The War of the Austrian Succession (1740–48) – including King George's War in North America, the War of Jenkins' Ear (which actually began formally on 23 October 1739), the First Carnatic War in India, and the First and Second Silesian Wars – involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa's succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg.
The war began under the pretext that Maria Theresa was ineligible to succeed to the Habsburg thrones of her father, Charles VI, because Salic law precluded royal inheritance by a woman—though in reality this was a convenient excuse put forward by Prussia and France to challenge Habsburg power. Austria was supported by Great Britain and the Dutch Republic, the traditional enemies of France, as well as the Kingdom of Sardinia and Saxony. France and Prussia were allied with the Electorate of Bavaria.
Spain entered the war to reestablish its influence in northern Italy, further reversing an Austrian dominance over the Italian peninsula that had been achieved at Spain's expense as a consequence of that country's own war of succession earlier in the 18th century.
The war ended with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748. The most enduring military historical interest and importance of the war lies in the struggle of Prussia and the Habsburg monarchs for the region of Silesia.
Read more about War Of The Austrian Succession: Background, Silesian Campaign of 1740, Allies in Bohemia 1741, Campaigns of 1742, Campaign of 1743, Campaign of 1744, Campaign of 1745, Italian Campaigns 1741–47, Later Campaigns, Conclusion of The War, General Character of The War in Europe, North America, India, Naval Operations, Related Wars, Gallery
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“You say it is the good cause that hallows even war? I say unto you: it is the good war that hallows any cause.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
“The war shook down the Tsardom, an unspeakable abomination, and made an end of the new German Empire and the old Apostolic Austrian one. It ... gave votes and seats in Parliament to women.... But if society can be reformed only by the accidental results of horrible catastrophes ... what hope is there for mankind in them? The war was a horror and everybody is the worse for it.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)
“Life is measured by the rapidity of change, the succession of influences that modify the being.”
—George Eliot [Mary Ann (or Marian)