Leslie Massey
Maria Theresa (1717-1780) was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Transylvania, Mantua, and many other territories. She was an Austrian archduchess and Holy Roman Empress of the Habsburg Dynasty from 1740 until her death in 1780, reigning for four decades.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Birth date | 13 May 1717 |
| Death date | 29 November 1780 |
| Years as ruler | 1740-1780 |
| Title | Archduchess of Austria, Holy Roman Empress, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia |
| Sovereignty | Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Transylvania, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria, Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands, and Parma |
| Duchy | Lorraine |
| Grand Duchy | Tuscany |
| Co-ruler | Emperor Francis I, her husband |
| Children | 16, including Joseph II, who became emperor and co-ruler |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Religious tolerance | No |
| Religious policies | Expelled Jews and Protestants to remote parts of the realm |
| Notable achievements | Strengthened Austria's military, financial, and bureaucratic efficiency; promoted public health; reformed the Habsburg government; paved the way for compulsory education in the 18th century |
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What You'll Learn
Maria Theresa's rule began in 1740
Maria Theresa's rule as the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Transylvania, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma began in 1740. She was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg.
Maria Theresa was born on May 13, 1717, and became the ruler of the Habsburg monarchy in 1740 when her father, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, died on October 20. She was the first woman in the dynasty to succeed her father as the ruler of the Habsburg lands, as per the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713. However, her rule was not accepted by Prussia and Bavaria, which resulted in the War of Austrian Succession (1740-48).
Maria Theresa's first major challenge came shortly after she ascended the throne, when other European rulers started making territorial claims. Among them was the King of Prussia, Frederick II, who triggered the Silesian Wars and the War of the Austrian Succession. During the latter, she lost the region of Silesia and was forced to give up the duchies of Parma and Piacenza. Despite these losses, she successfully defended her rule over most of the Habsburg monarchy.
During her reign, Maria Theresa implemented significant reforms to strengthen Austria's military, financial, and bureaucratic efficiency. She also promoted commerce and the development of agriculture, and reorganised Austria's military, strengthening Austria's international standing. A devout Catholic, she despised Jews and Protestants and often ordered their expulsion to remote parts of her realm.
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She was the only female ruler of the Habsburg monarchy
Maria Theresa was the only female ruler of the Habsburg monarchy. She was born on 13 May 1717 and became ruler of the Habsburg monarchy in 1740, when her father, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, died. She was 23 years old at the time.
Maria Theresa was a courageous, generous, and kind ruler who respected the rights of others and expected the same in return. She was a devout Catholic and believed that religious unity was necessary for a peaceful public life. She explicitly rejected the idea of religious tolerance and advocated for a state church. She controlled the selection of archbishops, bishops, and abbots. Her ecclesiastical policies were enacted to ensure the primacy of state control in church-state relations. She also despised Jews and Protestants and, on certain occasions, ordered their expulsion to remote parts of the realm.
Maria Theresa's rule was not without its challenges. Her first major challenge came shortly after she ascended the throne when other European rulers, including Frederick II of Prussia, started making territorial claims. This triggered the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748), during which Maria Theresa successfully defended her rule over most of the Habsburg monarchy, with the exception of the loss of Silesia and a few minor territories in Italy. Despite this, she gained a great deal of respect by asserting her power in trying times.
Maria Theresa ruled as an autocratic sovereign with the counsel of her advisers. She strengthened the army, reorganized the tax structure, and centralized the empire's power. She also promulgated institutional, financial, medical, and educational reforms. Her reign was considered the beginning of the era of "enlightened absolutism" in Austria, with a brand new approach to governing. Many of her policies, however, were not in line with the ideals of the Enlightenment, and she was heavily influenced by Catholicism.
Maria Theresa died on 29 November 1780, leaving behind a solid foundation for future generations of the family empire. She was the only woman to rule the Habsburg monarchy in her own right and was a major figure in women's history, reigning as an absolute monarch for forty years over one of the largest empires in Europe.
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Her succession led to the War of the Austrian Succession
Maria Theresa (1717-1780) was the only woman to rule the Habsburg monarchy in her own right. Her reign lasted from 1740 until her death in 1780.
Maria Theresa's succession to the Austrian Habsburg crown was challenged by several European powers, leading to the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748). The conflict was sparked by the death of Maria Theresa's father, Emperor Charles VI, in 1740, and the question of whether Maria Theresa, as a woman, could rightfully inherit the Habsburg lands.
During her father's lifetime, Emperor Charles VI had attempted to ensure Maria Theresa's succession to the throne by issuing the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713, which secured his eldest daughter's right to inherit in the absence of a male heir. Despite gaining acceptance of the Pragmatic Sanction from several European powers, they reneged on their agreement following his death, and Maria Theresa's succession was contested.
In December 1740, King Frederick II of Prussia, who became Maria Theresa's greatest rival, invaded and occupied the Austrian province of Silesia. This invasion suggested that the Habsburg dominions were vulnerable, prompting other countries to enter the conflict. Prussia allied with France, Bavaria, Spain, Sweden, and Saxony, who all sought to exploit the succession struggle to acquire Habsburg lands and diminish Austrian power. Austria, Britain, the United Provinces, and Russia opposed them.
The war ended in 1748, with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, which confirmed Maria Theresa as the ruler of Austria. However, she was forced to cede Silesia to Prussia and three Italian territories to France. Despite these losses, Maria Theresa successfully defended her rule over most of the Habsburg monarchy.
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She was a reformer and fierce ruler
Maria Theresa was a reformer and a fierce ruler of the Habsburg domains, which she inherited through her father, Emperor Charles VI. She became the ruler of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Parma, and the Austrian Netherlands in 1740, following her father's death. Maria Theresa's reign, which lasted until her own death in 1780, was marked by significant reforms and a determined stance against the challenges she faced.
One of Maria Theresa's most notable characteristics as a ruler was her commitment to reform. She is known for implementing far-reaching changes in various aspects of her territories' governance and society. One of her primary focuses was the modernization of the state and its institutions. To achieve this, she introduced a range of reforms aimed at centralizing power and creating a more efficient bureaucracy. She established a standing army and reorganized the tax system, introducing a more equitable and consistent approach to taxation. Maria Theresa also recognized the importance of education and promoted policies to improve schooling and literacy rates across her domains.
The ruler was also known for her efforts to strengthen the Habsburg monarchy and its position within the Holy Roman Empire. She sought to centralize power and assert her authority over the various territories under Habsburg rule. This included taking a hard line against any opposition or resistance to her rule, which sometimes led to conflicts with local nobility or regional assemblies that sought to maintain their traditional privileges and autonomy. Maria Theresa's determination to uphold her authority and unify her territories under a stronger central government laid the groundwork for the emergence of a more cohesive Austrian Empire.
Maria Theresa's foreign policy was also characterized by her fierce determination to protect and expand Habsburg interests. She engaged in several wars and diplomatic maneuvers to secure her territories and enhance her position within Europe. One of the most significant conflicts during her reign was the War of the Austrian Succession, which erupted immediately after she ascended the throne, as several European powers contested her right to inherit the Habsburg domains. Through skillful diplomacy and military strategy, Maria Theresa managed to defend her inheritance and secure the recognition of her rule.
Another notable aspect of Maria Theresa's rule was her willingness to learn from her setbacks. For example, the Prussian invasion of Silesia early in her reign, which resulted in the loss of this territory, served as a wake-up call. It prompted her to initiate military reforms and strengthen her alliances, leading to more successful campaigns in the later part of her reign. Maria Theresa's ability to adapt and learn from her mistakes contributed to her overall success as a ruler.
Maria Theresa's reign as the first female ruler of the Habsburg domains was a period of significant reform and determined leadership. Through her commitment to modernization, centralization of power, and the protection of Habsburg interests, she left a lasting impact on the territories she ruled. Her fierce determination and willingness to adapt in the face of challenges secured her legacy as one of the most influential rulers of her time.
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She was the mother of Marie Antoinette
Maria Theresa was the mother of Marie Antoinette, the last Queen of France before the French Revolution and the establishment of the French First Republic. Marie Antoinette was born Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria and was the penultimate child and youngest daughter of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I. She was born on 2 November 1755 at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Archduchy of Austria.
Marie Antoinette married Louis Auguste, Dauphin of France, in May 1770 at the age of 14. She became Dauphine of France and, when her husband ascended the throne as Louis XVI in 1774, she became Queen. Marie Antoinette's mother, Maria Theresa, was a strong advocate for her daughter's marriage to the Dauphin of France. This was because she wanted to seal the alliance between France and Austria, which had been negotiated by Choiseul.
Marie Antoinette was a target of criticism by opponents of the domestic and foreign policies of Louis XVI, and those opposed to the monarchy in general. The French libelles accused her of being profliigate, promiscuous, and having illegitimate children. Marie Antoinette's mother, Maria Theresa, kept up a fortnightly correspondence with her, in which she often scolded her for being lazy and frivolous, and for failing to conceive a child.
In 1779, Marie Antoinette suffered a miscarriage, as confirmed by letters between her and her mother. Her third pregnancy was affirmed in March 1781, and on 22 October she gave birth to Louis Joseph Xavier François, Dauphin of France. Marie Antoinette's mother, Empress Maria Theresa, died on 29 November 1780, a year before the birth of her grandson.
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Frequently asked questions
Maria Theresa became ruler of Austria in 1740, at the age of 23.
Maria Theresa ruled for 40 years, until her death in 1780.
Maria Theresa faced resistance to her succession from European powers, including Prussia, Bavaria, and France, who invaded and claimed Austrian territories. She also struggled to find capable military leaders and administrators. Despite these challenges, she successfully defended her rule over most of the Habsburg monarchy and implemented significant reforms to strengthen Austria's military, financial, and bureaucratic efficiency.
