June 23, 1757 · India Theater

In a mango grove beside the Bhagirathi River, Robert Clive's 3,000 men faced Siraj ud-Daulah's 50,000-strong army — including 53 French-trained artillery pieces and French advisors. The battle was settled less by combat than by treachery: Clive had secretly bribed Mir Jafar, the Nawab's chief general, to betray his master. Mir Jafar held his 45,000 men back. The Nawab fled. Clive won Bengal in an afternoon.

November 5, 1757 · Saxony (Europe) Theater

A Franco-Imperial army of 42,000 attempted to outflank Frederick's 22,000 Prussians near the village of Rossbach. Frederick spotted the movement, had his cavalry strike before the enemy completed their maneuver, and unleashed his infantry. The entire battle lasted 90 minutes. The French and Imperial forces — attacking each other in the confusion as much as the Prussians — suffered 10,000 casualties and fled in disorder. Prussia lost 548 men.

December 5, 1757 · Silesia (Europe) Theater

Just 27 days after Rossbach, Frederick marched his army 170 miles in winter to face an Austrian force of 65,000 entrenched near the village of Leuthen in Silesia. Using a feint against the Austrian right, Frederick concentrated his 36,000 men against the Austrian left in the oblique order — a formation he had drilled his army to execute at speed. The Austrians, unable to redeploy in time, were overwhelmed flank by flank. It was his masterpiece.

August 25, 1758 · Brandenburg (Europe) Theater

A Russian army under Fermor invaded Prussia, burning the town of Küstrin and threatening Berlin. Frederick marched to intercept them at Zorndorf. In one of the most brutal battles of the century, Russian troops — renowned for their willingness to stand and fight even when outflanked — refused to break. The battle turned into a grinding, savage engagement lasting the entire day, with both sides taking catastrophic casualties. Frederick held the field but failed to destroy the Russian army.

August 1, 1759 · Westphalia (Europe) Theater

At Minden in Westphalia, six British infantry regiments received confused orders and advanced on foot directly into the massed French cavalry — a move suicidal by any tactical standard. Instead of being destroyed, the British infantry, firing disciplined volleys, broke six lines of French horse. It remains one of the most astonishing infantry feats in military history. The British cavalry commander, Lord Sackville, failed to pursue the beaten French and was later court-martialed for cowardice.

August 12, 1759 · Brandenburg (Europe) Theater

The worst day of Frederick the Great's life. Facing a combined Russian-Austrian army of 59,000 near Frankfurt an der Oder, Frederick attacked with 51,000 men. Initial Prussian success collapsed into catastrophe as Russian troops refused to break, absorbed devastating artillery fire, and then counterattacked. The Prussian army disintegrated. Frederick had three horses shot under him; his coat was pierced by bullets. He left the field with 3,000 men of the 48,000 he had brought. 'I believe all is lost,' he wrote to a minister. 'Save the court; the enemy will be in Berlin in a few days.'

November 20, 1759 · Atlantic Ocean / Brittany Coast Theater

The French Atlantic fleet of 21 ships of the line, under Admiral Conflans, attempted to cover a troop transport to support a planned invasion of Scotland. Hawke's British fleet of 23 ships chased the French into Quiberon Bay — notoriously shallow and rock-strewn — in a force 8 gale. Conflans believed no admiral would dare follow in such conditions. Hawke followed. Fighting continued until dark among rocks and breakers. Seven French ships were sunk or captured, 2,500 French sailors killed, and the French fleet destroyed as a fighting force.

November 3, 1760 · Saxony (Europe) Theater

Frederick's last major offensive battle — and his bloodiest victory. Attacking Field Marshal Daun's entrenched Austrian army on the heights of Torgau, Frederick split his force in a double envelopment. The first Prussian column was repulsed with devastating losses; Frederick himself was briefly knocked unconscious by a spent bullet. General Ziethen's cavalry and infantry arrived at dusk and broke the Austrian right. The Austrians withdrew, leaving the field to Prussia — and 40,000 dead and wounded between both sides.