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Bah Fucking war of Fucking Austrian Succession
Had to write a paper about it for university so here are some facts:
Charles IV dies.
No male successor
Maria Theresia, his daughter is ready
Spain, Prussia, Russia etc. don't agree and fight
compromise reached in 1948, Austria loses territory in Slesia (today's Poland)
Austria and Prussia share a deeeep hatred
Austria's Hapsburg monarchy thinks about revenge and its foreign minister, Kaunitz, has the great idea of the [s]reversment des alliances[/s] meaning that all previous alliances are somewhat flipped, since Maria T. thought this was the only way the reconquering of Slesia could be achieved.
France became a good friend, a big FUCK OFF to Britain and a neutral relationship with Russia.
Frederick 2, the Prussian King smells what's going on and, wohooo (*points to Bush*) attacks Austria in an pre-emptive strike!
Although no1 really defeats the other, Frederick is now seen as the big European hero, the Underdog who successfully managed to defend himself against the superpower of the Hapsburgs
The french by the way, didn't really support Austria when it needed them, nor did the Russians whose new Czar (some chick, karolina or something) had the hots for Frederick (she fancied him)
Anyway, Austria finally accepted the loss of Slesia and tried other tricks, such as negotiating peace between Ottomans and Russians in order to receive Russian gifts to compensate the Polish loss
Later Austria Prussia dn Russia suddenly cooperate for their own egoistic needs...and share Poland. They just take that country and share it among themselves.
and it goes on and on and on..
Donno but I always find such things fascinating as they show us parallel's to today's world, or simply the inherent dirty nature of politics..no matter where

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"Those are my principles, if you don't like them... well, I have others.”
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