The Treaty of Breslau was a diplomatic agreement concluded on 11 June 1742 between the Kingdom of Prussia and the Habsburg Monarchy, ending the First Silesian War (1740–1742). The treaty was signed in the city of Breslau (present‑day Wrocław, Poland) and resulted in the cession of most of the Habsburg province of Silesia to Prussia.
Background
- The conflict originated in the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748), during which Frederick II of Prussia sought to claim the valuable and industrially developed region of Silesia.
- After a series of military successes, including the capture of key fortresses such as Schweidnitz, Prussian forces pressed the Austrians into negotiations.
Provisions
- The Habsburg Monarchy ceded the majority of Silesia, including the duchies of Troppau, Glatz, and most of the County of Glatz, to the Kingdom of Prussia.
- Austria retained only a small portion of Upper Silesia (the so‑called “Austrian Silesia”), centered around the town of Teschen.
- The treaty stipulated the payment of a war indemnity by Austria to Prussia, though the exact amount was later adjusted in the subsequent Treaty of Berlin (1742).
Significance
- The Treaty of Breslau marked a major shift in the balance of power in Central Europe, establishing Prussia as a dominant territorial state and laying the groundwork for its later role as a leading German power.
- The acquisition of Silesia provided Prussia with substantial economic resources, including coal mines, ironworks, and a well‑developed agricultural base.
- The treaty’s terms were a catalyst for further diplomatic and military confrontations, notably the Second Silesian War (1744–1745) and the broader series of conflicts that culminated in the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763).
Aftermath
- The treaty was confirmed and slightly modified by the Treaty of Berlin, signed on 28 July 1742, which finalized the borders and financial arrangements.
- Austria’s loss of Silesia remained a point of contention, influencing Empress Maria Theresa’s foreign policy and her determination to recover the province in subsequent wars.
References
- Anderson, M. S. The War of the Austrian Succession, 1740‑1748. Routledge, 2000.
- Browning, Reed. The War of the Austrian Succession. Cambridge University Press, 1993.
- Wilson, Peter H. Heart of Europe: A History of the Holy Roman Empire. Harvard University Press, 2016.