Austrian Succession, War of the
Syllabification: (Aus·tri·an Suc·ces·sion, War of the)
Definition of Austrian Succession, War of the
- a group of several related conflicts (1740–48), involving most of the states of Europe, that were triggered by the death of the Emperor Charles VI and the accession of his daughter Maria Theresa in 1740 to the Austrian throne. See also pragmatic sanction.