Royalty · Politics · 1717–1780
Born: 13 May 1717 · Died: 29 November 1780 · Age at death: 63
Maria Theresa of Austria died aged 63. She was born on 13 May 1717 and died on 29 November 1780.
Habsburg ruler for 40 years, the only woman to reign over the Habsburg lands, and mother of 16 children including Marie Antoinette
Did you know?She had sixteen children, including Marie Antoinette, and introduced mandatory primary education throughout her empire.
Maria Theresa was the only woman to rule the Habsburg lands in her own right. She inherited them at 23 in 1740. Prussia promptly seized Silesia, starting a war. She fought back and kept the rest of her lands. She then reformed the army, taxes and government. She introduced compulsory primary schooling. She had 16 children, including Marie Antoinette and two emperors. Her husband became Holy Roman Emperor. She ruled for 40 years.
Maria Theresa (Maria Theresia Walburga Amalia Christina; 13 May 1717 – 29 November 1780) was the ruler of the Habsburg monarchy from 1740 until her death in 1780, and the only woman to hold the position in her own right.
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Profile
Austrian ruler, 1717–1780
Maria Theresa was born in Vienna on 13 May 1717.
She inherited the Habsburg lands in 1740.
She introduced compulsory schooling in 1774.
She died in Vienna on 29 November 1780, aged 63.
Career highlights
Did you know?Marie Antoinette was the 15th of her 16 children.
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