Seven Years War

From 1756 to 1763, the Seven Years War was fought for two primary reasons.  The first, and the immediate cause of the war, was colonial competition between France and England in India and America.  The American conflict would come to be known as the French And Indian War.  The second cause was the rising status of Prussia in Germany.

The Austrian nobility had come out of the War of Austrian Succession considerably weakened, and without the province of Silesia, lost to Prussia in the last war.  In the interests of reclaiming the lost territory, Empress Maria Theresa reached an alliance with Russa and France.

Countering these works were the Prussians and their allies in Hanover, and by extension, in England, where King George II was also the Elector of Hanover.  In 1755 the two great alliances were staged, ready for any reason to resume hostilities when word came from America and India that French and English forces had clashed.  Ironically, the allies of the two primary participants would be the states to start the war.

Never one to be left out of a war, Frederick II of Prussia invaded Saxony in 1757.  Austria came to the defense of their neighbor province, and war on the continent began.  England, already at war with France, decided to support Prussia.  France, already at war with England, decided to support Austria.  Hanover technically could have remained neutral, but their Elector was the King of England, so Hanover sided with Prussia.  The Russians, bound by treaty with Austria to support an attack on Prussia, came in on the side of the Austrians, bringing the Swedes with them for good measure.

Undaunted by the massive forces surrounding him, Frederick II invaded Bohemia.