tensions rise
on 3 january 1778, few days after max joseph s death, ducal equerry proclaimed succession of charles theodore. dragoons rode through streets of munich, banging drums , blowing trumpets, , others shouting, long live our elector charles theodore. according 3 january agreement between joseph , charles theodore, fifteen thousand austrian troops occupied mindelheim, more territory had been granted joseph. charles theodore, had dreamed of rebuilding burgundian empire, realized joseph not planning exchange bavaria, or portion of it, entirety of austrian netherlands. @ best, might acquire few portions of it, perhaps hainaut or guelders, luxembourg, limburg, or various dispersed possessions in anterior austria, of lay in southwestern germany, joseph never release sizable portion of territory, , not territory of strategic military or commercial value.
while charles theodore s dream of burgundian renaissance receded, joseph continued on course annex part of bavaria. widow—max joseph s widow or mother-in-law or both—petitioned prussia on behalf of charles ii august. frederick s envoys heir presumptive convinced slighted prince lodge protests imperial diet in regensburg. joseph s troops remained in portions of bavaria, establishing austrian administration @ straubing, precipitating diplomatic crisis. austrian occupation of bavaria unacceptable charles august s champion, frederick. prussian troops mobilized near prussia s border bohemia, reminiscent of invasion in 1740 endangered maria theresa s succession habsburg hereditary lands. meanwhile, french wriggled out of diplomatic obligations austria, telling joseph there no military support paris war against prussia. britain, prussia s strongest ally, mired in war in north america, prussia s military had recovered 7 years war , frederick did not require help. prussia s other ally, saxony, aligned 2 marriages charles august, strategically prepared war against austria , ready contribute twenty thousand troops. watching st. petersburg, catherine ii willing mop spoils of war russian empire did not want involved in costly european conflict.
for 4 months, negotiators shuttled between vienna , berlin, dresden , regensburg, , zweibrücken, munich , mannheim. spring 1778, austria , prussia faced each other armies several times size of forces during 7 years war, , confrontation had potential explode european-wide war.
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