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Forging a Legend - Frederick the Great #3 - Extra History

🕑 Added 2023-01-27 21:43:04 +0000 UTC

Comments

Martin Verran

Interestingly, Maria Theresa's husband, Francis, was made a Master Mason at a specially convened lodge at Houghton Hall, the country estate of none other than Robert Walpole! [yes, the same one from the South Sea Bubble series!]

Benjamin Fouty

I think the more important understanding of the War of Austrian Succession is that the RESULTS of it it, with the Thirty Years War, the War of Spanish Succession and the Seven Years War, coupled with the ideas floating around at the time, is the philosophical realignment that forms our understanding of what “countries” are today. What’s a country without borders? Well, Countries for most of history. Louis wasnt making a bon mot when he said he is the state; it was a serious answer to a good question of the period. The transition of Prussia from a Swedish dutchy made up of various Swedish rights on the continent, to a Great Elector of a multiethnic state, to a uni-ethnic state oriented to one of those princes, to a state that covers almost none of the home base of the original dutchy is the microcosm of this transition. The Wars of Spanish and Austrian Succession built on the framework of the end of the Thirty Years War- territories are less soluble. Monarchs rule states and territories, they’re not just people with certain powers in certain areas. Now monarchs trade in territories, not their individual demands and particular cities. You can raise and lower the status of an office, but that office is still there. That wasnt the case in 1520. That’s a remarkable change. Silesia is mostly in Poland now, but the Silesian eagle still appears on Polish and Czech currency. The actions of the various wars are distractions to the results. Fredrick was a transition monarch in a period of transition. Cool story but less important to the flow of history around him.

Benjamin Fouty

Well corrected. I’d forgotten a Wittelsbach snuck in there. You’d be right Charles was the HRE because he was elected. The Wittelsbachs didnt get to keep it because the office of HRE depended on money and guns. Script should be cleaned up; Fredrick aligned with the elected HRE, the elector of Bavaria. Not everyone liked the election results. Maria Theresa then beat him, he died, and was replaced by Mr Maria Theresa as HRE. How convenient for her. On to hohenfriedburg.

Thomas Charbonnel

Why do Patrons get videos a week after Nebula users? 😞

Brian Rose

I'm very happy to see the War of Austrian Succession being covered here, even if it is only a very abridged version that focuses on Prussia's perspective. Just remember viewers -- this war, and the war that follows it, really was a World War in every sense of the term, and had massive implications for the Balance of Power in Europe and World History, going well beyond who gets to control Silesia.

Brian Rose

The Elector of Bavaria -- Charles VII -- was the Holy Roman Emperor at the time, or at least laying claim to the title, backed up by his allies (like Frederick). When he died in early 1745, Maria Theresa's husband was successfully recognized as Emperor. (Note, I'm a little unsure of how legally accurate this language, because... well, Holy Roman Empire.)

Benjamin Fouty

I assume the ally you meant was the King of Bavaria, not the Holy Roman Emperor. Especially since Prussia was at war with the HRE. Hard to be an ally while at war with them.