I was looking at how proxy wars were fought and most examples I could find were of colonial-modern wars being fought but not much past that. I know there are several instances of rebellions and successions being supported by foreign powers. However I was looking for examples of two super powers fighting by proxy, by making two or more smaller nations fight each other for control of the area without direct military involvement. Thank you in advance.
Spain has been a proxy in 4 instances.
City states there used as proxies between the carthaginian and Roman republics.
The emirate of Spain and the kingdom of Asturias. They were the proxies of the caliphate and the Franks.
Iberia was a proxy during the peninsular campaign. Portugal was the proxy for great Britain and Spain was the proxy for the French republic.
Spain was also a proxy during the Spanish Civil War. Nationalist side got support from Germany and the republic got assistance from the soviet union.