The Potato War: A conflict fought with hunger rather than bullets
In 1778, European monarchs mobilized massive armies to settle a Bavarian inheritance dispute. Yet, the battlefield remained largely silent. Instead of grand cavalry charges, the real enemy was starvation and disease, leading soldiers to dub the struggle the 'Potato War' and the 'Plum Fuss'.
The conflict erupted following the death of Maximilian III Joseph on 30 December 1777. As the last of the junior Wittelsbach line, his passing left the Electorate of Bavaria without a direct heir. While Charles Theodore, a member of a senior Wittelsbach branch, held the closest kinship, his lack of legitimate children and a secret agreement with Emperor Joseph II of Austria to partition the territory threatened the established order.
Joseph II sought to expand Habsburg influence in Central Europe, even marrying Maximilian's sister, Maria Josepha, in 1765 to bolster his claims. However, this expansionism alarmed King Frederick the Great of Prussia and the Elector of Saxony, Frederick August III. They viewed the Austrian acquisition of Bavarian lands as a threat to the balance of power. To protect the rights of the legitimate heir presumptive, Charles II August, Duke of Zweibrücken, Prussia and Saxony formed an alliance.
The war, lasting from 3 July 1778 to 13 May 1779, is often characterized as one of the last 'cabinet wars' of the Ancien Régime. It was a period where monarchs maneuvered through diplomacy and troop positioning rather than decisive combat. While major battles were rare, the logistical failure to sustain large armies led to thousands of deaths from disease and famine. The tension was only resolved when the threat of 50,000 Russian troops, led by Catherine the Great, forced Joseph II back to the negotiating table, resulting in the Treaty of Teschen.
Source: War of the Bavarian Succession
