Why did Frederick II of Prussia invade Silesia in 1740?

Frederick II of Prussia invaded the Austrian province of Silesia in December 1740 primarily due to its immense wealth and strategic importance. By the 18th century, Silesia’s flourishing mining and textile industries had made it the richest of all the Habsburgs' Austrian provinces.123

Frederick’s decision was further motivated by the political instability following the death of the Holy Roman emperor Charles VI in October 1740. Charles VI left his daughter, Maria Theresa, as his heir, but her right to the throne was contested, her army was in a poor state, and her government faced significant financial difficulties.42

While the Hohenzollern family held dynastic claims to Silesia, these were considered weak. Frederick, possessing a well-funded and capable army, sought to exploit the vulnerability of the Habsburg dominions to expand Prussian power. He initially hoped Maria Theresa would cede the territory in exchange for his support against other enemies, but her refusal made military conflict inevitable.2