About the rise of Prussia
Despite such developments, contemporaries still laughed at Frederick William I’s obsession with his giant soldiers, and by 1740 Prussia was still an economically backward country, whose power could scarcely be compared with that of the established major European states, England, France or Austria. This was to change dramatically in the reign of Frederick II, who lost no time in making use of his military heritage and launching into international power politics. In 1740, Prussia invaded the Habsburg province of Silesia, and emerged from the confused War of the Austrian Succession (1740–8) in possession of this new territory. In the Seven Years War (1756–63) Frederick II was forced to defend his gain against a powerful coalition of Austria, France and Russia, directed from Vienna. His success in beating off this attack and in emerging in secure possession of Silesia established Prussia as a major European power and as at least the equal of Austria in Germany. Austrian– Prussian rivalry from this point on became a major factor in German affairs, as the era of ‘dualism’ opened. During the second half of Frederick II’s reign Prussia was widely regarded as the leading continental state, with its formidable army, efficient administration and dynamic king. This status was apparent in Prussia’s role in the first partition of Poland. Frederick II was the architect of a tripartite seizure of territory from defenceless Poland.
·
18 görüntüleme
Yorum yapabilmeniz için giriş yapmanız gerekmektedir.