When was maria theresa born
- •
Timid, patient, naive, sweet-natured and very pious, she kept her distance from the social whirlwind of the Court and had trouble learning French. She surrounded herself with Spanish ladies-in-waiting, but the death of her aunt and godmother Anne of Austria, in 1666, deprived her of a precious ally. A great admirer of her husband, she was hurt by his serial infidelity.
Maria Theresa of Austria placed great importance on her duties as a mother, collaborating with Bossuet to oversee the Dauphin’s education, as can be seen from their correspondence: “Do not accept anything, Dear Sir, in the behaviour of my son, which might offend the sanctity of the religion to which he belongs, or the majesty of the throne for which he is destined.”
Although Louis XIV appointed her as regent in 1672, during the Franco-Dutch War, she showed no natural inclination to pursue political ambitions. She accompanied the King on all of his official visits. In 1667 she travelled to the Spanish Netherlands, then in the grip of the War of Devolution, waged largely to defend her claim on the Spanish throne. Bu
- •
Maria Theresa
21.3.3: Empress Maria-Theresa
Maria Theresa introduced reforms that improved her empire’s economy, military, education, public health, and administration but left the feudal social order intact.
Learning Objective
Analyze Empress Maria-Theresa’s reforms and policies
Key Points
- 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, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands, and Parma. By marriage, she was Duchess of Lorraine, Grand Duchess of Tuscany, and Holy Roman Empress.
- Maria Theresa was a devout Roman Catholic and believed that religious unity was necessary for a peaceful public life. Consequently, she explicitly rejected the idea of religious tolerance.
- Maria Theresa implemented significant reforms to strengthen Austria’s military, financial, and bureaucratic efficiency. However, she did not manage to change her lands’ deeply feudal social order based on privileged l
- •
Maria Theresa
Habsburg ruler from 1740 to 1780
For other uses, see Maria Theresa (disambiguation).
Maria Theresa Portrait by Martin van Meytens, 1759
Tenure 13 September 1745 – 18 August 1765 2nd reign 12 May 1743 – 29 November 1780 Coronation 12 May 1743 Predecessor Charles Albert Successor Joseph II 1st reign 20 October 1740 – 19 December 1741 Predecessor Charles II Successor Charles Albert Reign 20 October 1740 – 29 November 1780 Coronation 25 June 1741 Predecessor Charles III Successor Joseph II Co-rulers Tenure 12 July 1737 – 18 August 1765 Tenure 12 February 1736 – 9 July 1737 Born (1717-05-13)13 May 1717
Vienna, Archduchy of Austria, Holy Roman EmpireDied 29 November 1780(1780-11-29) (aged 63)
Vienna, Archduchy of Austria, Holy Roman EmpireBurial Imperial Crypt
Spouse Issue
more...Maria Theresia Walburga Amalia Christina House Habsburg Father Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor Mother Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel Religion Catholic Chur Copyright ©soybeck.pages.dev 2025