Lexi Webster
Maria Theresa of Austria, born in 1717, was the only woman to rule the Habsburg monarchy. She married Francis Stephen of Lorraine, later Francis I, in 1736 when she was 18 or 19 years old. They had 16 children together, 10 of whom survived to adulthood. Francis Stephen became co-ruler of the Austrian and Bohemian lands in 1740, and Maria Theresa obtained the imperial crown for him in 1745.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Maria Theresia Walburga Amalia Christina |
| Date of Birth | 13 May 1717 |
| Date of Death | 29 November 1780 |
| Age When Married | 18 |
| Year of Marriage | 1736 |
| Husband | Francis Stephen of Lorraine, later Francis I |
| No. of Children | 16 |
| No. of Children Surviving to Adulthood | 10 |
| Notable Children | Marie Antoinette, Leopold II |
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What You'll Learn
- Maria Theresa married Francis Stephen of Lorraine in 1736
- Francis Stephen was made co-ruler of the Austrian and Bohemian lands
- The marriage was a love match, and they had 16 children together
- Francis Stephen was made eligible for the imperial throne by Maria Theresa
- The couple are interred together in Vienna's Capuchin monastery
Maria Theresa married Francis Stephen of Lorraine in 1736
Maria Theresa, born on 13 May 1717, was the eldest daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI. In 1736, when she was 18 or 19 years old, she married Francis Stephen of Lorraine. Francis Stephen would later become Holy Roman Emperor, with Maria Theresa as Holy Roman Empress.
Maria Theresa was one of the few people in her age who married for love. She and Francis Stephen had 16 children together, 11 of whom were daughters (10 of whom had the first name "Maria") and five of whom were sons. Their youngest daughter was Maria Antonia, better known by her French name, Marie Antoinette, who would go on to marry King Louis XVI of France.
Maria Theresa was ruler of the Habsburg monarchy from 1740 until her death in 1780, and she was the only woman to hold this position in her own right. She was sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Transylvania, and many other territories. She was also Duchess of Lorraine, Grand Duchess of Tuscany, and Archduchess of Austria by marriage.
Upon her father's death in 1740, Maria Theresa inherited the Habsburg lands, but opposition to her accession led to the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748). During this conflict, Frederick II of Prussia invaded and occupied Silesia, a Habsburg province. Maria Theresa led Austria through this war and two others, preserving most of the Habsburg territory despite facing superior military opponents.
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Francis Stephen was made co-ruler of the Austrian and Bohemian lands
Maria Theresa of Austria, born on May 13, 1717, was the eldest daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI. In 1713, Charles VI issued the Pragmatic Sanction, a decree that guaranteed his daughter the right to succeed to the Austrian throne and inherit his lands upon his death.
Maria Theresa married Francis Stephen of Lorraine, later Francis I, in 1736. They had 16 children, 10 of whom survived to adulthood. Their youngest daughter was Maria Antonia, better known by her French name, Marie Antoinette.
Maria Theresa's accession to the throne in 1740 led to the War of the Austrian Succession, as several European sovereigns broke their promises and challenged her inheritance of the Habsburg lands. She led Austria through this and two other wars, preserving most of the Habsburg territory. She initiated reforms, promoted commerce and agriculture, and reorganized the army, strengthening Austria's resources.
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The marriage was a love match, and they had 16 children together
Maria Theresa of Austria was born on 13 May 1717 and was the only woman to hold the position of ruler of the Habsburg monarchy, which she did from 1740 until her death in 1780. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Transylvania, and many other territories.
Maria Theresa married Francis Stephen of Lorraine in 1736, when she was 18 or 19 years old. Their marriage was a love match, and they had 16 children together, 11 of whom were daughters, and five were sons. Ten of the daughters were given the first name "Maria". Of the 16 children, 10 survived to adulthood.
Maria Theresa's husband became co-ruler of the Austrian and Bohemian lands in 1740, and she made her son Joseph II co-regent of her Austrian dominions after her husband's death. However, she kept most of the power to herself, which led to tension between her and her son.
Another Maria Theresa of Austria, born in 1638, was the daughter of King Philip IV of Spain and Elisabeth de France. She married Louis XIV in 1660, and this union sealed the reconciliation between France and Spain.
There is also a third Maria Theresa of Austria, who was born in 1767 and was the Queen of Saxony as the second wife and consort of King Anthony of Saxony. She had four children, all of whom died as infants.
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Francis Stephen was made eligible for the imperial throne by Maria Theresa
Maria Theresa, born on May 13, 1717, was the only daughter of Emperor Charles VI. As a woman, she could not become the Holy Roman Empress, so her father issued a decree, known as the Pragmatic Sanction, to guarantee her right to succeed to the Austrian throne and inherit his lands.
Maria Theresa married Francis Stephen of Lorraine, later Francis I, in 1736 when she was 18 years old. Their marriage was a love match, and they had 16 children, 10 of whom survived to adulthood.
Upon the death of her father in 1740, Maria Theresa became the ruler of the Habsburg Monarchy, and the War of the Austrian Succession began as several European sovereigns broke their promise to recognise her as heir and invaded her territories. To strengthen her position, Maria Theresa made her husband, Francis Stephen, co-ruler of the Austrian and Bohemian lands on November 21, 1740, making him eligible to vote in the imperial elections as King of Bohemia. This move was intended to secure the imperial office for her husband, as he did not possess enough land or rank within the Holy Roman Empire to become Holy Roman Emperor through his wife's accession.
Despite being co-ruler, Maria Theresa was the de facto ruler of the nation and made all significant decisions herself, often dismissing her husband from council meetings when they disagreed. She led Austria through the War of the Austrian Succession and two other wars, preserving most of the Habsburg territory. She also initiated financial and educational reforms, promoted commerce and agriculture, and reorganised the army, strengthening Austria's resources.
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The couple are interred together in Vienna's Capuchin monastery
Maria Theresa, the only woman to hold the position of ruler of the Habsburg monarchy, married her love, Francis Stephen of Lorraine, in 1736. She was 18 years old at the time. Francis Stephen later became Holy Roman Emperor, with Maria Theresa as Holy Roman Empress. The couple had 16 children, 10 of whom survived to adulthood.
Francis Stephen and Maria Theresa are interred together in an ornate double sarcophagus beneath Vienna's Capuchin monastery. The monastery, also known as the Capuchin Crypt, is a burial chamber beneath the Capuchin Church. The church is located on the Neuer Markt square of the Innere Stadt, near the Hofburg Palace. The Capuchin Crypt was founded in 1618 and dedicated in 1632. Since 1633, it has served as the principal place of entombment for the members of the House of Habsburg. The bones of 145 Habsburg royalty, plus urns containing the hearts or cremated remains of four others, are housed in the crypt. The visible 107 metal sarcophagi and five heart urns range in style from puritan plain to exuberant rococo.
The sarcophagus of Maria Theresa and her husband is immense, filling an entire room. It weighs approximately 1700 kg (3800 lb). The coffin within the sarcophagus is wooden and wrapped in silk (black with gold trim for rulers). The key to one of the coffin's two locks is kept by the Capuchin Guardian of the crypt, while the other is kept in the Schatzerammer of the Hofburg Palace in Vienna. The body within the coffin would have been embalmed and displayed in festive garments for at least three days in public. Two identical figures of Maria Theresa rise from her tomb, depicting her resurrection. The tomb was designed 30 years before her death.
The Capuchin Church has never been a parish church, although it does host regular Masses. It is famous in Vienna for its special focus on the sacrament of penance. The Capuchin monks are the official owners of the crypt and are entrusted with the duty of caring for it.
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Frequently asked questions
Maria Theresa was the only woman to hold the position of ruler of the Habsburg monarchy from 1740 until her death in 1780. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Transylvania, and many other territories.
Maria Theresa married Francis Stephen of Lorraine, later known as Francis I.
Maria Theresa married Francis Stephen in 1736, when she was 18 years old.
Yes, Maria Theresa had 16 children, 11 daughters and 5 sons, with Francis Stephen. Ten of her daughters were given the first name "Maria".
Yes, Maria Theresa was one of the few people in her age who married for love. She loved her husband dearly and was known to be a simple and homely character devoted to her family.
