Maria Theresa (1717-1780), archduchess of Austria (1740-1780), Queen of Hungary
Daughter of Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor. Despite her fathers efforts to secure her claim to Austria, her accession triggered the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748), in which she lost Silesia to Frederick II of Prussia, but retained Austria against the threat of Charles of Bavaria, Holy Roman Emperor from 1742 until his death in 1745. She married Francis, duke of Lorraine, her cousin, in 1736, who succeeded Charles of Bavaria as Emperor Francis I., although he was always overshadowed by his wife. The loss of Silesia was one of the factors that led to the Seven Years War (1754-1763), when Maria Theresa was allied with Russia and France against Prussia and Britain, at the end of which Frederick of Prussia retained Silesia, and had gained increased power in Germany. Her son became the Emperor Joseph II in 1765, and succeeded her in Austria after her death.
How to cite this article: Rickard, J. (24 October 2000), Maria Theresa, archduchess of Austria, http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/people_mariatheresa..html