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To: Worldtraveler once upon a time

Alles Gute auch Dir 😀

P.S.: Yes, Frederick had to fight three wars to get control over the wealthy territory of Silesia, to which he had a legal claim, due to the death of the last male ruler there, Emperor Charles VI.

The duchy of Silesia had, iirc, agnatic succession, i.e. the Emperor’s daughter, Mary Theresa, would have to be skipped in the line of succession. Furthermore, Lower Silesia was strictly Protestant, so the Protestant King was preferable as ruler of the land to the Catholic Empress. Actually, in Lower Silesia, the population hailed him as a liberator from Popish suppression.

It was not only the clash of two legal claims, but also of two powers within the Old Reich: Austria vs. Prussia. After all, every German prince had been allowed his own foreign policy since 1648, though de facto they often cooperated against the Ottoman and French threats. It worked all right, as long as Prussia remained poor and small. But it grew, thanks to its thrift, its excellent administration, its Protestant work ethic and several serendipitous gains of territory (through inheritance).

Now, however, the competition between the two strongest powers within the Old Reich had become too much…ultimately, the Old Reich was unable to withstand the onslaught of the old enemy in the West, who was trying to export his revolution by the force of arms: revolutionary France, whose army was not only powered by revolutionary fervor, but was also led by a military genius named Napoleon…😀


46 posted on 09/20/2026 2:03:02 PM PDT by Menes (May Charlie Kirk‘s memory be a blessing. Amen.)
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To: Menes
I had a dear German friend years ago who was, as she strictly corrected some in social situations, from Silesia. Cut up now between several nations, she had such a strong allegiance from childhood to it that it was still Silesia. Memories.
47 posted on 09/20/2026 3:54:22 PM PDT by Worldtraveler once upon a time (Degrow government)
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