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Glite Dictionary
War of the Austrian Succession

War of the Austrian Succession

9.9
A European war from 1740 to 1748 about who should rule Austria
  • noun
translation icon : Guerra de Sucesión Austríaca
  • The War of the Austrian Succession began in 1740.

Examples

  • Many historians study the War of the Austrian Succession for its impact on Europe.

  • The Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle ended the War of the Austrian Succession in 1748.

  • Historians still debate the underlying causes of the War of the Austrian Succession.

  • The War of the Austrian Succession dramatically altered the political landscape of eighteenth-century Europe.

  • The War of the Austrian Succession was fought from 1740 to 1748 over the future of the Austrian throne.

  • Prussia and Austria were two of the key players in the War of the Austrian Succession, which altered the balance of power in Europe.

  • The conflict known as the War of the Austrian Succession involved many major European powers and had lasting effects on the continent.

Surface Forms

War of the Austrian Succession singular
Wars of the Austrian Succession plural

Morphology

war + of + the + Austrian + succession

The phrase is compositionally transparent: 'war' combined with 'Austrian' and 'succession' literally signals a war concerning the succession (inheritance) in Austria. A B1 learner who knows the constituent words can therefore infer it refers to a conflict over succession in Austria, even if they would not know specific dates or belligerents without extra historical knowledge.

Etymology

War of the Austrian Succession gets its name from succession, the question of who would 'take the throne' of Austria after the ruler died in 1740. Many countries fought over that question, so the name now refers to the war fought from 1740 to 1748.