Maria Theresa - Queens, Life Achievements and Family
Maria Theresa's Personal Details
Maria Theresa was the Empress of Habsburg dynasty who ascended to throne after her father’s death and was known for her progressive politics
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | May 13, 1717 |
| Died on | November 29, 1780 |
| Nationality | Austrian |
| Famous | Historical Personalities, Empresses & Queens, Leaders, Empresses, Queen Regnant, Queens |
| Spouses | Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor |
| Siblings | Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria, Archduke Leopold, Maria Amalia |
| Known as | Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina |
| Childrens | Marie Antoinette |
| Founder / Co-Founder |
|
| Birth Place | Hofburg Palace |
| Religion | Catholicism, Christianity |
| Gender | Female |
| Father | Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor |
| Mother | Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel |
| Sun Sign | Taurus |
| Born in | Hofburg Palace |
| Famous as | Queen regnant |
| Died at Age | 63 |
// Famous Queens
Jetsun Pema
Jetsun Pema is the Queen consort of Bhutan. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her life.
Princess Alice of Battenberg
Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark, also known as Princess Victoria Alice Elizabeth Julia Marie of Battenberg, was the mother of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and mother-in-law of Queen Elizabeth II. This biography profiles her childhood, famil
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette was the Queen of France and Navarre from 1774 to 1792. who played a major role in provoking the French Revolution. This biography of Marie Antoinette provides detailed information about her childhood and life
Maria Theresa's photo
Who is Maria Theresa?
Maria Theresa is known as the Empress who ruled the Holy Roman Empire and was the de facto ruler of much of Europe throughout her lifetime. As the eldest surviving child of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI, Maria was not originally expected to ever inherit her father's throne. But when her father failed to produce any male children, Maria was formally trained in statecraft and the arts of governance. When her prospective groom, Leopold Clement, died from an illness, she eventually married his younger brother. After Maria's father died, several neighboring kings took the opportunity to invade her lands. Although she started off with a depleted treasury and limited leadership experience, Maria Theresa soon proved her mettle by doubling the empire's income and raising a large standing army. After a series of disastrous wars destroyed half of Europe, Maria found that her empire had emerged relatively unscathed. Using her intellect and education, Maria initiated a renaissance in her empire and implemented several important educational and judicial reforms. After successfully marrying off her surviving children to the royal houses of Europe, Maria Theresa died peacefully in her bed, one of the most powerful female monarchs of the early modern era.
// Famous Empresses
Jetsun Pema
Jetsun Pema is the Queen consort of Bhutan. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her life.
Princess Alice of Battenberg
Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark, also known as Princess Victoria Alice Elizabeth Julia Marie of Battenberg, was the mother of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and mother-in-law of Queen Elizabeth II. This biography profiles her childhood, famil
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette was the Queen of France and Navarre from 1774 to 1792. who played a major role in provoking the French Revolution. This biography of Marie Antoinette provides detailed information about her childhood and life
Childhood & Early Life
Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was born on May 13, 1717. Maria was the oldest surviving child of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles VI, and Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel.
Maria's inheritance of her father's throne was based on a royal decree entitled 'The Pragmatic Sanction'. Maria's father had to fight several wars during her childhood to force neighboring nations to honor the 'Pragmatic Sanction'.
Career
When she was 10 years old, Maria became engaged to be married to Leopold Clement of Lorraine but he died of smallpox before arrangements for their nuptials could be finalized. Maria began assisting her father's council meetings when she was just 14 years old.
In 1736, after an impressive performance during the ‘War of the Polish Succession’, Leopold Clement's younger brother, Francis Stephen, was awarded Maria's hand in marriage.
Charles VI died on October 20, 1740. Maria Theresa, as his eldest surviving child, inherited his throne upon his death.
Because of her father's poor choices, Maria began her reign unable to pay her army and her government deeply in debt. Just months after her coronation, Maria had to fend off an invasion by King Frederick II of Prussia of the Duchy of Silesia. Initially, Maria's forces were badly routed but by early 1741 they had successfully repelled the Prussian invasion.
In 1741, Maria used a legal technicality to make her husband Francis Stephen co-ruler of Austria and Bohemia so that he could later be eligible for the title of Holy Roman Emperor. Because she was female, Maria Theresa could never officially hold the title of Holy Roman Emperor.
Charles Albert of Bavaria successfully invaded and conquered several portions of Maria's empire. On January 24, 1742, Charles Albert was elected as the Holy Roman Emperor, denying Maria's husband a chance at the title.
By 1743, Maria's forces had made significant advances in regaining her lost territory. On May 12, Maria was crowned Queen of Bohemia, just a year after losing the territory to Charles Albert of Bavaria.
Charles Albert continued to wage war against Maria but his resistance came to an end when he died in early 1745. A few months later, Maria's husband Francis Stephen was elected Holy Roman Emperor.
In 1756, Frederick II of Prussia invaded Saxony, which began the Seven Years' War. Austria aligned itself with France and Russia against an alliance of Prussia, Portugal and Great Britain.
After several long years of fighting, the war ended with a net loss for France. Maria, however, found that her empire was in the same position at the end of the war as at the beginning.
In 1765, Maria's husband Francis died on the same weekend that their son Leopold was celebrating his marriage. Maria's son Joseph immediately became the Holy Roman Emperor but would rule as her co-regent until her death.
In 1775, Maria implemented mandatory elementary education throughout her empire. She based the educational system on the one created by her arch rival, Frederick II of Prussia.
In 1780, Maria fell ill and a week later, on November 28, she was pronounced dead by her personal physician.
Major Works
Maria Theresa was the Holy Roman Empress and Queen Consort of Germany from September 13, 1745 to August 18, 1765. She was known for reforming the economy and educational system of her empire.
Personal Life & Legacy
After the untimely demise of Leopold Clement, Maria Theresa exchanged the nuptial vows with Leopold’s younger brother, Francis Stephen. On February 12, 1736, the two married in an elaborate royal ceremony.
Maria Theresa gave birth to 16 children. However, only 13 of her children survived infancy. As a member of the House of Habsburg, Maria Theresa's relatives are found in nearly every European royal court.
Trivia
This empress was born just an hour after her older brother Archduke Leopold died. Had he lived, Leopold would've inherited the crown.
Following family tradition, all of Maria's daughters were given the name 'Maria'. In 1770, Maria married her youngest daughter, Maria Antonia, to Louis, the future king of France. Changing her name to Marie Antoinette, the young queen would serve a memorable role in the French Revolution.
Maria Theresa biography timelines
- // 13th May 1717Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was born on May 13, 1717. Maria was the oldest surviving child of the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles VI, and Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel.
- // 1736In 1736, after an impressive performance during the ‘War of the Polish Succession’, Leopold Clement's younger brother, Francis Stephen, was awarded Maria's hand in marriage.
- // 12th Feb 1736After the untimely demise of Leopold Clement, Maria Theresa exchanged the nuptial vows with Leopold’s younger brother, Francis Stephen. On February 12, 1736, the two married in an elaborate royal ceremony.
- // 20th Oct 1740Charles VI died on October 20, 1740. Maria Theresa, as his eldest surviving child, inherited his throne upon his death.
- // 1741Because of her father's poor choices, Maria began her reign unable to pay her army and her government deeply in debt. Just months after her coronation, Maria had to fend off an invasion by King Frederick II of Prussia of the Duchy of Silesia. Initially, Maria's forces were badly routed but by early 1741 they had successfully repelled the Prussian invasion.
- // 1741In 1741, Maria used a legal technicality to make her husband Francis Stephen co-ruler of Austria and Bohemia so that he could later be eligible for the title of Holy Roman Emperor. Because she was female, Maria Theresa could never officially hold the title of Holy Roman Emperor.
- // 24th Jan 1742Charles Albert of Bavaria successfully invaded and conquered several portions of Maria's empire. On January 24, 1742, Charles Albert was elected as the Holy Roman Emperor, denying Maria's husband a chance at the title.
- // 12th May 1743By 1743, Maria's forces had made significant advances in regaining her lost territory. On May 12, Maria was crowned Queen of Bohemia, just a year after losing the territory to Charles Albert of Bavaria.
- // 1745Charles Albert continued to wage war against Maria but his resistance came to an end when he died in early 1745. A few months later, Maria's husband Francis Stephen was elected Holy Roman Emperor.
- // 13th Sep 1745 To 18th Aug 1765Maria Theresa was the Holy Roman Empress and Queen Consort of Germany from September 13, 1745 to August 18, 1765. She was known for reforming the economy and educational system of her empire.
- // 1756In 1756, Frederick II of Prussia invaded Saxony, which began the Seven Years' War. Austria aligned itself with France and Russia against an alliance of Prussia, Portugal and Great Britain.
- // 1765In 1765, Maria's husband Francis died on the same weekend that their son Leopold was celebrating his marriage. Maria's son Joseph immediately became the Holy Roman Emperor but would rule as her co-regent until her death.
- // 1770Following family tradition, all of Maria's daughters were given the name 'Maria'. In 1770, Maria married her youngest daughter, Maria Antonia, to Louis, the future king of France. Changing her name to Marie Antoinette, the young queen would serve a memorable role in the French Revolution.
- // 1775In 1775, Maria implemented mandatory elementary education throughout her empire. She based the educational system on the one created by her arch rival, Frederick II of Prussia.
- // 28th Nov 1780In 1780, Maria fell ill and a week later, on November 28, she was pronounced dead by her personal physician.
// Famous Empresses & Queens
Jetsun Pema
Jetsun Pema is the Queen consort of Bhutan. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her life.
Princess Alice of Battenberg
Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark, also known as Princess Victoria Alice Elizabeth Julia Marie of Battenberg, was the mother of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and mother-in-law of Queen Elizabeth II. This biography profiles her childhood, famil
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette was the Queen of France and Navarre from 1774 to 1792. who played a major role in provoking the French Revolution. This biography of Marie Antoinette provides detailed information about her childhood and life
Nefertiti
Neferneferuaten Nefertiti was an Egyptian queen and chief consort of Akhenaten, an Egyptian Pharaoh. This biography profiles her childhood, family, life as queen, accomplishments, death, and other facts.
Empress Dowager Cixi
Empress Dowager Cixi was a Chinese empress dowager and regent of the Qing Dynasty. This biography profiles her childhood, rise to power, rule, administration and other interesting facts.
Boudica
Boudica was a queen of the Celtic Icenic tribe, who led an uprising against Roman invaders. Check out this biography to know about her childhood, family, achievements, etc.
Maria Theresa's FAQ
What is Maria Theresa birthday?
Maria Theresa was born at 1717-05-13
When was Maria Theresa died?
Maria Theresa was died at 1780-11-29
Where was Maria Theresa died?
Maria Theresa was died in Vienna
Which age was Maria Theresa died?
Maria Theresa was died at age 63
Where is Maria Theresa's birth place?
Maria Theresa was born in Hofburg Palace
What is Maria Theresa nationalities?
Maria Theresa's nationalities is Austrian
Who is Maria Theresa spouses?
Maria Theresa's spouses is Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Who is Maria Theresa siblings?
Maria Theresa's siblings is Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria, Archduke Leopold, Maria Amalia
Who is Maria Theresa childrens?
Maria Theresa's childrens is Marie Antoinette
Which company or organization was founded by Maria Theresa?
Maria Theresa was the founder/co-founder of Theresianum, Wiener Börse, Semmelweis University, Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb
What is Maria Theresa's religion?
Maria Theresa's religion is Catholicism, Christianity
Who is Maria Theresa's father?
Maria Theresa's father is Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Who is Maria Theresa's mother?
Maria Theresa's mother is Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
What is Maria Theresa's sun sign?
Maria Theresa is Taurus
How famous is Maria Theresa?
Maria Theresa is famouse as Queen regnant