WI: Frederick II Dies Before the Seven Years War?

What if Frederick the Great died sometime between the end of the Second Silesian War and the Third? Would the Diplomatic Revolution have occurred without him? Would Austria have still tried to take Silesia back, and how would international opinion view their efforts if Frederick wasn't in charge?
 

Skallagrim

Banned
He has no children. His heir at this point is his brother Augustus William, who died two years into the war in OTL. At that point, the throne goes to that brother's son: the very same guy who inherited it in OTL later on, Frederick William II. But that one is like 12 when the war starts, and 14 when his dad dies. So who gets to be regent? Probably Prince Henry, who is credited by some historian as more militarily capable than Frederick II! And it is often believed that henry had a huge chip on his shoulder, because Frederick II was a bit threatened by him and deliberately kept him from gaining as much gloty as he desired. enry, as regent, might just try to do something really bold to prove himself the greater military leader.

Of course, he might also just decide that as regent, he's not allowed to make such beg decisions. Who knows? But it's pretty certain that Augustus William would be far more cautious and hesitant in 1756-1758 than Frederick was in OTL, and then when he died in '58, Regent Henry would at least be personally inclined towards decisive action and bold decisions.
 
He has no children. His heir at this point is his brother Augustus William, who died two years into the war in OTL. At that point, the throne goes to that brother's son: the very same guy who inherited it in OTL later on, Frederick William II. But that one is like 12 when the war starts, and 14 when his dad dies. So who gets to be regent? Probably Prince Henry, who is credited by some historian as more militarily capable than Frederick II!

Actually, not just the historians but Fritz himself said something to that effect at least once. And he was also a very impressive diplomat (IIRC, it was him who convinced Catherine II to go ahead with the 1st Partition). But his military style was much more conventional than one of Fritz in the terms of lowering the risks: after one of Fritz' major failures Henry was openly mocking him ("Phaeton fall down!")


And it is often believed that henry had a huge chip on his shoulder, because Frederick II was a bit threatened by him and deliberately kept him from gaining as much gloty as he desired. enry, as regent, might just try to do something really bold to prove himself the greater military leader.

Or he may try not to do something stupid like alienating of France, Auistria AND Russia simultaneously by idiotic personal remarks (fool will almost definitely get offended when openly mocked as such as was the case with Empress Elizabeth) so the anti-Prussian coalition may not even happen and the whole situation is diffused unless Maria-Theresa has irresistible urge for a revenge and ready to fight Prussia on her own.


Of course, he might also just decide that as regent, he's not allowed to make such beg decisions. Who knows? But it's pretty certain that Augustus William would be far more cautious and hesitant in 1756-1758 than Frederick was in OTL, and then when he died in '58, Regent Henry would at least be personally inclined towards decisive action and bold decisions.

Almost everybody would more cautious than Fritz and almost anybody would avoid creating a political combination that resulted from Fritz's inability to control his tongue.
 
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