Austrian Succession, War of the

A number of connected wars fought 1740-48 over the succession to the Austrian emperor Charles VI. The French supported the claim of Charles Albert, elector of Bavaria, against that of Maria Theresa, daughter of Charles VI. Prussia took the opportunity to seize Silesia from Austria. The British and French fought over colonial possessions in America and India. The Young Pretender, Charles Edward Stuart, attempted to restore the Stuart dynasty in Great Britain. Apart from Austria's loss of Silesia, very little was changed by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, which ended the war.