Editing Battle of Dettingen (section)

==Background==
[[File:Féron - Adrien Maurice de Noailles (1678-1766) - MV 1082.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.6|French commander [[Adrien-Maurice, 3rd duc de Noailles|de Noailles]]]]

The immediate cause of the [[War of the Austrian Succession]] was the death in 1740 of [[Emperor Charles VI]], last in the direct line of male [[House of Habsburg|Habsburgs]], leaving his eldest daughter, [[Maria Theresa]], as heir to the [[Habsburg monarchy]].{{efn|Often referred to as 'Austria', this included [[Archduchy of Austria|Austria]], [[Kingdom of Hungary|Hungary]], [[Kingdom of Croatia (Habsburg)|Croatia]], [[Crown of Bohemia|Bohemia]] and the [[Austrian Netherlands]]}} Prior to 1713, the Monarchy was subject to [[Salic law]], whereby women were barred from the succession. The [[Pragmatic Sanction of 1713]] allowed Maria Theresa to inherit the throne, but the ruling was challenged by [[Charles Albert of Bavaria]], the closest male heir.{{sfn|Anderson|1995|p=3}}

An internal dynastic dispute became a European issue since the Monarchy formed the most powerful single element in the [[Holy Roman Empire]]. A federation of mostly German states, it was headed by the [[Holy Roman emperor]], in theory an elected position but held by the Habsburgs since 1440. In January 1742, Charles of Bavaria became the first non-Habsburg emperor in 300 years, with the support of [[Kingdom of France|France]], [[Prussia]] and [[Saxony]]. Maria Theresa was backed by the so-called Pragmatic Allies, which in addition to Austria included Britain, [[Electorate of Hanover|Hanover]] and the [[Dutch Republic]].{{sfn|Black|1999|p=82}}

In December 1740, Prussia invaded the Austrian province of [[Silesia]], whose mining, weaving and dyeing industries provided 10% of total Imperial income.{{sfn|Armour|2012|pp=99–101}} France, Saxony and Bavaria occupied Habsburg territories in [[Crown of Bohemia|Bohemia]], while [[Enlightenment in Spain|Spain]] joined the war, hoping to regain possessions in Northern Italy lost to Austria in 1713. By early 1742, Austria's position seemed desperate; Britain agreed to send a naval squadron to the Mediterranean and 17,000 troops to the [[Austrian Netherlands]], under the [[John Dalrymple, 2nd Earl of Stair|Earl of Stair]].{{sfn|Harding|2013|p=135}}

However, Austria made peace with Prussia in the June 1742 [[Treaty of Breslau]]; by December, they occupied most of Bavaria while the French armies were devastated by disease.{{sfn|Harding|2013|pp=152–153}} The focus of the 1743 campaign switched to Germany; the Austrians defeated the Bavarians at [[Battle of Simbach|Simbach]] and in mid-June, the Allied army arrived at [[Aschaffenburg]], on the north bank of the [[Main (river)|River Main]]. Here they were joined by [[George II of Great Britain|George II]], who was attending the coronation of a new [[Elector of Mainz]].{{sfn|Browning|1995|p=136}} By late June, the Allies were running short of supplies and began their withdrawal towards the nearest supply depot at [[Hanau]]. The road ran through Dettingen, where the French commander [[Adrien-Maurice, 3rd duc de Noailles|Noailles]], positioned 23,000 troops under his nephew [[Louis de Gramont, 6th Duke of Gramont|Gramont]].{{sfn|Périni|1896|p=295}}