Robbing Peter to Pay Maria: Austrian Succession, 1740 SUCCESSION

Europe stands at a crossroads in the year 1740. The death of Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI has unraveled the precarious balance of power across the continent. Although Charles spent years working on the Pragmatic Sanction – legitimizing his daughter Maria Theresa as his rightful heir – its authority is now being openly contested. Prussia has invaded Silesia, France and Bavaria are challenging Habsburg influence, and Britain and Spain weigh the risks and rewards of intervening in this conflict.

This historical crisis committee invites delegates to enter the high-stakes world of 18th-century diplomacy. Dynasties, alliances, and warfare define the political landscape. Participants will take on the roles of monarchs, ministers, generals, and envoys in the hopes of managing these internal pressures and rivalries. Delegates must navigate the complexities of succession law, territorial expansion, and military mobilization while confronting the broader implications for European stability.

As the War of the Austrian Succession begins to unfold, will you defend the status quo or seek to reshape the established order? Every decision you make, whether that be practicing diplomacy or wielding military might, carries with it the potential to alter the future. The fate of Europe hangs in the balance!

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