{ { Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Seven Years' War
| partof = the Anglo-French Wars and the Austria–Prussia rivalry
| image = Seven Years' War Collage.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = Clockwise from top left: | date = () | place = Europe, North America, West Indies, South America, West Africa, India, Philippines | result = Anglo-Prussian coalition victory Status quo ante bellum in Europe Treaty of Saint Petersburg (1762) Treaty of Hamburg (1762) Treaty of Paris (1763) Treaty of Hubertusburg (1763) | territory = ** No territorial changes in Europe Transfer of colonial possessions among Great Britain, France, Portugal, and Spain France and Spain return conquered colonial territory to Great Britain and Portugal France cedes its North American possessions east of the Mississippi River, Canada, the islands of St. Vincent, Tobago, Dominica, and Grenada, and the Northern Circars in India to Great Britain France cedes Louisiana and its North American territory west of the Mississippi River to Spain Spain cedes Florida to Great Britain Mughal Empire cedes Bengal to Great Britain | combatant1 = | combatant1a = | combatant1b = | combatant1c = | combatant2 = | combatant2a = | combatant2b = | combatant2c = | commander1 = { { plainlist| George II # George III William Cavendish Pelham-Holles John Stuart Jeffery Amherst Edward Hawke Robert Clive Marquess of Granby James Wolfe Earl of Loudoun John Byng Edward Braddock George Washington Frederick II von Dohna Hans von Lehwaldt Manteuffel Prince Henry von Schwerin Joseph I Marquis of Pombal Duke Ferdinand Schaumburg-Lippe von Spörcken William VIII Frederick II Muhammad Ali Salabat Jung Asaf Jah II Diego Silang Gabriela Silang Palaris Peter III Theyanoguin Tanacharison Sayenqueraghta}} | commander2 = | casualties1 = | casualties2 = | campaignbox =
| casus =
}}
The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European great powers and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (1754–1763), the Carnatic Wars (1744–1763), and the Anglo-Spanish War (1762–1763). The opposing alliances were led by Great Britain and France, respectively, each seeking to establish global pre-eminence at the expense of the other. Along with Spain, France fought Britain both in Europe and overseas with land-based armies and naval forces, while Britain's ally Prussia sought territorial expansion in Europe and consolidation of its power. Long-standing colonial rivalries pitted Britain against France and Spain in North America and the West Indies. They fought on a grand scale with consequential results. Prussia sought greater influence in the German states, while Austria wanted to regain Silesia, captured by Prussia in the previous war, and to contain Prussian influence.
In a realignment of traditional alliances, known as the Diplomatic Revolution of 1756, Prussia became part of a coalition led by Britain, which also included long-time Prussian competitor Hanover, at the time in personal union with Britain. At the same time, Austria ended centuries of conflict between the Bourbon and Habsburg families by allying with France, along with Saxony, Sweden, and Russia. Spain aligned formally with France in 1761, joining France in the Third Family Compact between the two Bourbon monarchies. Smaller German states either joined the Seven Years' War or supplied mercenaries to the parties involved in the conflict.