i74*	The French and Bavarians.	49
relinquished his claims on Juliers and Berg^1, and pro-
mised to vote for the Elector of Bavaria as Emperor.
At the same time he stipulated that France should
without delay send auxiliary troops to the assistance
of the elector, and induce Sweden to declare war on
Russia to prevent her from succouring the Queen of
Hungary.
France now began to act with energy. In the month
of August two French armies crossed the Rhine, each
about 40,000 strong. The first marched into _m ^
tit        7   v	j   r •   t..l        j    ^	tt    •         The French
Westphalia, and frightened  George II. into in West-
concluding a treaty of neutrality for Hanover, P^haha >'
and promising his vote to the Elector of Bavaria.    The
second advanced through South Germany on _In g_0uth
Passau, the frontier city of Bavaria and Austria. Germany.
As soon as it arrived on German soil, the French officers
assumed the blue and white cockade of Bavaria, for it
was the cue of France to appear only as an auxiliary,
and the nominal command of her army was vested in the
elector.
From Passau the French and Bavarians passed into
U;yper Austria, and on September 11 entered its capital,
Linz, where the elector assumed the title of The French
Archduke.    Five days later Saxony joined the ^ns^n^Va"
allies.    Sweden had already declared war on Austria.
Russia.    Spain trumped up an old claim and attacked
the Austrian dominions in Italy.    It seemed as if Belle-
isle's schemes were about to be crowned with complete
success.    Had the allies pushed forward, Vienna must
have fallen into their hands.    But the French did not
wish to be too victorious lest they should make the elector
too powerful, and so independent of them.    Therefore,
after six weeks' delay, they turned aside to the conquest of
Bohemia.
Breathing time was afforded to Maria Theresa, but
M. H.	E