Maria Theresa

Maria Theresa (1717–1780) was Archduchess of Austria, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, and ruler of the Habsburg Monarchy from 1740 until her death. Her accession triggered the War of the Austrian Succession, after which she consolidated her authority and pursued wide-ranging administrative, fiscal, and military reforms. In 1745 her husband, Francis I, became Holy Roman Emperor; she was Holy Roman Empress as empress consort, while remaining the dominant political figure in her realms. A prolific correspondent, she left extensive letters, decrees, and state papers that are frequently quoted for their political insight and forceful voice.