Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 9.djvu/716

Rh virtue of which the possession., of the Hapsburgi were to remain undivided and, in default (d a male lieir, fall to his eldest daughter. He was constantly negotiating with foreign powers to secure their lecognition of this Pragmatic Sanction. Maria Theresa was endowed with brilliant gifts, with beauty, amiability and intelligence, and was universally admired as a girl. On 14 February, 1736, she married Duke Francis Stephen of Lorraine, who by the Peace ot Vienna, in 1738, received Tuscany instead of Lorraine. Charles VI died unexpectedly on 20 October, 1740, at the age of 56, and Maria Theresa came into possession of the territories of Austria without having any political training. Her husband was an amiable man, but of mediocre mental endowments and consequently of little assistance to her. Charles, moreover, left the internal affairs of his monarchy, particularly the finances and the anny, in a lamentalDle condition. His family resided the future with miagivine and perplexity. Maria Theresa waa the first to recover her self-poasession and to appreciate the problems before her. On the very day oflier father's death, she received the homage o( Privy Councillors and nobility as Queen of Hungary, Queen of Bohemia, and Archduchess of Austria, and at her first cabinet meeting expressed her determination to uphold to the full every right she had inherited. AH admired her firmness, dignity and strength of spirit. Certainly they were few who believed she would succeed.

At Vienna men were familiarizing themselves with the idea "of becoming Bavarian". The Elector Charles Albert of Bavaria, who had never recognized the Pragmatic Sanction, laid claim to Austria as the descendant of a daughter of Emperor Ferdinand I (1556-1564), and referred to a testament of 1547, in which mention was made however not of the failure of "male" but of "legitimate" issue. He secured the support of France, which induced Spain and Saxony also to lay elaima to the succession. A greater peril appeared in a quarter where it was least expected; King Frederick II of Prussia laid claim to Silesia. He promised to lielp Maria Theresa, provided she ceded to hira liagerndorf, Brieg, Wohlau and Liogniti, to which he pretended to have hereditary claims. Otherwise he would ally himself with France, Bavaria and Saxony and make war on her. He wanted, like a good merchant, to take advantage of the opportunity, and proposed a deal by which Maria Theresa and himself could settle the account between them. For in case of her acceptance of his proposal, Maria Theresa would have been spared the war arising out of the Austrian succession. Maria Theresa was, however, as convinced of her rights as she v&e determined to enforce them by action. That Prus.iia had a right to expect concessions from Austria, since, in 1686, indemnilication had been promised her for the Duchies of Silesia, Maria Theresa did not take into account, The kinK hastily invaded Silesia and dispatched a disagreeable, conceited courtier as his representative. Thus the first Silesiim war came about (1740-1742). Frederick II gained a great victory at Mollwilz (10 'April, 1741). On 4 June he allied himself with France wnich now gave its support to the Elector of Bavaria, who a.jpired to the imperial dignity and won most of the electors to his side, Maria Theresa vainly strove to secure the crown for her spouse Franca Stephen. In her hereditary lands she found her principal support against the threats of her foes. The energetic bearing of the princess roused general enthusiasm. When in Prcssburg she appealed to the chivalry of the Hungarians, the nobles cried out that they were ready to give their blood and life for their queen (September, 1741). However, as the Bavarians, French and Saxons were advancing against her, she was compelled to arrange a truce with Prussia in order to avoid danger from that side.

Charles Albert of Bavaria with the French hod oc

cupied Passau on 31 July and Lini on 15 September, and had been acknowledged by the Upper Austrian Diet. On 26 November he surprised Prague with Saxon assistance, and had himself crownad King of Bohemia on 7 December. On 24 January, 1742 he was abo elected Roman emperor as Charles VlL His success however was short-lived. The queen's forces had already made an entry into his own country. Still, what was most needful was to rid herself of her mast dangerous antagonist. Frederick II had broken the truce, had entered Moravia "to pluck the Moravian hens", and won a victory at Chotusitz (17 May, 1742). Maria Theresa concluded the peace of Breslau (OJune, 1742) and ceded to him Silesia except Teschen, Troppau and Jftgcmciorf. She now turned against the Bavarians and the French. Bohemia was retaken and

Maria Theresa crowned queen {May, 174.'t). Her ally, King George II of England, inarched forward with the "pragmatic army" and defeated the French at Dettingen (27 June, 1743). The emperor became a fugitive in Frankfort. His rival's advantageous position inspired Frederick II with the fear that he might again lose his recent conquests in Silesia. He therefore again allied himself with France and the emperor and broke the peace by invading Bohemia. But as the French failed to send the promised army and Charles VII died on 20 January, 1745, the King of Prussia was compelled to rely upon his own forces and to retreat to Siiesui, The Bavarians made peace with Austria and in Dresden (May, 1745) Bavana, Saxony and Austria agreed to reduce Prussia to its former condition as the Electorate of Brandenburg. The Prussian victories at Hohenfriedberg, Soor-Trautenau and Kesselsdorf (June, September and December, 1745) overthrew the allies, and the second Silesian war had thus to be settled by the Peace of Dresden, where Prussia was coofirmed in its po39es.iion of Silesia. Meanwhile Maria Theresa's husband, Francis Stephen, was chosen emperor on 4 October, 1745. Prussia acknowledged him. He took the name of Frnncll I (1745-1765), Thus tha high-spirited woman had obtained what it was possible for her to obtain; the imperial dignity remained ia her family, and the pragmatic sanction was practically