Commentary on the Time Period-Part Four

A Glimpse of the Seven Years' War

Peter III of Russia

Frederick the Great is one of the most cultured enlightened rulers of the eighteenth century. Like his predecessors, he took a keen interest in military affairs. Frederick the Great enlarged the army size from 83,000 men to 200,000 men. By using the massive armies as an advantage, Frederick was able to intervene in a succession crisis of Austria, my beloved country. Before, I had looked up to Frederick as the most intelligent, mature, and decisive ruler there ever was. Now, I am embroiled with bitter hatred toward my once admired model. Frederick the Great aroused two major wars-The War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War. In the War of the Austrian Succession, my mother, the Empress Maria Theresa, was ineligible to succeed in the Habsburg monarchy due to her gender. This, however, served as an excuse for Prussia to carpe diem during Austria's critical moment. Problems aroused when King Frederick the second of Prussia violates the Pragmatic Sanction-where European states would recognize the female successor as a legal  heir-and invades Silesia, a historical region centered mostly in Poland,but includes dividends from the Czech Republic and Germany. After a period of exasperated warfare, the parties agree to cease war with a peace treaty, the Aix-la-Chapelle, which promised the return of occupied territories except Silesia to their rightful owners. Prussia's defiance of returning Silesia initiates the Seven Years' War-a war that literally lasted for seven years. The Seven Years' War was a military conflict between Britain and Prussia against the Austrian, Russian, and French armies. This so called "first world war" occurred in three major areas: Europe, India, and North America. Prussia, at first, took the lead in the spectacular victory at the Battle of Rossbach in Saxony. Frederick II of Prussia's forces, however, were gradually worn down, but were rescued soon later when Peter III-the Emperor of Russia-withdrew with the Peace of Hubertusburg. Territories were returned and I, reluctantly recognized Prussia's permanent control of Silesia. The enterprise of the enlightened rulers and the different wars are some examples of the operations in my time period.