Violent practices and discourses on violence during the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763)

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The sub-project compares the Austrian and Russian armies during the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763) in Europe with regard to their specific cultures of violence. Both armies cooperated in the eastern theatre of war and acted on many occasions as allies. Both armies shared some common features such as the use of irregular border troops (Cossacks, Pandurs), joint operations like raids and battles and common technologies (Shuvalov’s secret howitzer), and both were the target of a rich pro-Prussian discourse of propaganda, which kept a close eye on their behaviour. Both armies were culturally diverse and their generals’ scope of action depended on the decisions taken at the respective centre (Moscow, Vienna). In addition to evident similarities, there were also some striking differences: Although their armies reflected a variety of national backgrounds, Austrians and Prussians shared no language barrier comparable to the one the Russians and Prussians had, Austrian supply chains were not as far from home as the Russian ones and the image of the armies in the West differed. The intended comparison focuses on key practices of irregular violence considered by contemporaries to be outside the norm. This includes massacres against the civilian population, exaggerated violence in battles and sieges and a policy of scorched earth, all considered inappropriate in eighteenth century ‘enlightened’ warfare. These practices contradicted the enlightened vision of the ‘tamed Bellona’ and were issues of public judgement, which in itself makes this comparison a promising case study because different judgements of similar practices can be compared.