4.+Maria's+Power

=Maria's Power=

Sources of her power
Charles VI paved the way for her accession with the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713.The Pragmatic Sanction of 1713 was an edict issued by Charles VI to ensure that the Austrian throne and Habsburg lands could be inherited by a daughter, Maria Theresa. Maria Theresa, being a woman, could not succeed to the imperial throne of the Holy Roman Empire, but she succeeded to the royal thrones of Croatia, Dalmatia and Bohemia. She eventually became Holy Roman Empress, when she married Francis I, her father's succesor.

**Areas of Support and Defiance **

 * Time Period ||||||||  Areas of Support  ||||||||  Areas of Defiance  ||
 * 1740-1748 ||||  Great Britain  ||||  Holy Roman Empire  ||  Prussia  ||  Bayern  ||  France  ||  Spain  ||
 * 1756-1763 ||  France  ||  Sweden  ||  Russia  ||  Saxony  ||  Prussia  ||  Great Britain  ||  Portugal  ||  Hanover  ||
 * 1788-1789 ||||||||  None  ||||  Prussia  ||||  Saxony  ||

Use and abuse of Power
Maria used her power in many good ways. At least good for Austria.

She was beyond doubt the greatest of the Habsburgs, the foundress of the Austrian monarchy, which with a skillful hand she built up out of loose parts into a well riveted whole, while in all essential respects she left the administration radically improved. She was intelligent affable, cheerful, pleasant, fond of music, and at the same time thoroughly moral and deeply religious. Even the Prussian Frederick the Great recognized her merits when he said:”She was done honor to the throne and to her sex; I have warred with her but never been her enemy.”

She also abused her power in some ways. Such as giving her husband and son limited power.

Effect to common people
Maria's use of power improved the standards of living， relaxed ethnic feuds. She also gave the people in Austria peace and steady. Her reform improved the economy, which in some ways made people more rich. Mainly, her effect to common people are good, and is positive.

A part of her letter can show how her power was:  > //'... To facilitate everything that may be necessary in the advance of my army into the neutral Imperial territories, I have, among other provisions made to avoid all complaints, also approved the appointment of a special Minister for the generals commanding the said army, who will deal with all matters arising with all the Most Worshipful Estates whose territories are to be entered. > As I have now chosen my Honourable Minister at various Courts of the Empire and my Trusty and Well-Beloved Frantz Christoph von Demerath for this purpose, particularly because of his skilfulness, discretion and faithful services, I herewith wish not only to remind Your Highness, as is done by these presents, but also on this occasion to request Your Highness to hear my said Minister graciously in all matters which he will have to bring forward on My behalf and to accord him full belief as if he were Myself. I shall not fail to return that kindness gratefully as frequently as I have the opportunity to do so, as I also remain Your Friend and Cousin. Done at Vienna the 23rd of March 1744. ...'//