Warfare & Conflicting Interests of States The Old Regime Warfare & Conflicting Interests of States

The Old Regime 1715 – Louis XIV dies and warns his grandson and heir Louis XV to not “imitate my love of building nor my liking of war” the newly growing British and Prussian empires were ambitious – they take the fighting into North America and Asia, turning European conflicts into global conflicts

Eastern Europe Powers are Russia and Brandenburg Prussia The Old Regime Eastern Europe Powers are Russia and Brandenburg Prussia Russia had defeated Sweden and is interested in Poland Prussia also wants Poland and land of the Austro-Hungarian Empire The Austro-Hungarians prepared to defend their own…

The Old Regime Russia Peter the Great had modernized Russia’s government and military and made them the dominant Northeastern European power…this also made enemies… everything that Peter had worked for in his life begins to fall apart when he dies…

The Old Regime Catherine the Great Obscure princess from a little German state, she was married off to Peter III who was tyrannical and intellectually limited (grandson of Peter the Great) – he disliked her and lost supporters She conspired with aristocratic army officers and has him assassinated – she is now tsarina of Russia

The Old Regime Catherine the Great She is intelligent and charismatic → wants to expand Russia Friends with French philosophes like Diderot and Voltaire Relaxed constraints on the press and took land away from the church – she reforms education and opens schools for girls

Ottoman Empire Suffered defeat at the hands of Russia The Old Regime Ottoman Empire Mustafa III, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire 1757-1774 Suffered defeat at the hands of Russia Economy suffered, population grew and they could not compete commercially with Europe Uprisings of Arabian provinces where religious reform (Wahabism) challenged the power of the sultans Ultraconservative Sunni Islam

The Old Regime Brandenburg-Prussia Frederick William I 1713-1740 – unquestioned absolutism, centralized military that took 70% of the budget The middle classes cannot rise through military ranks Slave-like serf poor Avoided war, promoted economy, fills treasury and welcomes religious refugees 1740 Frederick the Great (Frederick II) uses power to go after Austria…

Austria Maria Theresa is the empress in 1740 The Old Regime Austria Maria Theresa is the empress in 1740 Austria is a set of semi-autonomous territories Weak hold on Hungary Nobles dominated their serfs, serfs paid to nobles not the crown

The Seven Years’ War (1756-1763) 1762: tsarina Elizabeth of Russia dies, successor likes Frederick the Great (Prussia) and withdraws from the War – just Austria and France vs Prussia and Britain now 1763: peace in Europe, but the fighting had/has spread to colonies in India, Caribbean and North America

Warfare Armies becoming more professional with paid soldiers, but still a lot of citizen conscripts More reliable weaponry Mobile cannons, artillery and cavalry Ability to mobilize and coordinate troops

Warfare War now more about strategy than brute force Attempt to avoid “big wars”, but when they happen.. Row by row infantry firing muskets into other side, artillery fire and cavalry charging in Largest ships had 100 cannons and they shot at each other point blank

Colonial Rivalry: France vs Britain Britain vs France – colonial rivals, opposite sides of the Seven Years’ War in Europe as well France: Louis XIV dies in 1715 – Louis XV (1715-1774) still believes in Absolutism, but he has taxation problems…the parlements help the nobles sidestep taxation Louis XV abolishes the parlements in 1770 but on his death 4 years later, Louis XVI reinstates them…