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How did Frederick the Great use the League of Princes to oppose Austria?

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Historical map showing the unification of Germany by Prussia in the late 19th century. The map highlights in green the Kingdom of Prussia as of 1866, and in yellow the additional territories that formed the German Empire by 1871-1918, encompassing most of north-central Europe. Neighboring countries such as France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Switzerland are labeled, with major regions and states within the empire clearly marked. — Prussia The unification of Germany by Prussia, which brought most of north-central Europe into one kingdom.

Frederick the Great utilized the Fürstenbund (League of Princes), founded on July 23, 1785, as a strategic instrument to curb the expansionist ambitions of the Holy Roman emperor Joseph II.1

Following his successful opposition to Joseph II’s attempt to annex Bavaria during the War of the Bavarian Succession, Frederick observed the emperor renewing these territorial designs in the early 1780s. To counter this, Frederick persuaded a wide coalition of German states—including Saxony, Baden, Hesse-Kassel, and the electorate of Mainz—to join a formal league.12

By organizing these states under Prussian leadership to preserve the political status quo, Frederick effectively daunted the emperor. Faced with the threat of a unified opposition and the potential for another military defeat, Joseph II abandoned his Bavarian plans. This league marked the first time German states organized under Prussian leadership, signaling the declining influence of the Holy Roman Empire in German affairs.1