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What was the Seven Years' War?

The Seven Years' War (1756–63) was a worldwide conflict that began when Prussia and Austria fought over control of Germany in order to gain supreme rule in Europe. King Frederick II (called the Frederick the Great; 1712–1786) of Prussia was supported by Great Britain. Austria formed alliances with France, Sweden, most of the German states, and Russia. After 1762 Spain also joined the war on the side of Austria, but its entrance came too late to be effective. Since the Seven Years' War involved so many European states, the conflict soon spilled into the colonies of North America and India, where the France and Britain fought for dominance.

Frederick had launched many military campaigns in order to assert his authority in Europe, so his army was seriously weakened when it faced the Austrians in 1756. Frederick was spared from certain defeat, however, by the death of his enemy,...

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1. Thirty Years' War