Austrian Succession, War of the

War 1740–48 between Austria (supported by England and Holland) and Prussia (supported by France and Spain). The Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI died in 1740 and the succession of his daughter Maria Theresa was disputed by a number of European powers. Frederick the Great of Prussia seized Silesia from Austria. At Dettingen in 1743 an army of British, Austrians, and Hanoverians under the command of George II was victorious over the French. In 1745 an Austro‐English army was defeated at Fontenoy but British naval superiority was confirmed, and there were gains in the Americas and India. The war was ended in 1748 by the Treaty of Aix‐la‐Chapelle.