French Foreign Policy - The Rise of the Russians

The rise of the russians led directly to the breakdown of france's old alliance system. Prussia had once upon a time been a polish fife, but it became its own little sovereign duchy in 16 60. In 17 o one, the ctor of prussia was allowed to crown himself king in exchange for supporting the austrians in the war of spanish succession and more generally supporting hapsburg hegemony over the holy roman empire. So finally, we come to the last and newest addition to our five great powers, the prussians.