(1778–79) Conflict in which Frederick II of Prussia prevented Joseph II of Austria from acquiring Bavaria. After the death of the Bavarian elector Maximilian Joseph (1727–77), his successor, Charles Theodore (1724–99), ceded Lower Bavaria to Austria. Frederick II responded by declaring war (1778). There was little fighting because each force was concerned with cutting its opponent's communications and denying it supplies. Short on supplies, soldiers foraged for potatoes; hence, the conflict was nicknamed the “potato war.” In 1779 Austria and Prussia signed a treaty giving Austria a fraction of the territory originally occupied.

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(1778–79) Conflict in which Frederick II of Prussia prevented Joseph II of Austria from acquiring Bavaria. After the death of the Bavarian elector Maximilian Joseph (1727–77), his successor, Charles Theodore (1724–99), ceded Lower Bavaria to Austria. Frederick II responded by declaring war (1778). There was little fighting because each force was concerned with cutting its opponent's communications and denying it supplies. Short on supplies, soldiers foraged for potatoes; hence, the conflict was nicknamed the “potato war.” In 1779 Austria and Prussia signed a treaty giving Austria a fraction of the territory originally occupied.

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• when used as an adjective, refer to the German state of Bavaria; or
• refer to the Bavarian or Austro-Bavarian language, a group of closely related dialects spoken in parts of Bavaria, most of Austria and the Alto Adige/Südtirol.
• Bavarian cream - a custard sauce.
• Bavarian Motor Works