April 10, 1741 · Silesia Theater

Frederick the Great's first battle as a commander nearly ended in disaster. Outnumbered Austrian cavalry routed the Prussian horse, and Frederick himself fled the field — only for his infantry under Field Marshal Schwerin to stand firm and grind out a victory with devastating volley fire. Prussia won despite its king's absence.

May 17, 1742 · Bohemia Theater

Fought in Bohemia, Chotusitz was Frederick's first clear personal victory. His cavalry now performed, his infantry delivered, and an Austrian counterattack was crushed in detail. Maria Theresa, fighting France and Bavaria simultaneously, was forced to negotiate.

June 27, 1743 · Germany (Main River) Theater

A Franco-German force trapped the allied Pragmatic Army in a defile along the Main River, but the duc de Gramont launched a premature attack that robbed France of a certain victory. George II, mounted and sword in hand, personally steadied the allied line — the last time a British monarch commanded troops in battle. The trapped army broke out with heavy French losses.

February 22, 1744 · Mediterranean Theater

The largest naval action of the war, fought off the coast of Toulon between a Franco-Spanish fleet and the British Mediterranean squadron. Admiral Mathews attacked before his line was properly formed, violating Fighting Instructions. The Franco-Spanish fleet escaped largely intact, though two Spanish ships were taken.

May 11, 1745 · Austrian Netherlands (Belgium) Theater

Marshal Saxe, directing the battle from a wicker litter while dying of dropsy, constructed a masterful defensive system of redoubts anchoring the village of Fontenoy. A magnificent British-Dutch-Austrian column punched through the French center — and was then enveloped and destroyed by concentrated fire from three sides. The Irish Brigade's famous charge shattered the column's flank. Saxe won a complete victory.

June 4, 1745 · Silesia Theater

Frederick launched a pre-dawn assault against an Austrian-Saxon force still deploying from its camps, achieving total surprise. The Prussian cavalry smashed the Saxon infantry before they could form; the infantry followed with methodical volley fire. By 9 a.m. the battle was over, the allied army in full retreat.

September 30, 1745 · Bohemia Theater

Caught off guard at dawn by a larger Austrian force, Frederick improvised brilliantly, shifting his outnumbered army to defend high ground while his cavalry seized the initiative and shattered the Austrian flanks. An apparent Austrian victory became a Prussian one through Frederick's personal composure under pressure.

December 15, 1745 · Saxony Theater

The 75-year-old 'Old Dessauer' led a Prussian allied force against the Saxon-Austrian army defending Dresden. Attacking uphill into fortified positions, the first assault was repulsed with heavy losses. The Old Dessauer rallied his men personally, pushed up a second time, and broke the Saxon line. Dresden fell the next day.

October 11, 1746 · Austrian Netherlands (Belgium) Theater

Saxe, now in his element commanding the most professional army in Europe, methodically attacked the Austrian position at Rocoux near Liège. His troops crossed the Meuse and rolled up the Austrian line, seizing village after village in a controlled assault that left no room for Austrian counterattack.

July 2, 1747 · Austrian Netherlands (Belgium) Theater

Saxe lured Cumberland into attacking a village complex bristling with French infantry, bled the allied army white in brutal house-to-house fighting, then unleashed his cavalry reserve to complete the rout. Cumberland's army was shattered; only a rearguard action by British cavalry prevented total annihilation.

October 18, 1748 · Diplomatic Theater

After eight years of war, the exhausted powers gathered at Aachen to negotiate a general peace. The treaty restored most pre-war borders — France returned its Netherlands conquests despite winning virtually every battle there — but confirmed the key outcome: Prussia kept Silesia. Maria Theresa signed under duress.