Hello All! This is my first thread to Alternate History and I hope it's a good one!
Anyway. Lately I was reading a book on Prussian History called the Iron Kingdom by Christopher Clark (A fantastic book, highly recommended). During his explanation in the interwar period between the War of Austrian Succession and the Seven Years War, Clark mentions Frederick's hasty and ill-judged moves' in the signing of the Convention of Westminster of 1756 which alienated Prussia from it's traditional ally of France by aligning it with the United Kingdom, and Frederick's misinterpretation of Saxon foreign policy which lead him to invade the country in 1756, which made Prussia look like an aggressor.
Clark, albeit not-directly, indicates that both moves really only hurt Prussia in the end by simply piling enemies against it in the oncoming war without any real indication of relief or aid from it's disconnected ally, The United Kingdom.
Therefore, My question is: How would the Seven Years War look like if Prussia had not signed the Convention and Frederick deciding that Saxony wasn't apart of the Russo-Austrian plot against the Kingdom and thus, doesn't invade? Or does his aligning with the U.K. and invading Saxony this fact not even matter?
My thoughts are of four possibilities:
1.) Frederick remains calm, and the his Panic of 1756 (what Clark calls his hasty moves) doesn't occur and doesn't make the first move against Austria. Russia and Austria declare war for ill-made reasons and invade Prussia. The French and Indian War doesn't occur at this time so France and England remain neutral (As neutral as one can be in the 1700's) and the war is a limited one with Prussia vs Austria and Russia
2) Same as before but Frederick decides to strengthen ties with France and renews it's alliance with the expectations of getting help (in the form of Troops and Money) in exchange for the Austrian Netherlands. The war kicks off, same as before but this time it is France and Prussia (and possibly Spain) vs. Austria and Russia
3) The United Kingdom is even more worried about Prussian expansion into it's Hanoverian territories. The U.K. ratifies the 1755 Convention of St. Petersburg, expands it's 'Observance Army' in Hanover, and renews it's alliance with Austria (Now including Russia) and war kicks off in 1756 seeing France, Spain, and Prussia vs. The U.K. plus Hanover, Austria, and Russia
Any thoughts?
Anyway. Lately I was reading a book on Prussian History called the Iron Kingdom by Christopher Clark (A fantastic book, highly recommended). During his explanation in the interwar period between the War of Austrian Succession and the Seven Years War, Clark mentions Frederick's hasty and ill-judged moves' in the signing of the Convention of Westminster of 1756 which alienated Prussia from it's traditional ally of France by aligning it with the United Kingdom, and Frederick's misinterpretation of Saxon foreign policy which lead him to invade the country in 1756, which made Prussia look like an aggressor.
Clark, albeit not-directly, indicates that both moves really only hurt Prussia in the end by simply piling enemies against it in the oncoming war without any real indication of relief or aid from it's disconnected ally, The United Kingdom.
Therefore, My question is: How would the Seven Years War look like if Prussia had not signed the Convention and Frederick deciding that Saxony wasn't apart of the Russo-Austrian plot against the Kingdom and thus, doesn't invade? Or does his aligning with the U.K. and invading Saxony this fact not even matter?
My thoughts are of four possibilities:
1.) Frederick remains calm, and the his Panic of 1756 (what Clark calls his hasty moves) doesn't occur and doesn't make the first move against Austria. Russia and Austria declare war for ill-made reasons and invade Prussia. The French and Indian War doesn't occur at this time so France and England remain neutral (As neutral as one can be in the 1700's) and the war is a limited one with Prussia vs Austria and Russia
2) Same as before but Frederick decides to strengthen ties with France and renews it's alliance with the expectations of getting help (in the form of Troops and Money) in exchange for the Austrian Netherlands. The war kicks off, same as before but this time it is France and Prussia (and possibly Spain) vs. Austria and Russia
3) The United Kingdom is even more worried about Prussian expansion into it's Hanoverian territories. The U.K. ratifies the 1755 Convention of St. Petersburg, expands it's 'Observance Army' in Hanover, and renews it's alliance with Austria (Now including Russia) and war kicks off in 1756 seeing France, Spain, and Prussia vs. The U.K. plus Hanover, Austria, and Russia
Any thoughts?