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How did Prussia keep Silesia after the War of the Austrian Succession?

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Portrait painting of Frederick II of Brandenburg, King of Prussia, wearing a dark coat with a star medal, yellow gloves, and holding a cane, with the inscription Fridericus II Rex Prussiae. — Frederick II Frederick II, painting in the Castello di Miramare, Trieste, Italy.

Prussia secured and maintained control of Silesia during the War of the Austrian Succession primarily through military force and strategic diplomacy.12

After Frederick II invaded the province in 1740, he utilized his well-funded army to defeat Austrian forces at the Battle of Mollwitz in 1741. These military successes forced the Austrian empress Maria Theresa to negotiate.321

Key milestones in retaining the territory included:
* Treaty of Berlin (1742): Following his victory at Chotusitz, Frederick forced Maria Theresa to cede almost all of Silesia, allowing her to redirect her focus toward other enemies.32
* Treaty of Dresden (1745): After reentering the war to counter growing Austrian strength, Frederick’s subsequent victories at Hohenfriedberg and Soor, followed by an invasion of Saxony, led to this treaty, which formally confirmed Prussian possession of the province.32

By the end of the broader conflict, Prussia’s military prowess had established it as a significant power, and the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748 left Prussia in firm control of the region.32