 Francis Stephen was elected Holy Roman Emperor on 13 September 1745 . Prussia recognised Francis as emperor , and Maria Theresa once again recognised the loss of Silesia by the Treaty of Breslau in December 1745 . The war dragged on for another three years , with fighting in northern Italy and the Austrian Netherlands . The Treaty of Aix @-@ La @-@ Chapelle , which concluded the eight @-@ year conflict , recognised Prussia 's possession of Silesia and Maria Theresa ceded the Duchy of Parma to Philip of Spain . 
