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What role did Wenzel Anton von Kaunitz play in Austria’s plans to recover Silesia?

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Seven Years' War: Battle of Zorndorf — Seven Years’ War Frederick II leading his Prussian troops against Russians at the Battle of Zorndorf during the Seven Years' War, August 25, 1758.

Wenzel Anton von Kaunitz played a pivotal role in Austria’s strategy to recover Silesia by orchestrating a fundamental shift in European diplomacy, known as the Diplomatic Revolution.1

As a lifelong opponent of Prussia, Kaunitz recognized that Austria could not successfully challenge Frederick the Great while Prussia maintained its alliance with France. To isolate Prussia, he worked to dismantle Austria’s traditional alliances with England and the United Provinces, instead bringing France and Russia into the Habsburg orbit.12

His efforts culminated in the 1756 defensive Treaty of Versailles with France, followed by Russia’s accession to the alliance the next year. This diplomatic realignment was intended to secure the necessary support to reclaim Silesia, which had been lost to Prussia. Although the resulting Seven Years’ War failed to achieve the total defeat of Prussia or the recovery of the province, Kaunitz’s ability to isolate Prussia on the Continent remained his most significant diplomatic achievement. After 1763, he eventually reconciled the monarchy to the permanent loss of Silesia.123