European balance of power Austria which continued to rule as Holy Roman Emperor. Hapsburg Austria did directly control some states outside of the Holy Roman Empire. It was France who took the status of dominant continental power from the Habsburgs thanks to the Treaty of Westphalia and the Treaty of the Pyrenees. In the 16th and 17th centuries, English foreign policy strove to prevent a creation of a single universal monarchy in Europe, which many believed France or Spain might attempt to create. To maintain the balance of power, the English made alliances with other states—including Portugal, the Ottoman Empire, and the Netherlands—to counter
Treaty of Warsaw (1745) notionally defensive alliance, it came during the War of the Austrian Succession and within months all the signatories were in an alliance against France. Along with the sudden death of the Bavarian king, it dramatically changed the balance of power in Germany. The Allies were ultimately successful in securing recognition for Maria Theresa at the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. The treaty was secret until Friedrich II discovered it in 1756, and made it known to the world. The treaty was never absolutely accomplished. Treaty of Warsaw (1745) The Treaty of Warsaw was a diplomatic agreement signed in Warsaw on 8 January