Silesian Wars
(redirected from First Silesian War)Silesian Wars
a name sometimes used in historiography to designate Prussia’s wars against Austria for the possession of Silesia, which belonged to Austria. The First Silesian War (1740–42) and the Second Silesian War (1744–45), which were significant events in the War of the Austrian Succession (seeAUSTRIAN SUCCESSION, WAR OF THE), led to the seizure of most of Silesia by Prussia. Austria made an unsuccessful attempt to regain Silesia in the Seven Years’ War (see 1756-63), which is sometimes called the Third Silesian War. [23–1069–]