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The book provides a detailed account of the events leading up to and during the Seven Years' War, with a focus on the actions and decisions of King Friedrich of Prussia. The war was sparked by a conspiracy between Austria, Russia, and Saxony to partition Prussia, which Friedrich discovered through documents obtained from traitors. Despite efforts to negotiate with Saxony and England, Friedrich decided to take action, invading Saxony and blockading the Saxon army in the Pirna country. The Prussian army, led by Friedrich, emerged victorious in the Battle of Lobositz, and the Saxon army was incorporated into the Prussian forces. The book also describes the aftermath of the battle, including the reactions of various European powers and Friedrich's efforts to consolidate his gains and prepare for the next phase of the war. Throughout the book, Friedrich is portrayed as a skilled and strategic leader, who is able to outmaneuver his enemies and achieve his goals through a combination of military strength and diplomatic cunning. The book also provides insight into Friedrich's personal life, including his daily routine and his interests in music and art. Overall, the book provides a comprehensive and detailed account of a pivotal moment in European history, and offers a fascinating portrait of one of the most important leaders of the 18th century.
The chapter discusses the events leading up to the start of the Seven Years' War. King Friedrich of Prussia had been aware of the secret plans of Austria and Russia to attack him, and had been preparing for war. He had formed an alliance with England, but the English were slow to provide support. Meanwhile, the French and Austrians were forming their own alliance, and the Russians were preparing to attack Prussia. Friedrich decided to take the initiative and launched a preemptive strike against Saxony, which was allied with Austria. He blockaded the Saxon army in the Pirna country, hoping to force them to surrender or ally with him. However, the Saxons refused to give in, and Friedrich's army was forced to wait for several weeks, during which time the Austrians were able to mobilize their forces and prepare to relieve the Saxons. The chapter ends with Friedrich's army marching towards the Austrian forces, led by Marshal Browne, and preparing for battle.
The chapter delves into the intricate details of King Friedrich's decision to invade Saxony, a move that would eventually lead to the Seven Years' War. It begins with an examination of the documents Friedrich had read, which revealed a conspiracy between Austria, Russia, and Saxony to partition Prussia. These documents, obtained through traitors Menzel and Weingarten, disclosed a secret treaty between Austria and Saxony, with Russia's involvement, aiming to take down Friedrich. The chapter then explores the diplomatic efforts of England, particularly Hanbury's treaty with Russia, which ultimately proved futile due to the Czarina's obstinacy and the influence of Austria and Saxony. The French, meanwhile, were forming an alliance with Austria, and the situation was becoming increasingly complex. Friedrich, aware of the impending danger, prepared his army for war, while also attempting to negotiate with Saxony and England. However, his efforts were met with resistance, and he eventually decided to invade Saxony, leading to a blockade of the Saxon army in the Pirna country. The chapter concludes with a detailed description of the military operations and the strategic positions of the Prussian and Saxon armies, setting the stage for the Battle of Lobositz.
The chapter discusses the English diplomatic efforts abroad in the prospect of a French war. King Friedrich of Prussia had formed an alliance with England, but the English were slow to provide support. Meanwhile, the French and Austrians were forming their own alliance, and the Russians were preparing to attack Prussia. Friedrich decided to take the initiative and launched a preemptive strike against Saxony, which was allied with Austria. He blockaded the Saxon army in the Pirna country, hoping to force them to surrender or ally with him. However, the Saxons refused to give in, and Friedrich's army was forced to wait for several weeks, during which time the Austrians were able to mobilize their forces and prepare to relieve the Saxons. The chapter ends with Friedrich's army marching towards the Austrian forces, led by Marshal Browne, and preparing for battle.
The chapter describes the events leading up to the start of the Seven Years' War. King Friedrich of Prussia had been preparing for war, aware of the secret plans of Austria and Russia to attack him. He formed an alliance with England, but the English were slow to provide support. Meanwhile, the French and Austrians were forming their own alliance, and the Russians were preparing to attack Prussia. Friedrich decided to take the initiative and launched a preemptive strike against Saxony, which was allied with Austria. He blockaded the Saxon army in the Pirna country, hoping to force them to surrender or ally with him. However, the Saxons refused to give in, and Friedrich's army was forced to wait for several weeks, during which time the Austrians were able to mobilize their forces and prepare to relieve the Saxons. The chapter ends with Friedrich's army marching towards the Austrian forces, led by Marshal Browne, and preparing for battle.
The chapter describes King Friedrich's decision to invade Saxony, which led to the Seven Years' War. Friedrich had discovered a conspiracy between Austria, Russia, and Saxony to partition Prussia through documents obtained from traitors Menzel and Weingarten. Despite his efforts to negotiate with Saxony and England, Friedrich decided to take action, blockading the Saxon army in the Pirna country. The chapter also discusses the English diplomatic efforts abroad, including Hanbury's treaty with Russia, which ultimately proved futile. The French and Austrians formed an alliance, and the Russians prepared to attack Prussia. Friedrich's army marched towards the Austrian forces, led by Marshal Browne, and prepared for battle. The chapter concludes with a description of the military operations and the strategic positions of the Prussian and Saxon armies, setting the stage for the Battle of Lobositz.
The chapter describes King Friedrich's decision to invade Saxony, which led to the Seven Years' War. Friedrich had discovered a conspiracy between Austria, Russia, and Saxony to partition Prussia through documents obtained from traitors Menzel and Weingarten. Despite his efforts to negotiate with Saxony and England, Friedrich decided to take action, blockading the Saxon army in the Pirna country. The chapter also discusses the English diplomatic efforts abroad, including Hanbury's treaty with Russia, which ultimately proved futile due to the Czarina's obstinacy and the influence of Austria and Saxony. The French and Austrians formed an alliance, and the Russians prepared to attack Prussia. Friedrich's army marched towards the Austrian forces, led by Marshal Browne, and prepared for battle.
The chapter describes the Battle of Lobositz, which took place on October 1, 1756, between the Prussian army led by King Friedrich and the Austrian army led by Marshal Browne. The battle was fierce and intense, with both sides suffering heavy losses. Despite being outnumbered, the Prussians emerged victorious, and the Austrians were forced to retreat. The chapter also describes the aftermath of the battle, including the surrender of the Saxon army and the incorporation of its soldiers into the Prussian army. Additionally, it touches on the diplomatic efforts of various European powers, including France and England, and their reactions to the battle and its consequences. The chapter concludes with Friedrich's return to Dresden and his efforts to consolidate his gains and prepare for the next phase of the war.
The chapter describes the aftermath of the Battle of Lobositz and the subsequent events in the Seven Years' War. The Saxon army, led by General Rutowski, attempts to escape from the Prussian blockade at Pirna, but their plan is poorly executed and they ultimately surrender. The Prussians, led by King Friedrich, incorporate the Saxon army into their own forces, with the Saxon soldiers being forced to "volunteer" for the Prussian army. The chapter also details the reactions of various European powers to the events of the war, including the Reich's-Hofrath and the French monarchy. Meanwhile, Friedrich returns to Dresden and begins to consolidate his gains, while also preparing for the next phase of the war. The chapter concludes with a description of Friedrich's life in Dresden, where he is busy with administrative tasks and military preparations, and also finds time for cultural pursuits such as music and art.
The chapter describes King Friedrich's winter in Dresden, where he has established his headquarters after the Battle of Lobositz and the incorporation of the Saxon army into his own forces. Friedrich is busy with administrative tasks, including the management of Saxony, which is now under Prussian control. He has set up a Prussian Board to govern the country and is taking steps to disarm and hobble Saxony to prevent it from becoming a threat to Prussia again. Meanwhile, the Austrian and French armies are preparing for a new campaign, and Friedrich is aware of the growing threat against him. He is taking steps to counter this threat, including the organization of a new irregular force, the "Prussian Free Corps," and the strengthening of his outposts in the Lausitz region. Friedrich's personal life is also described, including his daily routine, which includes attending concerts and hearing sermons. He is also shown to be strict but fair in his dealings with the Saxon population, and he takes steps to reduce the salaries of the Saxon ministers and to limit the influence of the Queen of Poland. The chapter also includes a description of a secret letter of instructions that Friedrich wrote to his chief minister, Graf Finck von Finkenstein, in which he outlines his plans for the future and provides guidance on how to proceed in the event of his death or capture.