A History of Europe Key Battles

The Origins of the French Revolutionary Wars can be dated to 17th August 1787, when in Constantinople the Ottomans arrested the Russian ambassador Count Bulgakov in the Topkapi palace, and declared war on St Petersburg. Catherine the Great had deliberately provoked the Turks and now dragged in the reluctant Austrians into the war. The Austrian Emperor was Joseph II, the archetypal enlightened desp...

In the last years of the 19th century the continent of Europe was turned on its head. France erupted into revolution in the middle of what was already a volatile situation, with various tensions between the Great Powers (Great Britain, Prussia, Russia, Austria, Ottomans as well as France). The storming of the Bastille is an iconic moment, not just for French, but world history. It came at a time w...

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Russo-Turkish War 1768-74, Catherine the Great www.historyeurope.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seven Years War 1756-1763, Part 2 www.historyeurope.net Music composed by Joseph Haydn, courtesy of musopen.org  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seven Years War 1756-63, Part 1 Pictured - Frederick the Great www.historyeurope.net Music - Joseph Haydn, Symphony 49 'The Passion', courtesy of www.musopen.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

War of Austrian Succession Concludes Pictured - Battle of Fontenoy www.historyeurope.net Music - Winter by Antonio Vivaldi, courtesy of musopen.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prussian Invasion of Habsburg Silesia by Frederick the Great Pictured - Maria Theresa - ruler of the Habsburg dominions www.historyeurope.net Music composed by Domenico Scarlatti, courtesy of musopen.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Background to the War of Austrian Succession 1740-48 War of Polish Succession 1733–35, Russo-Turkish War 1735–1739, War of Jenkins Ear 1739-1748 Pictured - Augustus II the Strong,  Elector of Saxony and King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania until his death in 1733, which triggered the War of Polish Succession Music composed by Antonio Vivaldi - Concerto for Bassoon in A minor, Concerto 1...

Introduction to the War of Austrian Succession 1740-1748; the rise of Prussia and beginning of the European Enlightenment. Pictured - Frederick William I, the king in Prussia and elector of Brandenburg (reigned 1713-40), known as the "Soldier King" for building up the military of his state. Music composed by Georg Philipp Telemann, courtesy of musopen.org www.historyeurope.net Hosted on Acast. See...

The armies of Peter the Great and Charles of Sweden fight the Battle of Poltava 1709. The Great Northern War 1700-1721 afterwards continues for a number of years, notably the Battle of the River Prut 1711, where the Russians confront the Ottomans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charles XII of Sweden launches an audacious campaign towards Moscow through Poland, linking up with the Cossack leader Ivan Mazepa (pictured) www.patreon.com/historyeurope Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Great Northern War - Charles XII, the young new king of Sweden, defends himself from attacks from his neighbours Russia, Denmark and Poland www.patreon.com/historyeurope Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The conquest of Siberia, split in the Russian Orthodox Church between new and old believers, uprising of Stenka Razin, conquest of Azov near the Black Sea, and early years of Peter the Great (pictured) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The French army of Louis XIV was on the ropes, but fought hard against the British, Dutch, Austrians and Prussians at the Battle of Malplaquet 1709. Peace was finally agreed in with the Treaties of Utrecht 1713 and Rastadt 1714, establishing a new balance of power on the continent. Composer - George Friedrich Handel, Water Music www.historyeurope.net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

War of Spanish Succession - Heavy fighting across Western Europe, including in Italy and the Iberian peninsula between troops loyal to Philip V and the French on the one side and Austrians, Dutch and British on the other. Meanwhile the Duke of Marlborough leads the British and their allies against the French at the battles of Ramillies and Oudenaarde Music: composer Giuseppe Torelli, Tumpet Concer...

The Battle of Blenheim was a major turning point in the War of the Spanish Succession. A British and Allied army, led by the Earl of Marlborough, marched rapidly southwards from the Netherlands to confront a Franco-Bavarian army www.patreon.com/historyeurope Music composed by Jean-Philippe Rameau Intro music by Nico Vettese ( wetalkofdreams.com ) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...

Carlos II, the King of Spain, was dying. He had become king at the age of four in 1665 and throughout his life had suffered appalling physical ill-health. As the only surviving son of Philip IV of Spain and with expectations low that he would produce a heir, the question of succession was for a long time prominent in European politics. War indeed erupted in 1701 on his death www.patreon.com/histor...

The Nine Years' War (1688–1697) was a conflict between France and a European coalition which included the Holy Roman Empire, the Dutch Republic, England, Spain, Savoy and Portugal. It was fought in Europe and the surrounding seas, in North America, and in India. The war encompassed the Williamite war in Ireland and Jacobite risings in Scotland, where William III and James II struggled for control...

Louis XIV has become the historical embodiment of the style of absolutist government where the monarch personally directs all matters of state as he or she sees fit, with authority given as a divine right. When he ascended to the throne, France was the most populous country in western Europe, and he intended to use its resources to pursue glory for his dynasty and kingdom at the expense of his nei...

At the battles of the Boyne and of Aughrim 1690, a force of Irish Catholics, supported by Louis XIV of France, fought against a multi-national army commanded by William of Orange, head of the Dutch Republic, who was also the newly crowned King of England following a successful coup known as the Glorious Revolution 1688. The battles paved the way for English domination of the British Isles through...

Soon after William of Orange took control of England in the Glorious Revolution 1688 and became King William III of England, he found it necessary to confront a rebellion in Ireland. With the support of King Louis XIV of France, the deposed King James arrives in Ireland to support Catholic resistance to William and to reclaim his crown www.patreon.com/historyeurope Intro music by Nico Vettese ( we...

In 1688 a large invasion arrived in England from the Dutch Republic, led by William of Orange. It was a risky move, driven partly out of fear of the English allying with Louis XIV of France, who was threatening to attack his country. King James II of England was fast losing popular support for his Catholic sympathies, a fact exploited in William's propaganda to the English. www.historyeurope.net w...

Siege of Vienna 1683 www.historyeurope.net www.patreon.com/historyeurope Music: Palestrina (Adoramus te Christe); Elgar (March of the Mogul Emperors) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Build-up to Siege of Vienna 1683 Picture: Jan Sobieksi Music by composer Johann Jospeh Fux - Symphony in F Major, Partita in G Minor www.historyeurope.net www.patreon.com/historyeurope Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.