Key Facts
- Duration
- 7 years (1756–1763)
- Total casualties
- ~1,400,000
- Continents affected
- 4 (Europe, Americas, Asia, Africa)
- Major treaties
- Treaty of Paris and Treaty of Hubertusburg (1763)
- Winston Churchill's description
- "First World War" due to global scale
Strategic Narrative Overview
Fighting spread across Europe, North America, India, and the Philippines. In Europe, Prussia under Frederick the Great battled Austria and its allies to retain Silesia, while Britain and France clashed in the French and Indian War in North America and the Third Carnatic War in India. Spain entered as a French ally in 1762, invading Portugal and losing Havana and Manila to British forces before the war's conclusion.
01 / The Origins
The War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748) left all signatories dissatisfied, and its peace was widely seen as temporary. A Diplomatic Revolution ended the historic rivalry between Austria and France, aligning them against Britain and Prussia. Austria sought to recover Silesia lost to Prussia, while Britain and France competed for colonial dominance. These converging grievances triggered formal hostilities in 1756 after France and Austria signed the Treaty of Versailles.
03 / The Outcome
The war ended in 1763 with two treaties. The Treaty of Paris returned Havana and Manila to Spain but stripped France of its North American possessions and confirmed British commercial dominance in India. The Treaty of Hubertusburg confirmed Prussia's hold on Silesia, cementing its status as a great power and reshaping the balance within Germany at Austria's expense.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
3 belligerents
Frederick the Great, William Pitt the Elder, Robert Clive.
Side B
3 belligerents
Maria Theresa, Marquis de Montcalm.
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.