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Description

Fine example of Le Rouge's plan of the Theater of War in Silesia, with a large inset plan of Breslaw, published in Paris in 1741.

The map depicts the theater of war during the First Silesian War (1740-1742), of the subsets of the war of War of Austrian Succession, wherein Austria and Prussia fought for possession of Silesia.

Frederick II, King of Prussia from 1740 to 1786, began the First Silesian War by invading and rapidly occupying Silesia. His offer of support to Maria Theresa (the last Habsburg Ruler of Austria) if she would cede the province was rejected. Victorious at Mollwitz (1741), Frederick obtained the alliance of France, Spain, Bavaria, and Saxony. Charles Albert of Bavaria, who was promised the imperial election, advanced on Vienna. In October 1741, Prussia agreed to a truce with Austria, in exchange for most of Silesia. This armistice was soon broken but gave the Austrians an opportunity to regroup their forces. The French were unwilling to permit the Bavarians too much power and ordered them to attack Bohemia, which was relatively unimportant, instead of Vienna. Joined by France and Saxony, Bavaria took Prague in November 1741, and Charles Albert was elected emperor as Charles VII.

Meanwhile, Maria Theresa had obtained full support from the Hungarian diet and the promise of aid from Great Britain, which had been at war with Spain since 1739 (see Jenkins's Ear, War of). Early in 1742 Austrian troops overran Bavaria and laid siege to Prague, and in July, Maria Theresa made peace with Prussia by ceding most of Silesia (Treaty of Berlin).