of war, Frederic II of Prussia invades Austrian Silesia. He gains with difficulty the Bataille of Mollwitz close to Brieg (pol. Brzeg) in April 1741. The France is combined in Prussia in June 1741 and its army penetrates in Germany. To divide its adversaries and to isolate the French, Marie-Therese Ire of Hungary made a secret agreement with Frederic II, it yielded Silesia to him and n the other hand this one had to withdraw war: it is the peace of Breslau June 11th 1742 confirmed by the Traité of Berlin in July, which concludes the first war from Silesia.

The southern part of Silesia (with Jägerndorf/Karniow, Troppau and Teschen) remained under the control of Habsbourg and was called Silesia Bohémienne, then in 1849 Silesia Autrichienne. A small portion of Silesia Polonaise (Oświęcim, Zator, Żywiec and Siewierz) was not implied in this war.

Peace of Breslau 1742

Silesia (see chart on the line) was divided between Prussia, Bohemian-Austria and Poland after the peace of Breslau of 1742, which put a term at the first war of Silesia:

the red line shows the historical borders of Silesia which were stable lasting approximately 1000 years;
the gray part shows the part of Silesia conquered by Prussia on the Austrians after the peace of Breslau (1742);
the yellow part shows the part preserved by the Austrians. One can see there the towns of Opava, Krnov and Cieszyn;
the pink part shows Silesia Polonaise: the duchy of Oświęcim and Zator, with Biała, called later Bielsko-Biała, and the duchy of Siewierz.

2nd war of Silesia 1744 - 1745

Frederic II, anxious of Austrian successes against France, and pushed by his desire to recover Silesia, invades the Bohemian one and beats the Austrians with Hohenfriedberg, Soor and finally with Kesselsdorf (December 1745). The conditions are met so that Frederic and Marie-Therese conclude the Traité from Dresden , the December 25th 1745: Frederic preserves Silesia and recognizes François of Lorraine like Empereur. It is the end of the second war of Silesia.

3rd war of Silesia 1756 - 1763

This war belongs to the broader conflict of the Guerre Seven Year old between:

the Austria, the Russia, the France, the Spain, the Saxony, the Sweden and of many German states
the Prussia, the Great Britain, Hanover and other states German

The Austrians tried to take again Silesia for the second time, Frederic II chooses to conduct a preventive attack, in August 1756, without declaration of war, it invades the Saxony and overcomes the Saxon ones with Pirna. Then it attacks Bohemia and takes Prague in May 1757, but shortly after the Austrians inflict to him a defeat with Kolin, it must evacuate Bohemia and its enemies spread themselves in Silesia.

Frederic It manages to be restored by initially gaining the Bataille of Rossbach over the French the November 5th 1757, then with those of Leuthen and Luna on the Austrians in December, it takes again Silesia. But the Russians reach Oder in June 1758 and the Austrians beat the Prussians with Hochkirch (October 1759) and especially with Kunersdorf (August 1760), and they occupy Saxony.

Frederic is restored with the victories of Leignitz and Torgau over the Austrians. By gathering his forces against Austria, Frederic takes again Silesia and obliges Marie-Therese to sign the Traité of Hubertusburg, the February 15th 1763. Prussia preserves Silesia again and this, during 150 years.

Sources

Silesian Wars. (2006). In Encyclopædia Britannica .

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