Lexi Webster
Between 1740 and 1780, Austria underwent significant political and military upheaval, including the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) and the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). The period was marked by conflicts with Prussia, which resulted in three Silesian Wars fought between the two powers. Despite these challenges, Austria managed to hold its own and maintain its position as a major European power. On the domestic front, economic expansion and repopulation occurred, with the construction of notable buildings such as the Belvedere and Karlskirche. The rule of Empress Maria Theresia (1717-1780) saw reforms and the unification of Habsburg holdings. Her son, Joseph II, continued these reforms after her death in 1780, marking the beginning of his reign, which lasted until 1790.
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What You'll Learn
Maria Theresa succeeds Charles VI
Maria Theresa succeeded her father, Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI, upon his death on 20 October 1740. Charles VI had issued the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713, which allowed female succession, thus enabling Maria Theresa to become his heir.
Maria Theresa's succession was not without conflict. Saxony, Prussia, Bavaria, and France repudiated the sanction they had recognised during Charles VI's lifetime, and Frederick II of Prussia (who became Maria Theresa's greatest rival) invaded and took the affluent Habsburg province of Silesia. This invasion marked the beginning of the War of the Austrian Succession, which lasted from 1740 to 1748. During this war, Austria faced the loss of most of Silesia to the Prussians, one of its richest and most industrialised provinces.
Maria Theresa's husband, Francis of Lorraine, was elected Emperor in 1745, restoring the position to the Habsburgs. Despite being expected to cede power to him and their eldest son, Emperor Joseph II, Maria Theresa ruled as an autocratic sovereign. She made Francis her co-regent and drew remarkable men of intellect into her council, such as Count Friedrich Wilhelm Haugwitz, who helped her maintain a standing army. She also drastically reduced the powers of the various dominions' estates, hitting upon the notion of a "God-pleasing equality".
Maria Theresa led Austria through two more wars, preserving most of the Habsburg territory despite facing superior military opponents. She promoted commerce and the development of agriculture and reorganised Austria's military, strengthening the country's international standing. She also promulgated institutional, financial, medical, and educational reforms.
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War of the Austrian Succession
The time period of 1740-1780 in Austria was marked by several significant events, including the War of the Austrian Succession, which lasted from 1740 to 1748. This conflict was triggered by the death of Emperor Charles VI in 1740, which led to a dispute over the succession to the Austrian Habsburg crown. The war was fought primarily in Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Mediterranean Sea, with various European powers involved.
The War of the Austrian Succession can be divided into several interconnected conflicts, including the Silesian Wars between Prussia and Austria. The First Silesian War took place from 1740 to 1742, and the Second Silesian War occurred from 1744 to 1745. Prussia, led by Frederick II (Frederick the Great), invaded Silesia, one of the richest Habsburg provinces, in December 1740. This invasion sparked a wider conflict, as Prussia allied with France, Bavaria, Spain, Sweden, and Saxony, while Austria was supported by Britain, the Dutch Republic, Hanover, and Russia.
The British, who were concerned about maintaining their commercial and colonial power against French hegemony, played a significant role in the war. They employed a strategy of naval blockade and bombardment, utilising their naval power to harass enemy shipping and attack outposts. The British also sent troops to Europe, where they fought alongside their allies and proved their worth as soldiers, particularly in battles such as Dettingen in 1743 and Fontenoy in 1745.
The war concluded with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748, which preserved the bulk of the Austrian inheritance for Maria Theresa, who succeeded her father, Emperor Charles VI, as ruler of the Habsburg monarchy. However, Prussia acquired Silesia from Austria, which strained the Anglo-Austrian Alliance as Maria Theresa resented Britain's insistence on ceding the province. This outcome also demonstrated the vulnerability of Hanover, which was held in personal union with the British Crown, to Prussian attacks.
The War of the Austrian Succession was followed by a period of reforms from 1748 to 1756 and then the Seven Years' War from 1756 to 1763. During this time, Austria was involved in the War of Bavarian Succession in 1778 due to the interference of Joseph II in Bavarian politics. The early and late reigns of Joseph II, from 1780 to 1790, were marked by conflicts with revolutionary France, and the rise of Napoleon posed a significant threat to the Habsburgs.
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Reign of Maria Theresa
Maria Theresa, the Archduchess of Austria and Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, was a key figure in the power politics of 18th-century Europe. She was an absolute monarch, a major female figure in European diplomacy, and one of the most capable rulers of the Habsburg monarchy.
Maria Theresa's reign began in 1740 when her father, Emperor Charles VI, died. Her succession had been made possible by the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713, which her father spent his entire reign securing through international diplomacy. However, upon his death, Saxony, Prussia, Bavaria, and France repudiated the sanction. This opposition to her succession led to the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748), during which Prussia invaded and took the Habsburg province of Silesia. Despite this loss, Maria Theresa successfully defended her rule over most of the Habsburg monarchy. She also obtained the support of the Hungarians, who were vital to the war effort.
During her reign, Maria Theresa initiated financial and educational reforms, promoted commerce and the development of agriculture, and reorganized the army. She was an autocratic sovereign, ruling with the counsel of her advisers, even though she was expected to cede power to her husband, Emperor Francis I, and her eldest son, Emperor Joseph II. She was an enlightened monarch, and her reforms continued under her son, Joseph II, who became emperor in 1765 after the death of his father.
Maria Theresa had a complex relationship with the Jesuits, who had educated her and were powerful and influential in the early years of her reign. However, she eventually removed them from all the institutions of the monarchy, as her ministers convinced her that they posed a danger to her monarchical authority. She also regarded both Jews and Protestants as dangerous to the state and actively tried to suppress them, even though she supported Jewish commercial and industrial activity in Austria.
Maria Theresa's reign ended in 1780, and she is remembered as a unique case in the history of powerful women, as she was able to strike a balance between her public and private life.
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Joseph II becomes co-ruler
The period 1740-1780 in Austria was marked by significant political and military upheaval, with the country engaged in various conflicts, including the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) and the Silesian Wars with Prussia (1740-1742, 1744-1745, and 1756-1763). The country also witnessed economic expansion and repopulation, with the construction of notable buildings during the period of High Baroque.
Now, let's focus on the aspect of "Joseph II becoming a co-ruler" during this timeframe:
Joseph II, the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Emperor Francis I, was born on March 13, 1741, in Vienna, Austria. He became a co-ruler with his mother, Maria Theresa, in 1765, and played an active role in foreign policy during this period. Joseph's commitment to enlightened absolutism and his intellectual prowess were already evident. He supported religious tolerance, the reduction of church power, and the relief of feudal burdens on the peasantry.
Joseph's time as a co-ruler was not without challenges and ideological disagreements with his mother. He frequently threatened to resign, a tactic he often employed to exert influence. Despite these differences, Joseph found success in foreign policy. During a civil war in Poland, he met with King Frederick the Great of Prussia, and they planned the partition of Poland, with Austria acquiring Galicia. This success in foreign affairs gave him leverage, and he continued to pursue policies aligned with his principles, such as opening the Royal Parks of Prater and Augarten to the public in 1766 and 1775.
In 1778, Joseph's enthusiasm for interfering in Bavarian politics led to the War of Bavarian Succession. Although he was largely excluded from domestic policy decision-making, he used his time to gain a deep understanding of his lands and people, supporting policies that aligned with his beliefs. Joseph's time as a co-ruler ended in 1780 with the death of his mother, Maria Theresa, and he became the sole ruler of the Austrian Habsburg dominions.
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French Revolution and Napoleon's rise
The time period of 1740–1780 in Austria was marked by political upheaval, economic expansion, and social transformation. Here's an overview of the key events and developments during this era, with a specific focus on the French Revolution and Napoleon's rise:
French Revolution (1789) and Napoleon's Rise
The French Revolution, which began in 1789, had a significant impact on the Habsburg monarchy in Austria. It served as a catalyst for Napoleon Bonaparte's rise to power in France. Napoleon, born in 1769 in Corsica, rose swiftly through the ranks of the French military during this tumultuous period. The revolution witnessed the overthrow of the French monarchy and the establishment of a republic by 1792, with Napoleon siding with the revolutionaries.
Napoleon's military prowess and strategic brilliance were evident in his Italian campaigns, particularly against Austrian forces. In 1796, he led the French army to a series of victories over larger Austrian armies in northern Italy. The Treaty of Campo Formio in 1797 resulted in territorial gains for France. Napoleon's success in Italy solidified his reputation as an exceptional military leader.
In 1799, Napoleon returned to France from the Egyptian Campaign, where he had suffered defeats, and orchestrated a coup d'état. He overthrew the Directory, the existing French government, and established himself as the First Consul, becoming France's leading political figure. Napoleon worked to restore stability to post-revolutionary France, implementing reforms in various sectors, including banking and education. He also sought to improve relations with the Catholic Church, which had been strained during the revolution.
Napoleon's focus then shifted to expanding his empire, waging wars against European coalitions. He scored major victories in the Battles of Ulm and Austerlitz (1805), Jena and Auerstädt (1806), and Friedland (1807). By the Treaties of Tilsit (1807) and the Treaty of Schönbrunn (1809), most of Europe was either under French rule, controlled by France, or allied with them. Napoleon crowned himself emperor in 1804 and continued his conquests until his disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812.
Napoleon's rise and the French Revolution posed a significant threat to the Habsburgs in Austria. During the Congress of Vienna in 1814-1815, Austrian Chancellor Metternich attempted to restore and strengthen Austrian power in the aftermath of Napoleon's defeat. Napoleon's brief return to power during the Hundred Days campaign ended with his crushing defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, after which he was exiled to the island of Saint Helena, where he died in 1821.
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Frequently asked questions
Maria Theresa (r. 1740-1780) became ruler of Austria in 1740 following the death of her father, Charles VI. She had to fight off rivals to the throne, including Charles VII of Bavaria, who ruled from 1742-1745. This period saw the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748), the first of three Silesian Wars fought between Austria and Prussia.
Maria Theresa established centralized control of the state, set up a civil service, introduced public education, expanded industry, and reformed the military and legal system. By 1780, 500 new schools had been established across the country.
The cultural life of Austria thrived during this period. With the end of the Turkish threat, the arts and culture experienced a surge, with the construction of splendid edifices such as Schloss Schönbrunn and the Salzburger Dom. Architects like Johann Fischer von Erlach and Lukas von Hildebrandt created exceptional monuments.
The War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748) was followed by the Seven Years' War (1756-1763). Although largely shut out of domestic policy, Joseph II, who ruled jointly with Maria Theresa beginning in 1765, interfered in Bavarian politics, which led to the War of Bavarian Succession in 1778.
