Diplomatic Revolution The Diplomatic Revolution of 1756 is a term applied to the reversal of longstanding diplomatic alliances which were upheld until the War of the Austrian Succession and then reversed in the Seven Years ' War ; the shift has also been known as " the great change of partners " . The essence of the revolution may be thus summarized : Britain and Austria versus France and Prussia became France and Austria versus Britain and Prussia . It was part of the stately quadrille which saw a constantly shifting pattern of alliances throughout the 18th century . Background . The diplomatic change was triggered by a separation of interests between Austria , Britain , and France . The Peace of Aix - la - Chapelle after the War of the Austrian Succession in 1748 left Austria aware of the high price it paid in having Britain as an ally . Maria Theresa of Austria had defended her claim to the Habsburg throne and had her husband , Francis Stephen , crowned Emperor in 1741 , but she had been forced to relinquish valuable territory in the process . Under British diplomatic pressure , Maria Theresa had given up most of Lombardy and occupied Bavaria . The British further forced her to cede Parma to Spain , and more importantly , abandon the valuable state of Silesia to Prussian occupation . During the war , Frederick II ( " the Great " ) of Prussia had seized Silesia , one of the Bohemian crown lands . This acquisition had further advanced Prussia as a great European power , which now posed an increasing threat to Austria ’ s German lands , and to Central Europe as a whole . The growth of Prussian power , though dangerous to Austria , was welcomed by the British who saw it as a means of balancing French power . Westminster Convention . The results of the War of Austrian Succession were clear : Britain no longer viewed Austria as powerful enough to check French power and was thus content to build up smaller states like Prussia . Therefore , Britain and Prussia in the Westminster Convention ( 16 January 1756 ) agreed that Britain would not aid Austria in a renewed conflict for Silesia as long as Prussia agreed to protect Hanover from the French . Protection of Hanover was imperative to Britain because the Kings were descended from the Brunswick - Luneburg line of Hanover . Britain felt that , given Prussia ’ s growing strength , it would be more apt to defend Hanover than Austria . Meanwhile , Austria was determined to reclaim Silesia , so the two allies found themselves with conflicting interests . Maria Theresa , recognizing the futility of renewed alliance with Britain , thus set out to align Austria with France , who could replace Britain as a valuable ally . Maria Theresa knew that , without a powerful ally such as France , she could never hope to reclaim Silesia from Frederick . The agreement was followed by a more direct Anglo - Prussian Convention in 1758 . First Treaty of Versailles . Maria Theresa sent her foreign policy minister , Count Wenzel Anton von Kaunitz , to France to secure an alliance that would enable Austria to reclaim Silesia . However , Louis XV of France proved reluctant to agree to any treaty presented by Kaunitz . Only with renewed aggression between France and Britain was Louis coerced to align with Austria . Furthermore , Austria no longer surrounded France ; instead , Frederick II had managed to end the prospect of Habsburg - German dominion bordering French lands . Therefore , France no longer saw Austria as an immediate threat and entered into a defensive alliance with Austria . In response to the Westminster Convention , Louis XV ’ s ministers and Kaunitz concluded the First Treaty of Versailles ( 1 May 1756 ) , both sides agreeing to remain neutral and provide 24 , 000 troops should either one get into conflict with a third party . Second Treaty of Versailles . Maria Theresa ’ s diplomats , after securing French neutrality , actively began to establish an anti - Prussian coalition . Austria ’ s actions alerted Frederick II , who decided to strike first by invading Saxony , commencing the Seven Years ' War ( 1756 – 1763 ) . Frederick ’ s actions were meant to scare Russia out of supporting Austria ( the two countries had previously entered into a defensive alliance in 1746 ) . However , by invading Saxony , Frederick had only inflamed his enemies and Russia , under the direction of Empress Elizabeth , sent an additional 80 , 000 troops to Austria . One year after the signing of the First Treaty of Versailles , France and Austria signed a new offensive alliance on 1 May 1757 . In the Second Treaty of Versailles Austria promised France the Austrian Netherlands , but in return Maria Theresa would receive Parma as well as 129 , 000 French troops and the promise of 12 million livres every year until Silesia was returned to Austria . Aftermath . As a result of this diplomatic revolution , Britain and Prussia faced Austria , France , and Russia . Despite this reversal of alliances , however , the basic antagonisms remained : Prussia versus Austria and Britain versus France . All these tensions erupted during the Seven Years ' War , to which the Diplomatic Revolution is considered a prelude .