[PATRONS]
After nearly eight years of war in Europe, the interested parties were more than ready for it to end. By 1748, a conference not unlike that of Westphalia a century before took place. There, the borders of Europe seemed up for grabs... but such appearances were deceptive. The changes were not as important for the map of Europe, as they were for its tradition of alliance systems. After being battered on all sides, a new statesman, Kaunitz, took control of Austrian foreign policy, and he was determined to do all in his power to shatter the Prussian menace once and for all...