Anglo-Prussian alliance (1756)
| Type | bilateral treaty |
|---|---|
| Signed | 19 January 1756 |
| Location | Westminster, England, GB |
| Original signatories |
Great Britain Prussia |
| Ratifiers | GB Prussia |
The Anglo-Prussian Alliance was a military alliance created by the Westminster Convention between Great Britain and Prussia which lasted formally between 1756 and 1762 during the Seven Years' War. It allowed Britain to concentrate the majority of its efforts against the colonial possessions of the French-led coalition, while Prussia bore the brunt of the fighting in Europe. It ended in the final months of the conflict, and despite its end, strong ties between the two remained.
Since 1731 Britain had been tied to Prussia's major rival Austria by the Anglo-Austrian Alliance. Prussia had been allied to Britain's enemy France. Following the War of the Austrian Succession during which she had lost the valuable province of Silesia, the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa tried to gain British support for a proposed military action to reclaim it. When the British government refused she grew disenchanted with them - and in 1756 made an alliance with France. Suddenly without a major ally in continental Europe, the British hastily concluded a similar pact with Frederick the Great of Prussia hoping it would forestall a major European war by maintaining the European balance of power. Prussia had a number of leading British supporters including William Pitt.
The Treaty of Westminster was a treaty of neutrality signed on 16 January 1756 between Frederick the Great of Prussia and King George II of Great Britain, Elector of Hanover. British fears of French attacks on Hanover were responsible for the development of the treaty. Based on the terms of the agreement, both Prussia and Great Britain would seek to prevent any other foreign power's forces passing through the Holy Roman Empire. This was part of the so-called Diplomatic Revolution.
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