Westminster Convention (1756)

E30297

The Westminster Convention of 1756 was an Anglo-Prussian diplomatic agreement that realigned traditional alliances in Europe and helped inaugurate the Diplomatic Revolution on the eve of the Seven Years’ War.


Statements (43)
Predicate Object
instanceOf diplomatic agreement
treaty
alsoKnownAs Anglo‑Prussian Convention of Westminster
appliesToJurisdiction Holy Roman Empire (German territories)
conflictContext Seven Years’ War
countryInvolved Kingdom of Great Britain
Kingdom of Prussia
dateSigned 16 January 1756
diplomaticAlignment Anglo‑Prussian vs Franco‑Austrian blocs
followedBy Anglo‑Prussian alliance during the Seven Years’ War
First Treaty of Versailles (1756)
genre international treaty
hasCause British concern for the security of Hanover
Prussian concern about encirclement by Austria and Russia
fear of French expansion in Europe
hasEffect deterioration of Anglo‑Austrian relations
initiation of the Diplomatic Revolution
preparation for the Seven Years’ War
rapprochement between Austria and France
realignment of traditional European alliances
hasHistoricalSignificance key turning point in 18th‑century alliance systems
major step in the Diplomatic Revolution of 1756
historicalContext prelude to the Seven Years’ War
historicalPeriod 18th century
languageOfWork English
French
locationSigned London
Westminster
mainSubject Anglo‑Prussian alliance
European balance of power
opposedBy Austria
France
Russia
partOf Diplomatic Revolution
replaced traditional Anglo‑Austrian alliance
signatory Kingdom of Great Britain
Kingdom of Prussia
signatoryRuler Frederick II of Prussia
George II of Great Britain
stipulated British neutrality in case of Prussian conflicts in the Empire
Prussian protection of Hanover from foreign attack
mutual guarantee of territories in Germany
year 1756

Referenced by (1)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Diplomatic Revolution of 1756
isFormalizedBy

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