Saxon Diplomacy in the First Months of the Second Silesian War (August/October 1744)

Abstract

In the mid-eighteenth century, the Electorate of Saxony, one of the largest German states joined in a personal union with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, played a significant role in European politics. Relations with Saxony were critical in the diplomatic calculations of Europe’s major powers, including Great Britain, France, and Austria. This holds true during the time of the Silesian Wars (1740–1742; 1744–1745) as Prussia’s strengthening political influence gave rise to two major power centres in Germany. Austria and Prussia were both keen on winning Saxony’s favour as a potential ally. Its significant army and advantageous strategic location were the key factors. The importance of Saxony in the military and political conflict between Vienna and Berlin rose during the Second Silesian War. However, not much is known about Saxony’s involvement in this conflict as both Russian and foreign historians have not extensively researched it. The article aims to address this gap as comprehensively as possible, in other words, to ascertain the extent of Saxon diplomacy’s impact on the initial stage of the Second Silesian War and to establish the objectives and outcomes of Saxon policy during the relevant period. The research is based on a wide range of sources, including the documents from the Main State Archives (Hauptstaatsarchiv) in Dresden, the Austrian State Archives (Österreichisches Staatsarchiv) in Vienna, and the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Empire in Moscow. Most of the documents had never been used before or were being introduced for the first time for the current subject. The author concludes that during the period in question, Saxon diplomacy managed to gain advantageous positions in negotiations with Great Britain, Austria, and the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands in Warsaw and Vienna in the autumn of 1744 and spring of 1745, securing assurances of forthcoming subsidies and acquisition of some Prussia’s territories.