Prussian-Russian Alliance Treaty (1743)
The Prussian-Russian alliance of March 10, 1743 was a short-lived defensive alliance between Prussia and Russia . In addition to defense policy agreements, the treaty contains provisions on Poland-Lithuania and Silesia .
Historical background
Prussia waged war against Austria for the province of Silesia (see First Silesian War ). At that time Russia was in alliance with both warring sides - the alliance with Vienna was concluded as early as 1726, the alliance with Berlin in December 1740 . However, St. Petersburg did not participate in the European war after it was exposed to an attack by Sweden in the war of 1741–1743 , which had tried in vain to take revenge for the territorial losses in the Great Northern War . With a palace revolution on November 25, 1741, Elisabeth came to power. The new government received a lot of support from the French ambassador Marquis de La Chétardie and was on friendly terms with France and with Prussia, which was allied with France in the war for the Austrian inheritance. On the day of the revolt, Elisabeth informed Friedrich II that she wanted to maintain friendship and alliance with Prussia. The Prussian king was perfectly happy with the change of power in Russia, as the revolt overthrew the Vienna-oriented government of Anna Leopoldowna (regent under Ivan VI ). In July 1742, Berlin and St. Petersburg began negotiations to renew the alliance of 1740. At that time, Frederick II concluded a separate peace with the Austrian monarch Maria Theresa , which Russia also joined at Prussian request. However, Frederick II could not get Russia to guarantee him the conquered part of Silesia. St. Petersburg took the view that such a guarantee for the violently conquered former Austrian lands could drag Russia into a European conflict at a time when it itself was continuing its war with Sweden. Berlin had to be content with a general guarantee of the existence of all Prussian possessions.
contract
The treaty for a defense alliance between Russia and Prussia was signed on March 16, 1743. Both sides guaranteed each other mutual military assistance in the event of a third party attack. The Breslau Treaty , which Frederick secured Silesia for the time being, was recognized. Prussia and Russia agreed to protect the dissidents in Poland-Lithuania. Only after mutual agreement should a candidate be appointed for the vacant title of Duke of Courland .
Further development
The friendship between Russia and Prussia was fragile and despite the defensive alliance, relations did not improve. Rumors reached St. Petersburg about the attempts of Frederick II to form his own party in Poland and to interfere in the territorial disputes between the local magnates; and also about his attempts to bribe the nobility in Courland with the aim that Prince Heinrich of Prussia , the brother of Frederick II, would be elected Duke of Courland. Thus the foreign policy interests of Russia and Prussia began to overlap in Eastern Europe. At the same time news of the true and by no means friendly relations of Frederick II with Russia arrived. On January 1, 1743, the Russian envoy in Berlin, St. Petersburg reported on his conversation with the French ambassador in Prussia, the Marquis de Valory . The Frenchman said that the Prussian court both hated Russia and feared it. The final break in Russian-Prussian relations occurred in 1744. By this time Russia had successfully ended the war against Sweden and was now able to pay more attention to European affairs. The anti-Prussian mood at the Petersburg court increased and in 1746 a Russian-Austrian defense alliance was concluded.
literature
- Olʹga V. Kurilo: Friedrich II. And Eastern Europe: German-Polish-Russian Reflections, BWV Verlag, 2013