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Maria Theresa started her 40-year reign when her father, Emperor [[Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles VI]], died on 20 October 1740. Charles VI paved the way for her accession with the [[Pragmatic Sanction of 1713]] and spent his entire reign securing it. He neglected the advice of [[Prince Eugene of Savoy]], who believed that a strong military and a rich treasury were more important than mere signatures. Eventually, Charles VI left behind a weakened and impoverished state, particularly due to the [[War of the Polish Succession]] and the [[Russo-Turkish War (1735–1739)]]. Moreover, upon his death, [[Electorate of Saxony|Saxony]], [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]], [[Electorate of Bavaria|Bavaria]], and [[Kingdom of France|France]] all repudiated the sanction they had recognised during his lifetime. [[Frederick II of Prussia]] (who became Maria Theresa's greatest rival for most of her reign) promptly invaded and took the affluent Habsburg province of [[Silesia]] in the eight-year conflict known as the [[War of the Austrian Succession]]. In defiance of the grave situation, she managed to secure the vital support of the Hungarians for the war effort. During the course of the war, Maria Theresa successfully defended her rule over most of the Habsburg monarchy, apart from the loss of Silesia and a few minor territories in Italy. Maria Theresa later unsuccessfully tried to recover Silesia during the [[Seven Years' War]].
Although she was expected to cede power to her husband, Emperor [[Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor|Francis I]], and her eldest son, Emperor [[Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor|Joseph II]], who were officially her co-rulers in Austria and Bohemia, Maria Theresa ruled as an [[Autocracy|autocratic]] sovereign with the counsel of her advisers. She promulgated institutional, financial, medical and educational reforms, with the assistance of [[Wenzel Anton, Prince of Kaunitz-Rietberg|Wenzel Anton of Kaunitz-Rietberg]], [[Friedrich Wilhelm von Haugwitz]], and [[Gerard van Swieten]]. She also promoted commerce and the development of agriculture, and reorganised Austria's ramshackle military, all of which strengthened Austria's international standing. She despised [[History of the Jews in Austria|Jews]] and [[Religion in Austria#Protestantism|Protestants]], and on certain occasions she ordered their expulsion to remote parts of the realm. She also advocated for the [[Catholic Church|state church]].
== Birth and early life ==
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