Seven Years' War
The Battle of Kunersdorf, by Alexander Kotzebue, 1848. The Battle of Kunersdorf was Frederick the Great's most devastating defeat
Date 1754 or 1756–1763 Location Europe, Africa, India, North America, Philippines Result Treaty of Paris Treaty of Hubertusburg Territorial changes Great Britain and Spain gained New France. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP The Treaty of Paris, often called the Peace of Paris, or the Treaty of 1763, was signed on February 10, 1763, by the kingdoms of Great Britain The Treaty of Hubertusburg (Frieden von Hubertusburg was signed on 15 February 1763 at Hubertusburg by Prussia, Austria, and The Viceroyalty of New France (Nouvelle-France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period extending from the exploration of the Prussian control over most of Silesia did not change. Etymology One theory claims that the name Silesia is derived from the Silingi, who were most likely a Vandalic (East Germanic people
Belligerents
Kingdom of Prussia Kingdom of Great Britain and its American Colonies Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Hanover) Iroquois Confederacy Kingdom of Portugal Principality of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel	Holy Roman Empire Kingdom of France and its Colonies Russian Empire Kingdom of Sweden Kingdom of Spain and its Colonies Electorate of Saxony Kingdom of Naples and Sicily Kingdom of Sardinia
Commanders
Frederick II Friedrich Wilhelm von Seydlitz John Manners Edward Boscawen Baron Clive James Wolfe † Baron Amherst Edward Braddock † Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick	Count von Daun Franz Moritz von Lacy Charles Alexander of Lorriane Ernst von Laudon Louis XV Louis-Joseph de Montcalm † Elizabeth Pyotr Saltykov Frederick Augustus II

The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) involved all of the major European powers of the period, causing 900,000 to 1,400,000 deaths. The Kingdom of Prussia (Königreich Preußen was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918 and from 1871 was the leading state of the German Empire, comprising The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a State in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1800 British colonization of the Americas (including colonization under the Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland before the 1707 Acts of Union created The Electorate of Hanover (or more formally the Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg; Kurfürstentum Hannover Kurfürstentum Braunschweig-Lüneburg became the ninth Electorate The Iroquois Confederacy (also known as the "League of Peace and Power" the "Five Nations" the "Six Nations" or the "People of the Longhouse The Kingdom of Portugal was Portugal 's general designation under the monarchy. Brunswick (Braunschweig was a historical state in Germany. Originally the territory of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel in the Holy Roman Empire, it was established The Holy Roman Empire ( HRE; German Heiliges Römisches Reich (HRR, Latin Sacrum Romanum Imperium (SRI was a union of territories in Early Modern France is the Early modern period of French history from the end of the 15th century to the end of the 18th century (or from the French Renaissance France was a dominant empire in the world from the 1600s to the late 1960s possessing many colonies in various locations around the world The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The Spanish Empire (Imperio Español was one of the largest Empires in history and one of the first Global empires In the 15th and 16th centuries The Electorate of Saxony (Kurfürstentum Sachsen or Duchy of Upper Saxony was an independent hereditary electorate of the Holy Roman Empire from 1356–1806 The Kingdom of Naples was an informal name of the Polity officially known as the Kingdom of Sicily which existed on the mainland of the southern Italian Kingdom of Sardinia, also known as Piedmont-Sardinia or Sardinia-Piedmont, was the name given to the possessions of the House of Savoy in 1720 when the Frederick II (Friedrich II January 24 1712 August 17 1786) was a King of Prussia (1740&ndash1786 from the Friedrich Wilhelm Freiherr von Seydlitz ( February 3, 1721 &ndash August 27, 1773) was a Prussian soldier and one of the greatest General John Manners Marquess of Granby PC, ( Kelham, 2 January 1721 &ndash 18 October 1770, Scarborough Admiral Edward Boscawen, PC, RN ( August 19, 1711 &ndash January 10, 1761) was a British Admiral Clive of India redirects here For the film see Clive of India (film. General James Wolfe ( 2 January, 1727 &ndash 13 September, 1759) was a British Army officer known for his training reforms Field Marshal Jeffery Amherst 1st Baron Amherst of Montreal KB (sometimes spelled Geoffrey, or Jeffrey, he himself spelled his name as General Edward Braddock (January 1695 &ndash July 13, 1755) was a British soldier and commander-in-chief for North America during the actions at the start of the Ferdinand ( 12 January 1721, Brunswick – 3 July 1792) Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, was a Prussian Count Leopold Joseph von Daun (or Dhaun) ( September 24, 1705 &ndash February 5, 1766) later Prince of Thiano, Franz Moritz Graf von Lacy or Lascy (English Count Francis Maurice von Lacy, Russian Boris Petrovich Lassi) ( October 21, 1725 Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine ( December 12, 1712 &ndash July 4, 1780) was the son of Leopold Joseph, Duke of Lorraine Baron Ernst Gideon von Laudon ( German: Ernst Gideon Freiherr von Laudon (originally Laudohn or Loudon) ( February 2, 1717 Louis XV (15 February 1710 &ndash 10 May 1774 ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death in 1774 Louis-Joseph de Montcalm-Gozon Marquis de Saint-Veran ( February 28, 1712 &ndash September 14, 1759) was the commander of the French Yelizaveta Petrovna (Елизаве́та (Елисаве́т Петро́вна (December 29 1709 – January 5 1762 (New Style December 18 1709 – December 25 1761 ( Count Pyotr Semyonovich Saltykov (Пётр Семёнович Салтыков (1697 - 1772 was a Russian Statesman and a Military figure Augustus III (Augustus III the Saxon or the Corpulent (August III ^[1] It enveloped both European and colonial theatres from 1756 to 1763, incorporating the Pomeranian War and the French and Indian War which was fought from 1754 to 1763. This article is about a type of political territory For other uses see Colony (disambiguation. The French and Indian War (1754&ndash1763 was the North American chapter of the Seven Years' War. Prussia, Electorate Brunswick-Lüneburg, and United Kingdom of Great Britain (including British colonies in North America, the British East India Company, and Ireland) were pitted against Austria, France (including the North American colony of New France and the French East India Company), the Russian Empire, Sweden, and Saxony. Prussia ( Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Prūsija Prūsija Prusy Old Prussian: Prūsa) was most recently a historic state The Electorate of Hanover (or more formally the Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg; Kurfürstentum Hannover Kurfürstentum Braunschweig-Lüneburg became the ninth Electorate The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a State in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1800 British colonization of the Americas (including colonization under the Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Scotland before the 1707 Acts of Union created The Honourable East India Company ( HEIC) referred to most commonly as the East India Company, also historically and colloquially as John Company, or The Kingdom of Ireland (Ríocht na hÉireann was the name given to the Irish state from 1541 by the Crown of Ireland Act 1542 of the Parliament of Ireland. Habsburg Monarchy (alternatively Habsburg Empire) refers to the territories ruled by the Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg, and then by the successor This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Viceroyalty of New France (Nouvelle-France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period extending from the exploration of the The French East India Company ( French: La Compagnie française des Indes orientales or Compagnie française pour le commerce des Indes orientales) was a The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. The Electorate of Saxony (Kurfürstentum Sachsen or Duchy of Upper Saxony was an independent hereditary electorate of the Holy Roman Empire from 1356–1806 Portugal (on the side of Great Britain) and Spain (on the side of France) were later drawn into the conflict, and a force from the neutral Netherlands was attacked in India. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. "United Netherlands" redirects here For the "Kingdom of the United Netherlands" see United Kingdom of the Netherlands. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country

The war ended France's position as a major colonial power in the Americas (where it lost all of its possessions except French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Domingue and Saint Pierre and Miquelon) and its position as the leading power in Europe,^[2] until the time of the French Revolution. The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America French Guiana (Guyane française officially fr ''Guyane'' is an Overseas department (French département d'outre-mer, or DOM) of France Guadeloupe is an island group or Archipelago located in the eastern Caribbean Sea at, with a land area of 1628 square kilometres (629  sq Martinique is an Island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, having a land area of 1128 km² Saint-Domingue was a French Colony on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola from 1659 to 1804 when it became the independent nation of The Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon (Collectivité territoriale de Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon is a group of small islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, the The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an Great Britain, meanwhile, emerged as the dominant colonial power in the world. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands The French Navy was crippled, which meant that only an ambitious rebuilding program in combination with the Spanish fleet would see it again threaten the Royal Navy's command of the sea. The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale ( National Navy) and often called La Royale ( The Royal Navy) is the maritime arm The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) A naval force has command of the sea when it is so strong that its rivals cannot attack it directly ^[3] On the other side of the world, the British East India Company acquired the strongest position within India, which was to become the "jewel in the imperial crown". The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. The war was described by Winston Churchill as the first "world war",^[4] as it was the first conflict in human history to be fought around the globe, although most of the combatants were either European nations or their overseas colonies. Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, FRS, PC, PC (Can ( 30 November 1874 A world war is a War affecting the majority of the world's most powerful and populous nations As a partially Anglo-French conflict involving developing empires, the war was one of the most significant phases of the 18th century Second Hundred Years' War. The Second Hundred Years' War is a phrase used by some Historians ref>Buffinton Arthur H ^[5] The war began with Frederick the Great of Prussia's invasion of Saxony. Frederick II (Friedrich II January 24 1712 August 17 1786) was a King of Prussia (1740&ndash1786 from the Prussia ( Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Prūsija Prūsija Prusy Old Prussian: Prūsa) was most recently a historic state The Free State of Saxony (Freistaat Sachsen ˈzaksən Swobodny Stat Sakska is the easternmost federal state of Germany.

Names

In Canada and the United Kingdom, the Seven Years' War is used to describe the North American conflict as well as the European and Asian conflicts. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located In French Canada, however, the term War of the Conquest is commonly used. French Canada is a term to distinguish the French-speaking population of Canada from English Canada. The conflict in India is termed the Third Carnatic War while the fighting between Prussia and Austria is called the Third Silesian War. The Carnatic Wars (also spelled Karnatic Wars) was a series of military contests during the 18th century between the British, the French, the Marathas The Silesian Wars were a series of wars between Prussia and Austria (and their changing allies for control of Silesia. Most of the U. S. continues to call it the Seven Years' War, despite separation from England. The North American theatre is called the French and Indian War in the United States but not in Britain, Canada, or France, where it is treated as part of the larger conflict. The French and Indian War (1754&ndash1763 was the North American chapter of the Seven Years' War.

Causes

Often said to be a continuation of the War of the Austrian Succession, in which King Frederick II of Prussia had gained the rich province of Silesia. The War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748 involved nearly all the powers of Europe Frederick II (Friedrich II January 24 1712 August 17 1786) was a King of Prussia (1740&ndash1786 from the Etymology One theory claims that the name Silesia is derived from the Silingi, who were most likely a Vandalic (East Germanic people Empress Maria Theresa of Austria had signed the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748) only in order to gain time to rebuild her military forces and to forge new alliances, which she did with remarkable success. Maria Theresa (Maria Theresia see also names in other languages; May 13, 1717 November 29 1780) was the Archduchess regnant The second Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle ( Aachen) of 1748 ended the War of the Austrian Succession. An army (from Latin Armata "act of arming" via Old French armée) in the broadest sense is the land-based Armed forces A military alliance is an agreement between two or more military factions related to Wartime planning commitments or contingencies such agreements can be both The political map of Europe had been redrawn in a few years. During the so-called Diplomatic Revolution of 1756, century-old enemies France, Austria and Russia formed a single alliance against Prussia. The Diplomatic Revolution of 1756 is a term applied to the reversal of longstanding diplomatic alliances which were upheld until the War of Austrian Succession and then reversed

Prussia had the protection only of Great Britain, whose ruling dynasty saw its ancestral Hanoverian possession as being threatened by France. The Electorate of Hanover (or more formally the Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg; Kurfürstentum Hannover Kurfürstentum Braunschweig-Lüneburg became the ninth Electorate In Great Britain's alliance with Prussia the two powers complemented each other. The British already had the most formidable navy in Europe, while Prussia had the most formidable land force on continental Europe, allowing Great Britain to focus its soldiers towards its colonies.

The Austrian army had undergone an overhaul according to the Prussian system. Maria Theresa, whose knowledge of military affairs shamed many of her generals, had pressed relentlessly for reform. Her interest in the welfare of the soldiers had gained her their undivided respect.

The second cause for war arose from the heated colonial struggle between the British Empire and French Empire which, as they expanded, met and clashed with one another on two continents. The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. France was a dominant empire in the world from the 1600s to the late 1960s possessing many colonies in various locations around the world These causes of the French and Indian War are described on that page

Overall Strategies

For much of the eighteenth century, France approached its wars in the same way: it would let its colonies fend for themselves, sending only small numbers of troops—or perhaps inexperienced soldiers—abroad, expecting that battles for the colonies would likely be lost anyway. The French and Indian War (1754&ndash1763 was the North American chapter of the Seven Years' War. The military history of France encompasses an immense panorama of conflicts and struggles extending for more than 2000 years across areas including modern France, greater It would keep most of its army on the European continent, expecting that such a force would be victorious closer to home. The plan was to fight to the end of the war and then, in treaty negotiations, to trade territory gained in Europe in order to regain overseas possessions lost. This strategy did not serve France well in this war, as the colonies were indeed lost, but France had few counterbalancing European successes.

The British, by contrast, strove to take advantage of their naval power and press the war in the colonies, not only by naval blockade and bombardment of enemy ports, but also using their ability to move troops by water. This article is about a type of political territory For other uses see Colony (disambiguation. They would harass enemy shipping and attack enemy colonies, frequently using colonists from nearby British colonies. They sought to offset their natural disadvantage on the continent of Europe by allying themselves with one or more Continental powers whose interests were antithetical to those of their enemies, particularly France. For the Seven Years' War, the British allied themselves with the greatest military strategist of the day, Frederick the Great, and his kingdom, Prussia, then the rising power in central Europe, and paid Frederick substantial subsidies to support his campaigns. Frederick II (Friedrich II January 24 1712 August 17 1786) was a King of Prussia (1740&ndash1786 from the Prussia ( Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Prūsija Prūsija Prusy Old Prussian: Prūsa) was most recently a historic state

War begins

The formal opening of hostilities in Europe was preceded by fighting in North America, where the westward expansion of the British colonies located along the eastern seaboard began to run afoul of French claims to the Mississippi valley in the late 1740s and early 1750s. Louisiana (La celina+mario) was the name of an administrative district of New France. In order to forestall the expansion of Virginia and Pennsylvania, in particular, the French built a line of forts in what is now western Pennsylvania in the mid-1750s, and British efforts to dislodge them led to conflicts generally considered to be part of the French and Indian War, as the Seven Years' War is known in North America. The recorded History of Virginia began with settlement of the geographic region now known as the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States thousands of years ago The History of Pennsylvania is as varied as any in the American experience and reflects the Melting pot vision of the United States. The French and Indian War (1754&ndash1763 was the North American chapter of the Seven Years' War.

At the start of the war in Europe, Frederick crossed the border of Saxony, one of the smaller German states in league with Austria. The Saxon and Austrian armies were unprepared, and at the Battle of Lobositz, Frederick prevented the isolated Saxon army from being reinforced by an Austrian army under General count Browne. The Battle of Lobositz or Lovosice on 1 October 1756 was the opening land battle of the Seven Years' War. Maximilian Ulysses Reichsgraf von Browne Baron de Camus and Mountany ( 23 October 1705 &ndash 26 June 1757) was an Austrian military However, Saxony had successfully delayed the Prussian campaign. In the Mediterranean, the French opened the campaign against the British by an attack on Minorca; a British attempt at relief was foiled at the Battle of Minorca and the island was captured (for which Admiral Byng was court-martialed and executed). The Battle of Minorca ( May 20 1756) was a Franco - Spanish naval defeat of a British fleet leading to the Court-martial John Byng ( October 29, 1704 &ndash March 14, 1757) was a British Admiral who was Court-martialled and executed

In the spring of 1757, Frederick again took the initiative by marching on Prague. After the bloody Battle of Prague, the Prussians started to besiege the city, but had to lift the siege after Frederick's first defeat at the Battle of Kolin. In the Battle of Prague or Battle of Štěrboholy on May 6, 1757 Frederick the Great's 67000 Prussians forced 60000 Austrians The Battle of Kolín on June 18, 1757 saw 44000 Austrians under Count von Daun defeat 32000 Prussians under Frederick the In summer, the Russians invaded East Prussia and defeated a smaller Prussian force in the fiercely contested Battle of Gross-Jägersdorf. The Battle of Gross-Jägersdorf ( August 30, 1757) was a victory for the Russian force under Field Marshal Stepan Fedorovich Apraksin

Things were looking very grim for Prussia at this time, with the Austrians mobilizing to attack Prussian-controlled soil and a French army under Soubise approaching from the west. Charles de Rohan prince de Soubise ( July 16, 1715 — July 4, 1787) duke of Rohan-Rohan seigneur of Roberval, and Marshal In what Napoleon would call "a masterpiece in maneuver and resolution", Frederick thoroughly crushed both the French at the Battle of Rossbach and the Austrians at the Battle of Leuthen in the space of a month. Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. The Battle of Rossbach (November 5 1757 took place during the Seven Years' War (1756 - 1763 near the village of Roßbach, in the Electorate of Saxony In the Battle of Leuthen fought on 5 December 1757 Frederick the Great's Prussian army used maneuver and terrain to decisively defeat a With these great victories, Frederick once again established himself as Europe's finest general and his men as Europe's finest soldiers. With Peter III, who admired Frederick, taking the Russian throne, Frederick had a powerful new alliance that would last until the first World War. Peter III ( February 21, 1728 – July 17, 1762) (Пётр III Фëдорович Pyotr III Fyodorovitch) was Emperor World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All

British amphibious "descents"

Great Britain planned a "descent" (an amphibious demonstration or raid) on Rochefort, a joint operation to overrun the town and burn the shipping in the Charente. Rochefort is a commune in western France, a Seaport on the Atlantic Ocean. Joint warfare is a Military doctrine which places priority on the integration of the various service branches of a state's Armed forces into one unified Charente ( Saintongeais: Chérente, Occitan: T'Charanto) is a department in western France named after the Charente The expedition set out on September 8, 1757, Sir John Mordaunt commanding the troops and Sir Edward Hawke the fleet. Events 70 - Roman forces under Titus sack Jerusalem. 1264 - The Statute of Kalisz Year 1757 ( MDCCLVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a General Sir John Mordaunt, KB (1697 &ndash 23 October 1780) was an English soldier and Whig politician the son of Lieutenant-General Harry Edward Hawke 1st Baron Hawke, KB ( February 21 1705 &ndash October 16 1781) was a naval officer of the Royal Navy On September 23, the Isle d'Aix was taken, but due to dithering by the military staff such time was lost that Rochefort became unassailable,^[6] and the expedition abandoned the Isle d'Aix and returned to Great Britain on October 1. Events 1122 - Concordat of Worms. 1459 - Battle of Blore Heath, the first major battle of the English Events 331 BC - Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of Gaugamela.

Despite the operational failure and debated strategic success of the descent on Rochefort, Pitt — who saw purpose in this type of asymmetric enterprise — prepared to continue such operations. William Pitt 1st Earl of Chatham PC (15 November 1708 &ndash 11 May 1778 was a British Whig Statesman who achieved his greatest fame as ^[7] An army was assembled under the command of Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough; he was aided by Lord George Sackville. Charles Spencer 3rd Duke of Marlborough 5th Earl of Sunderland KG, PC ( 22 November, 1706 &ndash 20 October, 1758) was George Germain 1st Viscount Sackville PC ( 26 January 1716 &ndash 26 August 1785) also known previously first as Lord George The naval escorts for the expedition were commanded by Anson, Hawke, and Howe. Admiral George Anson 1st Baron Anson PC RN ( 23 April 1697 &ndash 6 June 1762) was a British Richard Howe 1st Earl Howe KG ( 8 March, 1726 &ndash 5 August, 1799) was a British Admiral, notable in particular The army landed on June 5, 1758 at Cancalle Bay, proceeded to St. Malo, and burned the shipping in the harbor; the arrival of French relief forces caused the British to avoid a siege, and the troops re-embarked. Events 70 - Titus and his Roman Legions breach the middle wall of Jerusalem in the Siege of Jerusalem Year 1758 ( MDCCLVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Cancale (Kankaven Gallo: Cauncall) is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Bretagne in northwestern Saint-Malo ( Breton: Sant-Maloù; Gallo: Saent-Malô) is a walled port city in Brittany in northwestern An attack on Havre de Grace was called off, and the fleet sailed on to Cherbourg; but the weather being bad and provisions low, that too was abandoned, and the expedition returned, having damaged French privateering and provided a further strategic demonstration against the French coast. Le Havre is a city in the northwest region of France situated on the right bank of the mouth of the Seine River as it outlets into the Bay of the Seine

Pitt now prepared to send troops into Germany; and both Marlborough and Sackville, disgusted by what they perceived as the futility of the "descents", obtained commissions in that army. The elderly General Bligh was appointed to command a new "descent", escorted by Howe. The campaign began propitiously: with the support of the navy to bombard Cherbourg and cover their landing, the army drove off the French force detailed to oppose their landing, captured Cherbourg, and destroyed its fortifications, docks, and shipping. The troops were re-embarked and the fleet moved them to the Bay of St. Lunaire in Brittany where, on September 3, they were landed to again operate against St. Saint-Lunaire (Sant-Luner is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Bretagne in northwestern France. Brittany (Breizh bʁejs Bretagne; Gallo: Bertaèyn) is a former independent Celtic kingdom and Duchy, now incorporated into Events 36 BC - In the Battle of Naulochus, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, Admiral of Octavian, defeats Sextus Pompeius Malo; however, this action proved impractical. Worsening weather forced the two armies to separate: the ships sailed for the safer anchorage of St. Cast, while the army proceeded overland. The Battle of Saint Cast was a military engagement in France between the British and French The tardiness of Bligh in moving his forces allowed a French force of 10,000 men from Brest to catch up with him and open fire on the re-embarkation troops. Brest (bʁɛst in French, in Breton) is a city in the Finistère department in Bretagne in northwestern France. A rear-guard of 1,400 under General Dury held off the French while the rest of the army embarked; they could not be saved, 750, including Dury, were killed and the rest captured.

Continental warfare

Frederick invaded Austria in the spring of 1758 but failed to score an important victory. In the west, the French were beaten in the Battle of Reichenberg and the Battle of Krefeld by Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick. The Battle of Reichenberg was a Battle of the Seven Years' War, fought on April 21, 1757 near the town of Reichenberg (Czech The Battle of Krefeld (sometimes referred to by its French name of Créfeld was a battle fought on June 23 1758 between a Prussian - Hanoverian Ferdinand ( 12 January 1721, Brunswick – 3 July 1792) Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, was a Prussian

Operations of Russian army from Polish territory during Seven Years' War 1756-1762. The green arrows are Russian movements, and green circles are Russian bases

In the east, at the Battle of Zorndorf in Prussia, a Prussian army of 35,000 men under Frederick fought to a standstill with a Russian army of 43,000 commanded by Count Fermor. The Battle of Zorndorf was a Battle fought on August 25, 1758 during the Seven Years' War. The Russians withdrew from the field. In the undecided Battle of Tornow on September 25, a Swedish army repulsed six assaults by a Prussian army. The Battle of Tornow was part of the Seven Years War and was fought between the forces of Prussia and Sweden on September 26, 1758 Events 303 - On a voyage preaching the Gospel, Saint Fermin of Pamplona is beheaded in Amiens, France On October 14, Marshal Daun's Austrians surprised the main Prussian army at the Battle of Hochkirch. Events 1066 - Norman Conquest: Battle of Hastings - In England on Senlac Hill seven miles from Hastings, the forces The Battle of Hochkirch was a battle fought on October 14, 1758 during the Seven Years' War between a Prussian army of 31000 commanded by Frederick lost much of his artillery but retreated in good order, helped by the densely wooded landscape.

The year 1759 saw some severe Prussian defeats. At the Battle of Kay, or Paltzig, the Russian Count Saltykov with 47,000 Russians defeated 26,000 Prussian troops commanded by General von Wedel. The Battle of Kay (Schlacht bei Kay or Battle of Paltzig was a Battle fought on July 23, 1759 during the Seven Years' War. Count Pyotr Semyonovich Saltykov (Пётр Семёнович Салтыков (1697 - 1772 was a Russian Statesman and a Military figure Though the Hanoverians defeated an army of 60,000 French at Minden, Austrian general Daun forced the surrender of an entire Prussian corps of 13,000 men in the Battle of Maxen. In the Battle of Minden, a Prussian - Hanoverian - British army under Prince Ferdinand defeated a French army under the Marquis Count Leopold Joseph von Daun (or Dhaun) ( September 24, 1705 &ndash February 5, 1766) later Prince of Thiano, The Battle of Maxen ( November 21, 1759) saw the destruction of an entire Prussian army by a much larger Austrian force at Maxen in Saxony in present-day Frederick himself lost half his army in the Battle of Kunersdorf, the worst defeat in his military career, and one that drove him to the brink of abdication and suicide. The Battle of Kunersdorf was Frederick the Great's most devastating defeat The disaster resulted partly from his misjudgment of the Russians, who had already demonstrated their strength at Zorndorf and at Gross-Jagersdorf. The Battle of Gross-Jägersdorf ( August 30, 1757) was a victory for the Russian force under Field Marshal Stepan Fedorovich Apraksin

The French planned to invade the British Isles during 1759 by accumulating troops near the mouth of the Loire and concentrating their Brest and Toulon fleets. However, two sea defeats prevented this. In August, the Mediterranean fleet under Jean-François de La Clue-Sabran was scattered by a larger British fleet under Edward Boscawen at the Battle of Lagos. Admiral Edward Boscawen, PC, RN ( August 19, 1711 &ndash January 10, 1761) was a British Admiral The naval Battle of Lagos took place on August 19 1759 during the Seven Years' War off the coasts of Spain and Portugal, and is named In the Battle of Quiberon Bay on November 20, the British admiral Edward Hawke with 23 ships of the line caught the French Brest fleet with 21 ships of the line under Marshal de Conflans and sank, captured or forced aground many of them, putting an end to the French plans. The naval Battle of Quiberon Bay took place on 20 November 1759 during the Seven Years' War in Quiberon Bay off the coast of France near Events 284 - Diocletian was chosen as Roman Emperor. 762 - Bögü Khan of the Uyghurs, Edward Hawke 1st Baron Hawke, KB ( February 21 1705 &ndash October 16 1781) was a naval officer of the Royal Navy A ship-of-the-line was a type of naval warship constructed from the 17th century through the mid-19th century to take part in the the naval tactic known as the Line of battle Hubert de Brienne Comte de Conflans (1690 Paris - 27 January 1777, Paris was a French naval commander

1760 brought even more disaster to the Prussians. The Prussian general Fouqué was defeated in the Battle of Landshut. Ernst Heinrich August de la Motte Fouqué ( 4 February 1698 &ndash 3 May 1774) was a Prussian General and confidant of The Battle of Landeshut was an engagement fought on June 23, 1760 during the Seven Years' War. The French captured Marburg, and the Swedes part of Pomerania. Marburg is a city in Hesse, Germany, on the River Lahn. It is the main town of the Marburg-Biedenkopf district The Hanoverians were victorious over the French at the Battle of Warburg, but the Austrians, under the command of General Charles Flynn captured Glatz in Silesia. The Battle of Warburg was a battle fought on July 31, 1760 during the Seven Years' War. Kłodzko (Kladsko Glatz Glacio is a Town in south-western Poland, in the region of Lower Silesia. In the Battle of Liegnitz Frederick scored a victory despite being outnumbered three to one. The Battle of Liegnitz on August 15, 1760 saw Frederick the Great 's Prussian Army defeat the Austrian army under Ernst von Laudon The Russians under General Saltykov and Austrians under General Lacy briefly occupied his capital, Berlin, in October. Count Pyotr Semyonovich Saltykov (Пётр Семёнович Салтыков (1697 - 1772 was a Russian Statesman and a Military figure Franz Moritz Graf von Lacy or Lascy (English Count Francis Maurice von Lacy, Russian Boris Petrovich Lassi) ( October 21, 1725 Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. The end of that year saw Frederick once more victorious, defeating the able Daun in the Battle of Torgau, but he suffered heavy casualties and the Austrians retreated in good order. The Battle of Torgau ( November 3, 1760) was a Prussian victory over a larger Austrian army and one of the bloodiest battles of the Seven Years' War.

1761 brought a new country into the war. Spain declared war on Great Britain on January 4. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina. In the Battle of Villinghausen Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick defeated a 92,000-man French army. The Battle of Villinghausen (or Vellinghausen) was fought on 15 and 16 July 1761 between a large French army and a combined Prussian Ferdinand ( 12 January 1721, Brunswick – 3 July 1792) Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, was a Prussian The Russians under Zakhar Chernyshev and Pyotr Rumyantsev stormed Kolberg in Pomerania, while the Austrians captured Schweidnitz. Count Zakhar Grigoryevich Chernyshov or Tchernyshov (Захар Григорьевич Чернышёв (1722 - 1784 the eldest of three brothers Zakhar Ivan Tchernyshov The Rumyantsev family ( ru Румянцевы) were Russian Counts prominent in Russian imperial politics in the 18th and early 19th centuries Kołobrzeg (Kolberg Kòłobrzeg Cholbergensis is a City in Middle Pomerania in north-western Poland with some 50000 inhabitants (as of Świdnica (Schweidnitz Svídnice is a Town in south-western Poland.

Great Britain now threatened to withdraw her subsidies, and, as the Prussian armies had dwindled to 60,000 men, Frederick's survival was severely threatened. The Miracle of the House of Brandenburg refers to the death of Russia 's Empress Elizabeth (at the age of 52 at the beginning of 1762. Then on January 5, 1762 the Russian Empress Elizabeth died. Events 1477 - Battle of Nancy: Charles the Bold is killed and Burgundy becomes part of France. Year 1762 ( MDCCLXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Yelizaveta Petrovna (Елизаве́та (Елисаве́т Петро́вна (December 29 1709 – January 5 1762 (New Style December 18 1709 – December 25 1761 ( Her Prussophile successor, Peter III, at once recalled Russian armies from Berlin (see: the Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1762)) and mediated Frederick's truce with Sweden. Peter III ( February 21, 1728 – July 17, 1762) (Пётр III Фëдорович Pyotr III Fyodorovitch) was Emperor The Treaty of Saint Petersburg was concluded on May 5, 1762 and ended the fighting in the Seven Years War between Prussia and Russia In the aftermath, Frederick was able to drive the Austrians from Silesia in the Battle of Freiberg (October 29, 1762), while his Brunswick allies captured the key town of Göttingen. This battle is often confused with the Battle of Freiburg, 1644 Events 437 - Valentinian III, Western Roman Emperor, marries Licinia Eudoxia, daughter of his cousin Theodosius II Year 1762 ( MDCCLXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Göttingen ( ˈgœtɪŋən, Low German: Chöttingen is a College town in Lower Saxony, Germany.

War in the Colonies

For North American events, see French and Indian War. The French and Indian War (1754&ndash1763 was the North American chapter of the Seven Years' War.

Battles occurred in India, North America, Europe, the Caribbean isles, the Philippines and coastal Africa. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP During the 1750s up to 1763, Great Britain gained enormous areas of land and influence at the expense of the French. Robert Clive expelled the French from India, and General Wolfe defeated the French forces of General Montcalm at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, a victory which led to the surrender of Quebec to the British. Clive of India redirects here For the film see Clive of India (film. General James Wolfe ( 2 January, 1727 &ndash 13 September, 1759) was a British Army officer known for his training reforms Louis-Joseph de Montcalm-Gozon Marquis de Saint-Veran ( February 28, 1712 &ndash September 14, 1759) was the commander of the French The Battle of the Plains of Abraham, also known as the Battle of Quebec, was a pivotal battle in the French and Indian War, the North American theatre of the Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk

Great Britain lost Minorca in the Mediterrean to the French in 1756 but captured the French colonies in Senegal on the African continent in 1758. Minorca ( Catalan and Spanish: Menorca; from Latin Balearis Minor, later Minorica "minor island" is one of the Senegal (le Sénégal officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country south of the Sénégal River in western Africa. The British Royal Navy captured the French sugar colonies of Guadeloupe in 1759 and Martinique in 1762, as well as the Spanish cities of Havana in Cuba, and Manila in the Philippines, both prominent Spanish cities. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) The British expedition against Guadeloupe was a military action from November 1758 to May 1759, as part of the Seven Years' War. The British expedition against Martinique was a military action from January to February 1762, as part of the Seven Years' War. The British expedition against Cuba was a military action from March to August 1762 as part of the Seven Years' War. The Battle of Manila was fought during the Seven Years' War (known as the French and Indian War in the United States) from September 24

In 1757, the British mounted an attack on New France by land as well as sea. The Viceroyalty of New France (Nouvelle-France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period extending from the exploration of the French forces defeated British attacks in the Hudson valley and French naval deployments successfully defended Louisbourg and the approaches to Quebec. Fortress of Louisbourg (in French, Forteresse de Louisbourg) is a Canadian National Historic Site and the location of a partial reconstruction However, a renewed British offensive in 1758 succeeded in taking the key French fortress at Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island. Fortress of Louisbourg (in French, Forteresse de Louisbourg) is a Canadian National Historic Site and the location of a partial reconstruction Cape Breton Island ( French: île du Cap-Breton - formerly île Royale, Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Cheap Breatuinn, And on September 13, 1759, General James Wolfe defeated the French forces at Québec. Events 509 BC - The Temple of Jupiter on Rome 's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September Year 1759 ( MDCCLIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Quebec City ( French: Ville de Québec, or simply Québec) (kwɨˈbɛk or /keˈbɛk/ is the Capital of the Canadian province By the autumn of 1760, French America had become British.

Towards the very end of the war, in 1762, French forces attacked St. John's, Newfoundland. St John's (ˌseɪntˈdʒanz French Saint-Jean) is the provincial capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and located on the eastern tip If successful, the expedition would have strengthened France's hand at the negotiating table. Though they took St. John's and raided nearby settlements, the French forces were eventually defeated by British troops at the Battle of Signal Hill. The Battle of Signal Hill ( September 15, 1762) was a small skirmish the last of the French and Indian War. This was the final battle of the war in North America, and it forced the French to surrender to the British under Lieutenant Colonel William Amherst. William Amherst (c 1732 - 1781 born Sevenoaks, Kent was the son of Jeffery Amherst and Elizabeth Kerril and brother of Jeffery Amherst 1st Baron Amherst. The British were victorious, but the colonies, whose own impact in the war was minimal, were, with the defeat of the hostile French empire a few hundred miles away, becoming increasingly rebellious. Britain may have won the battles in the Seven Years' war, but they would lose some of their colonies over it.

The history of the Seven Years' War, particularly the siege of Québec and the death of Wolfe, generated a vast number of ballads, broadsides, images (see The Death of General Wolfe), maps and other printed materials, which testify to how this event continued to capture the imagination of the British public long after Wolfe's death in 1759. The Death of General Wolfe is a well-known 1770 painting by Anglo-American artist Benjamin West depicting the final moments of British General ^[8]

Peace

The British-French hostilities were ended in 1763 by the Treaty of Paris, which involved a complex series of land exchanges, the most important being France's cession to Spain of Louisiana, and to Great Britain the rest of New France except for the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon. The Treaty of Paris, often called the Peace of Paris, or the Treaty of 1763, was signed on February 10, 1763, by the kingdoms of Great Britain Louisiana (La celina+mario) was the name of an administrative district of New France. The Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon (Collectivité territoriale de Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon is a group of small islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, the France was given the choice of keeping either New France or its Caribbean island colony Guadeloupe, and chose the latter to retain one of its sources of sugar,^[9] writing off New France as an Arctic wasteland. The Viceroyalty of New France (Nouvelle-France was the area colonized by France in North America during a period extending from the exploration of the Discovery and settlement The earliest settlers on Guadeloupe arrived around 300 BC and developed agriculture on the island Sugar is a class of edible Crystalline substances mainly Sucrose, Lactose, and Fructose. This suited the British as well, as their own Caribbean islands already supplied ample sugar, but with the handover of New France they gained control of all lands in North America east of the Mississippi River with the exception of New Orleans. The Mississippi River is the second longest River in the United States, with a length of from its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota to However, the end of the threat from New France to the British American colonies and the subsequent reorganization of those colonies would later become one of the enabling triggers for the American Revolution. In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" Spain lost control of Florida to Great Britain, but received New Orleans and the Louisiana Territory west of the Mississippi River from the French. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana Louisiana Territory was a historic Organized territory of the United States from July 4, 1805 until December 11, 1812. The Mississippi River is the second longest River in the United States, with a length of from its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota to France also returned Minorca to the British.

European boundaries were returned to their status quo ante bellum by the Treaty of Hubertusburg (February 1763). Borders define geographic boundaries of political entities or legal jurisdictions such as Governments States or subnational administrative The Treaty of Hubertusburg (Frieden von Hubertusburg was signed on 15 February 1763 at Hubertusburg by Prussia, Austria, and Prussia thus maintained its possession of Silesia, having survived the combined assault of three neighbours, each larger than itself. According to some historians, Prussia gained enormously in influence at the expense of the Holy Roman Empire. The Holy Roman Empire ( HRE; German Heiliges Römisches Reich (HRR, Latin Sacrum Romanum Imperium (SRI was a union of territories in This increase in Prussian influence, it is argued, marks the beginning of the modern German state, an event at least as influential as the colonial empire Great Britain had gained. Others, including Fred Anderson, author of Crucible of War, believe the war was needless and overly costly. Fred Anderson (born 1949 is an American Historian of early North American history ^[10]

It should be noted, however, that while Frederick the Great's earlier acts of aggression can be blamed for the circumstances that led to the Seven Years' War, it was waged against him by a coalition of larger European powers intent on reversing Prussia's fortunes. Maintaining the defense of Prussia "against the greatest superiority of power and the utmost spite of fortune" in the words of Lord Macaulay^[11], while retaining Prussia's earlier territorial gains, can be seen as an accomplishment in itself. The nations and empires allied against Prussia during the war comprised over half of Continental Europe, and Frederick's forces were opposed from four different directions. Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the Continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European The Austrian army also performed well and sometimes successfully against a Prussian army led by a man later acknowledged by Napoleon Bonaparte as a greater military leader than himself, and thanks to Maria Theresa's leadership the war was not such a great loss for Austria that Austrian prestige or internal stability were seriously harmed. Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe. However, the same cannot be said of France.

The Seven Years' War was the last major military conflict in Europe before the outbreak of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars towards the end of the 18th century. The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts from 1792 until 1802 fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815 involved Napoleon's French Empire and a shifting set of European allies and opposing coalitions From a military point of view, the battles are less interesting than the numerous marches and countermarches in which Frederick excelled. This warfare of mobility would later be studied by Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon Bonaparte (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 was a French military and political leader who had a significant impact on the History of Europe.

Cultural references

• The novel The Luck of Barry Lyndon (1844) by William Makepeace Thackeray is set against the backdrop of the Seven Years' War. The Luck of Barry Lyndon is a Picaresque novel by William Makepeace Thackeray, first published in serial form in 1844, about a member of the William Makepeace Thackeray (ˈθækərɪ 18 July 1811 – 24 December 1863 was an English Novelist of the 19th century Stanley Kubrick's movie Barry Lyndon (1975) is based on this novel. Barry Lyndon ( 1975) is a Period film by Stanley Kubrick based on the novel The Luck of Barry Lyndon (1844 by William
• The board games Friedrich and, more recently, Prussia's Defiant Stand are based on the events of the Seven Years' War. Friedrich (after the German name of Frederick II of Prussia) is a strategic board game about the events of the Seven Years' War.
• The novel The Last of the Mohicans (1826) by James Fenimore Cooper is set in the Northern American Theatre of the Seven Years' War. The Last of the Mohicans is a Historical novel by James Fenimore Cooper, first published in January 1826 James Fenimore Cooper (September 15 1789 &ndash September 14 1851 was a prolific and popular American writer of the early 19th century
• The Partisan in War (1789), a treatise on light infantry tactics written by Colonel Andreas Emmerich, is based on his experiences in the Seven Years' War. The Partisan in War is a pamphlet written by German soldier Andreas Emmerich (a Colonel ( RP ˈkɜnəl GA ˈkɜrnəl is a Military rank of a Commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every country
• The Seven Years War is the central theme of G.E. Lessing's play Minna von Barnhelm. Gotthold Ephraim Lessing ( 22 January, 1729 15 February, 1781) was a German Writer, Philosopher, Dramatist

See also

• Rule of 1756
• List of wars
• French India

Footnotes

References

• Fowler, William H. Empires at War: The Seven Years' War and the Struggle for North America. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 2005. ISBN 1553650964.
• Marston, Daniel. The Seven Years' War. Essential Histories. Oxford, UK: Osprey, 2001. ISBN 1841761915.
• McLynn, Frank. 1759: The Year Britain Became Master of the World. London: Jonathan Cape, 2004. ISBN 022406245X.

External links

• The Seven Years' War from The Canadian Encyclopedia
• Ioannis' SYW Project & Uniform Plates
• Clash of Empires and The Battle of the Plains of Abraham - Canadian War Museum
• Seven Years War Reference World History Database
• The French Army 1600-1900
• Events and the participants in the Seven Years War
• Seven Years' War timeline
• The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition's entry on the Seven Years' War
• Another Seven Years' War timeline
• Memorial University of New Foundland's page about the war
• Seven Years' War Knowledge Base
• Great Britain Seven Years War Chronology
• 1759: From the Warpath to the plains of Abraham. Virtual Exhibition.
• National Battlefields Commission. Plains of Abraham. National Historic Park. Quebec, Canada.
• The Seven Years' War in Canada
• Virtual Vault, an online exhibition of Canadian historical art at Library and Archives Canada.