The Diplomatic Revolution of 1756 is a term applied to the reversal of longstanding diplomatic alliances which were upheld until the War of Austrian Succession and then reversed in the Seven Years' War; the shift has also been known as "the great change of partners". The essence of the revolution may be thus summarized: France and Prussia versus Great Britain and Austria became France and Austria versus Great Britain and Prussia. It was part of the stately quadrille which saw a constantly shifting pattern of alliances throughout the eighteenth century.