Who belonged to the League of Three Petticoats?
SHORT ANSWER With a global war raging, a trio of powerful women brought their nations together
LONG ANSWER The Seven Years’ War (1756-63) saw nations around the globe caught up in a complex web of alliances as Britain and France both vied to become the world's supreme imperial power. To make matters more confusing, the conflict came in the wake of the so-called Diplomatic Revolution of 1756, which had seen former friends suddenly become enemies. Notably, Austria had one eye fixed on regaining the valuable region of Silesia, which had been lost to Prussia during the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–48).
So, to win it back, Austria's Maria Theresa sided with France and Russia in opposition to Prussia. The latter also had a woman in charge, Empress Elizabeth, while the French king's mistress, Madame de Pompadour, was also key to the alliance. As such,
