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Maria Theresa (1717–1780) was crowned Archduchess of
Austria, Queen of Hungary, and Queen of Bohemia (the present-day
Czech Republic) in 1740. She was the wife of Franz Stephan
(1708–1765), Duke of Lothringia, who from 1745 to 1765
ruled the Holy Roman Empire as Franz I. After her husband’s
death, she became the de facto ruler of the empire, although
she was never officially crowned empress. Her accession triggered
the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–48) with neighboring
Prussia.
She was an extraordinarily forceful ruler, deeply religious
and an advocate for and executor of many significant reforms.
Her reign also witnessed a period of literary and musical activity.
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