Hapsburg Succession and the War of Austrian Succession

History of Succession in the Hapsburg Family

Overview of the Hapsburg Dynasty

  • The history of succession within the Hapsburg family is noted for its complexity and convoluted nature.

  • At the height of their power, Hapsburg representatives occupied thrones across half of Europe, which set the stage for dramatic succession crises.

  • Comparisons are made to fictional narratives like Game of Thrones due to the intense political drama involved.

Major Succession Crisis

War of Austrian Succession

  • Background: The most significant crisis in Hapsburg history culminated in the War of Austrian Succession.

  • 1703 Pact of Succession:

    • Signed by Joseph and Charles, sons of Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I of Hapsburg.

    • Created to establish a mutual plan for succession during Charles's quest for the Spanish Crown after the death of cousin Charles II the Bewitched.

    • The objective was to ensure the division of power and succession rights between the brothers:

    • Joseph, the elder son, would inherit the Holy Roman Empire.

    • Charles would inherit the Spanish Hapsburg territories upon Charles II's death.

Complex Succession Framework

  • The Pact established a branching succession system:

    1. Joseph I (Elder Son)

    • If he had a son: Succession passed to Joseph’s son (2).

    • If no son: Succession passed to Charles (3).

    • If Charles was deceased: Successor would be Charles’s son (4).

    • In absence of male heirs:

      • Eldest daughter Maria Josepha (5) becomes heir, followed by younger daughter Maria Amalia (6). Daughters of Charles (7) could inherit under certain conditions.

    1. Parallel rules applied for the Spanish throne based on Charles's success:

    • Charles’s son (2) would inherit, then Joseph (3), followed by his son (4), daughters (5) and (6), and finally Charles's unborn daughters (7).

Key Events in Succession

Transition of Power

  • 1705 Death of Leopold I: Joseph I ascends as ruler of Austria and Holy Roman Emperor.

  • Joseph I's Death: After a brief reign, he dies of smallpox in 1711 (his son had already died young).

  • Charles VI as Emperor: Charles VI takes the throne, soon established the pragmatic sanction of 1713.

Pragmatic Sanction of 1713

  • This decree mandated that in the absence of sons, daughters would inherit, thereby excluding nieces.

  • Challenges faced by Charles VI included:

    • Continuing struggles in the War of Spanish Succession.

    • Peace treaty signed in 1714 acknowledging failures to claim the Iberian territories.

  • Charles VI’s children:

    • Charles VI had two daughters, Maria Teresa (eldest), who were initially barred from marriage until they renounced succession claims.

    • Both nieces ultimately married and renounced their claims.

  • Endorsements of the pragmatic sanction were mixed, with only Saxony and Bavaria refusing to recognize it.

Ascendancy of Maria Teresa

  • 1740 Death of Charles VI: Marks Maria Teresa’s transition to power as Empress of the Holy Roman Empire, noting she had no rivals.

  • Despite recognition, neighboring powers opposed her reign, igniting the War of Austrian Succession:

    • Prussia invades Silesia under Frederick II, marking the start of ongoing conflict.

    • Complications arise with anti-Austrian coalitions involving Prussia, France, Spain, and German electorates of Bavaria and Saxony, each with distinct objectives.

Major Conflicts and Battles

  • Initial Conflicts:

    • The conflict starts with Frederick II’s forces capturing Silesia (first major loss).

    • Anti-Austrian coalition formulates against Hapsburg interests, leading to several battles and territorial struggles.

  • Examples of key battles and outcomes include:

    • Battle of Malwitz (1741): Frederick II defeats Austrian forces.

    • War Dynamics: Austrian forces manage offensive advances against coalitions while reclaiming and losing territories.

Further Developments in the War

  • Mid-War Dynamics:

    • Outcome of battles such as Battle of Kesselsdorf leads to negotiations.

    • Treaty of Dresden sees Austria recognize Prussian annexation of Silesia while Frederick II acknowledges Maria Teresa’s rule.

  • Multiple fronts of conflict emerged:

    • Italian Campaign (1741): Involving struggles against France and Spain for territories in Northern Italy and threats from Bourbon forces.

    • Civil Struggles in the Austrian Netherlands:

    • French advances and territorial captures mark significant military challenges for Maria Teresa's forces.

    • Conflict reached a stalemate, with neither side consolidating wins due to equal tactical responses.

Conclusion of Major Wars

  • Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748):

    • Marked the end of the War of Austrian Succession and established the legitimacy of pragmatic sanction.

    • Austria retained a precarious peace with a focus on retaining territories amidst unresolved tension with Prussia and France.

  • The war led to reshuffling alliances, known as the Diplomatic Revolution of 1756:

    • Change of alliances shifted Austria to closer ties with France against Britain and Prussia, setting a stage for the Seven Years War to follow.

Legacy of Succession in Hapsburg Family

  • The practice of succession and political maneuvers within the Hapsburg Dynasty profoundly shaped European political landscapes, with ramifications extending into future conflicts.