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Conditions and Terms of Use Copyright © Heritage History 2010 Some rights reserved This text was produced and distributed by Heritage History, an organization dedicated to the preservation of classical juvenile history books, and to the promotion of the works of traditional history authors. The books which Heritage History republishes are in the public domain and are no longer protected by the original copyright. They may therefore be reproduced within the United States without paying a royalty to the author. The text and pictures used to produce this version of the work, however, are the property of Heritage History and are subject to certain restrictions. These restrictions are imposed for the purpose of protecting the integrity of the work, for preventing plagiarism, and for helping to assure that compromised versions of the work are not widely disseminated. In order to preserve information regarding the origin of this text, a copyright by the author, and a Heritage History distribution date are included at the foot of every page of text. We require all electronic and printed versions of this text include these markings and that users adhere to the following restrictions. 1. You may reproduce this text for personal or educational purposes as long as the copyright and Heritage History version are included. 2. You may not alter this text or try to pass off all or any part of it as your own work. 3. You may not distribute copies of this text for commercial purposes. 4. This text is intended to be a faithful and complete copy of the original document. However, typos, omissions, and other errors may have occurred during preparation, and Heritage History does not guarantee a perfectly reliable reproduction. PORTRAIT OF MARIA THERESA. Permission to use Heritage History documents or images for commercial purposes, or more information about our collection of traditional history resources can be obtained by contacting us at [email protected] Original Copyright 1905 by George P. Upton. 2 Distributed by Heritage History 2011 her old inheritance, though she lost Silesia; but Frederick was more than willing to make peace, for all Germany had been a terrible sufferer by the war and Prussia was in dire straits. RANSLATOR S REFACE T ' P The story of the life of the great queen is briefly told in these pages. It is the story of the life of a proud, ambitious Among the famous queens of the world—Catharine II queen; a wise, judicious ruler, who had the best interests of her of Russia, Elizabeth, Anne Boleyn, and Victoria of England, subjects at heart, and for whom they were always ready to die; Mary Queen of Scots, Isabella of Spain, Louise of Prussia, a woman of spotless personal character and true to all her Marie Antoinette, Marie and Catharine di Medici of France, domestic duties at a time when immorality and corruption and others, Maria Theresa of Austria holds a conspicuous were rife in high places. The story covers some of the same place. In statesmanship and patriotism she ranks with episodes of history which occur in the narrative of Frederick, Elizabeth and Catharine. As Catharine greatly improved the in this series, but is none the less interesting, as the reader will administration of her Empire, introduced new laws and find both sides presented. extended its frontiers, and as Elizabeth's reign was characterized by great commercial enterprises and G. P. U. extraordinary intellectual activity, so the reign of Maria CHICAGO, 1905. Theresa, though she was engaged for years in two great wars,—that of the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War with Frederick for the recovery of Silesia, which he had taken from her,—proved to be of the highest benefit to Austria in the strengthening of law and the introduction of needed reforms and wise measures for the welfare of the Empire. For years she was engaged in war for the preservation of Silesia with the most potent sovereign in Europe— Frederick the Great. Doubtless he had some antique claim upon Silesia, but when Maria Theresa succeeded to the throne under the terms of the Pragmatic Sanction, all the European powers, Prussia among them, whose rights might be affected, renounced their claims. She relied upon their good faith, but on the slightest of pretexts Frederick broke it and determined to rob her of Silesia, even at the cost of plunging all Europe into a long and devastating war. He set aside a new treaty to enforce an old claim. He plainly condemned himself by his own words in his Memoirs: "Ambition, interest, the desire of making people talk about me carried the day and I decided for war." When peace was finally made, Maria Theresa retained Original Copyright 1905 by George P. Upton. 3 Distributed by Heritage History 2011 TIMELINE The following is a chronological statement of the more important events in the reign of Maria Theresa: TABLE OF CONTENTS 1717 Birth of Maria Theresa. 1731 Acceptance of the Pragmatic Sanction. 1733 War with France on behalf of King of Poland. 1736 Marriage of Maria Theresa to Francis of Lorraine. THE YOUNG QUEEN ................................................... 5 1739 Peace with Turkey. CAMPAIGNS AGAINST PRUSSIA AND FRANCE .......... 11 1740 Death of Emperor Charles VI. 1740 Succession of Maria Theresa. THE SECOND SILESIAN WAR ................................... 18 1745 Francis I elected Emperor. PLOTS AND COUNTERPLOTS..................................... 23 1741-45 War of the Austrian Succession. BATTLES OF THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR ..................... 27 1745 Peace concluded at Dresden. 1745-48 War with France. CLOSE OF THE LONG STRUGGLE .............................. 33 1748 Peace concluded at Aix-la-Chapelle. THE LAST DAYS OF MARIA THERESA ...................... 38 1757-63 Seven Years' War. 1763 Peace concluded at Hubertsburg. 1765 Death of Emperor Francis I. 1765 Succession of Joseph II. 1772 Partition of Poland. 1778-79 War of the Bavarian Succession concluded. 1780 Death of Maria Theresa. Original Copyright 1905 by George P. Upton. 4 Distributed by Heritage History 2011 presence of all the highest dignitaries of the Empire, and the baptism of the heiress to the throne took place on the evening CHAPTER I of the day of her birth with great pomp and splendor. After the loss of their first-born, the imperial couple were overjoyed at the advent of this child, and, amid all the cares and THE YOUNG QUEEN responsibilities forced upon him by his numerous wars, the devoted father never lost sight of his fixed purpose or relaxed It would almost seem that the Emperor Charles VI, the his efforts to obtain universal recognition of his law of father of Maria Theresa, had a presentiment of what was to succession among the European powers, as well as the various come, when, directly after his marriage, he obtained from the states of his own empire. He felt the importance of securing various states united under his dominion an order of his beloved daughter's undisputed title to the throne, while the succession called The Pragmatic Sanction, which decreed that Empress' motherly heart rejoiced at each hardly won in case his house should become extinct in the male line, acknowledgment of the rights of her child, who already succession to the throne should pass to his female descendants. showed signs of such splendid promise. To make this law binding and legal was such an important But it was not alone in such well-grounded and well- matter to him that it may be said to have been the chief aim of directed efforts that the parents' care showed itself: no pains his life. were spared to develop to the, fullest extent Maria Theresa's In the year 1716, to the great joy of the Emperor, a son abundant mental gifts and talents, so as to fit her for her future was born to him. Vienna and the whole country shared in the position as ruler of an empire; nor did the noble mother fail to rejoicings of the royal parents; but unfortunately their sow the seed and nourish the growth in her daughter's tender happiness was of short duration, for, before the Autumn of that nature of those womanly virtues which were to bear such rich year had strewn the earth with withered leaves, the heir to the harvest. throne had drooped and died. The Emperor's grief was intense, With loving eyes the wise and careful Empress and was made harder to bear by reason of the many other cares watched over the early training of the Princess' mind,—a mind and troubles which beset him on all sides at that time. which warranted the brightest hopes of all those to whose The second child was a daughter, Maria Theresa, who hands her education was intrusted. As may be readily was born May 13, 1717, and upon whose head, according to understood, these instructors were selected from among the the right of primogeniture established, by the Pragmatic most distinguished ladies of the Court; the Countesses von Sanction, the crowns of the united Austrian states were one Thurn and Valsassina, von Stubenberg and von Fuchs. They day to rest. Who could have imagined that this child, while worked in perfect accord with the august mother upon whose inheriting all the beauty of her mother, would be endowed at breast God had placed the precious jewel, and to whose care the same time with a masculinity of intellect, together with a He had intrusted the treasure. Later, as it became necessary for strength and wisdom, a firmness yet kindliness of disposition, her to occupy herself with more serious and important which but few men have manifested? subjects, learned and capable men were assigned the task of guiding the clear and active mind of the Princess through the St.

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