Treaty of Versailles (1757) facts for kids
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The Treaty of Versailles was an important agreement signed by two big European powers: Austria and France. They signed it at the famous Palace of Versailles on May 1, 1757. This happened during a major conflict called the Seven Years' War.
This treaty actually built upon an earlier agreement from 1756, known as the First Treaty of Versailles. That first treaty had created a strong friendship between France and Austria. Because of this, the 1757 agreement is often called the Second Treaty of Versailles.
What the Treaty Said
In this new agreement, France promised to help Austria. Austria wanted to get back a region called Silesia from Prussia. In return, Austria agreed to give the Austrian Netherlands to France once the war ended. France had wanted this land for a long time.
France also continued to give money, called subsidies, to Austria. This showed how strong their new friendship was. It also worried Great Britain a lot. Britain was afraid of how close France and Austria were becoming.
After the treaty was signed, French soldiers moved into important ports in the Austrian Netherlands. These included places like Ostend and Nieuport. This allowed Austrian soldiers to leave these areas. They could then move east to fight Prussia.
This move especially worried Great Britain. Britain had always tried to stop France from taking over the Low Countries. But this treaty ended a protection that had been in place for forty years.
France also planned to put a new ruler in charge of the Southern Netherlands. This ruler would be Duke Philip of Parma, from the House of Bourbon family in Spain. He would lead a new state that France would control.
The treaty also agreed that several towns would go directly to France. These towns included Chimay, Ostend, Beaumont, Nieuport, Ypres, Furnes, and Mons.
Finally, the treaty confirmed a plan to divide Prussia. Russia, Sweden, and Saxony were all going to take parts of Prussia.
What Happened Next
The plans from this treaty mostly changed with the next agreement, the Third Treaty of Versailles. France and Austria did not win against Prussia as quickly as they hoped. This was true even with help from Russia, Sweden, and Saxony.
France also worried that fighting in Germany was using too many soldiers and resources. These resources were needed to fight Great Britain instead. The war also caused money problems in Paris, France's capital.
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