Battle of Leuthen

Quick Facts: Who was Battle of Leuthen?

Subject:

Battle of Leuthen

Known for:

A decisive 1757 battle where Frederick the Great routed a larger Austrian force.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Battle of Leuthen was fought on 5 December 1757 between Frederick the Great's Prussian Army and an Austrian army commanded by Prince Charles of Lorraine and Count Leopold Joseph von Daun. Frederick used maneuver warfare and knowledge of the terrain to rout the larger Austrian force completely. The victory ensured Prussian control of Silesia during the Third Silesian War, which was part of the Seven Years' War. The battle was fought in and around the town of Leuthen (now Lutynia, Poland), 10 km (6 mi) northwest of Breslau, (now Wrocław, Poland), in Prussian (formerly Austrian) Silesia. By exploiting the training of his troops and his superior knowledge of the terrain, Frederick created a diversion at one end of the battlefield and moved most of his smaller army behind a series of low hillocks.

Career & Major Achievements

The surprise attack in oblique order on the unsuspecting Austrian flank baffled Prince Charles, who took several hours to realize that the main action was to his left, not his right. Within seven hours, the Prussians had destroyed the Austrians and erased any advantage that the Austrians had gained throughout the campaigning in the preceding summer and autumn. Within 48 hours, Frederick had laid siege to Breslau, which resulted in the city's surrender on 19–20 December. Leuthen was the last battle at which Prince Charles commanded the Austrian Army before his sister-in-law, Empress Maria Theresa, appointed him as governor of the Habsburg Netherlands and placed Leopold Joseph von Daun in command of the army. The battle also established beyond doubt Frederick's military reputation in European circles and was arguably his greatest tactical victory.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

After the Battle of Rossbach on 5 November, the French had refused to participate further in Austria's war with Prussia, and after Leuthen (5 December), Austria could not continue the war by itself. Although the Seven Years' War was a global conflict, it acquired a specific intensity in the European theater as a result of the competition between Frederick II of Prussia, known as Frederick the Great, and Maria Theresa of Austria. Their rivalry dated from 1740, when upon Maria Theresa's ascension, Frederick had attacked and annexed the prosperous province of Silesia. The 1748 Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, which concluded the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748) between Prussia and Maria Theresa's allies, awarded Silesia to Prussia. Maria Theresa had signed the treaty to gain time to rebuild her military forces and forge new alliances and intended to regain her ascendancy in the Holy Roman Empire and to reacquire Silesia.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1740: 1740 Milestone — Their rivalry dated from 1740, when upon Maria Theresa's ascension, Frederick had attacked and annexed the prosperous province of Silesia.
2. 1748: 1748 Milestone — The 1748 Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, which concluded the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748) between Prussia and Maria Theresa's allies, awarded Silesia to Prussia.
3. 1757: 1757 Milestone — The Battle of Leuthen was fought on 5 December 1757 between Frederick the Great's Prussian Army and an Austrian army commanded by Prince Charles of Lorraine and Count Leopold Joseph von Daun.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Battle of Leuthen

True or False: “The Battle of Leuthen was fought during the War of the Austrian Succession.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The battle took place during the Seven Years' War, which followed the conclusion of the War of the Austrian Succession.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• 7th Dalai Lama — Historical peer (Died in 1757) (1757): Spiritual leader of Tibet, recognized as the 7th Dalai Lama, scholar, and poet.
• Alexander Hamilton — Historical peer (Born in 1757) (1757): American Founding Father, first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, and Federalist leader.
• Anna of Russia — Historical peer (Died in 1740) (1740): Empress of Russia (1730–1740), known for continuing Peter the Great's Westernization.
• Bajirao I — Historical peer (Died in 1740) (1740): The 7th Peshwa of the Maratha Empire, renowned for his military prowess and campaigns.
• Adam Weishaupt — Historical peer (Born in 1748) (1748): German philosopher, founder of the Bavarian Illuminati, and legal scholar.
• Anne Bracegirdle — Historical peer (Died in 1748) (1748): Renowned English actress and soprano, celebrated for her vocal performances.

Frequently Asked Questions about Battle of Leuthen