The Riddell Collection of Wax Seals:
Seal Life Stories: the remarkable careers of 23 individuals from the Riddell Collection of Wax Seals
18: empress maria theresa of germany (1717 – 1780)
Empress Maria Theresa by Andreas Møller
Maria Theresa was born in Vienna to Emperor Charles VI, and Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, the first of three daughters. At the age of 23 she became Archduchess of Austria, ruling Austria ,Hungary and Bohemia alongside her husband, Francis I. She was the only female sovereign of the House of Habsburg during the time immediately preceding the Enlightenment when European rulers were increasingly valuing rationalism and supporting human rights.
Immediately after her accession the country was plunged into the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War, leaving Austria impoverished.
Maria introduced military and educational reforms, and made many civic improvements in Vienna. Religiously and morally intolerant to the extent of expelling 20,000 Jews from the empire, she also introduced a Chastity Court, whose punishments included the death sentence.
A long and happy marriage resulted in the birth of 16 children, the eldest of which, Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor, succeeded to the throne.