His Maria Theresa

para 1 intro

primary sources are important bc they show us what was really happening / this essay will include study of sources from articles to ebooks / they involve themes such as art, expectations, and aspects of life in maria theresa’s life

para 2 scholars

michael yonan offers a comprehensive exploration of the role of art and cultural policies in the Habsburg Empire during the reign of Empress Maria Theresa / william j mcgill explores gender boundaries, religious obligations, nobility and state power and more with her rule / benedek m varga depict Maria Theresia as a ruler navigating and challenging gendered expectations, actively participating in rituals to assert her legitimacy, and making strategic decisions that reflected her political priorities

para 3 background

dad HRE charles vi issued prgmatic sanction 1713 made her his heir / death crowned monarch of bohemia and hungary challenged during war of Austrian succession / austrian habsburgs allied w french and russia in 7yr war so treaty of hubertusberg = she resigned / made son HRE joseph II

para 4 background

1743 starts schonbrunn impressive building project / 1749 admin reforms modelled on french and prussian mercantilist ex first austrian statistic / known for constitutio criminalis theresiana criminal code wanted to create standard legal frame / 1774 edict on kids required education

para 5 primary

description of empress maria theresa letter / gives insight to character and court life / passage suggest she was powerful and value human connect / she also valued educated “asked me how it happened that became so learned a woman” / provides intimate insight to her character

para 6 primary

advice to once and future queen a letter to daughter marie / its advice on how to conduct oneself as foreigner in french court / shows she cares about her daughter / women should be submissive / provides diplomatic strategies / “you must either silence the persons or escape it by withdrawing from them”

para 7 primary

prussian ambassador franz stephens comments tells about her husband / tells us he had limited political role / said that he had affairs and baserdd kids / shows what she was dealing with personally