Maria-theresianische Epoche#

Maria Theresia, Age of: The rule of Maria Theresia was characterized by the emergence of the Enlightenment, which superseded Baroque conceptions of state and society. The first years of her reign were marked by a number of failures in the field of foreign policy, e.g. major defeats in two wars against Prussia (1740-1742 and 1743-1745) which led to the loss of Silesia, as well as to the loss of smaller territories during the Austrian Succession, War of (1741-1748). The poor state of the Austrian army and the amount of money she had to spend on national defence made Maria Theresia introduce a number of reforms in 1749 which had long lasting effects on the Habsburg empire. These reforms included the founding of a state chancellery, a state council (consisting of Maria Theresia´s closest advisers) and the "directorium in publicis et cameralibus" charged with the management of internal affairs, excluding justice and defence matters (again subdivided into the Austro-Bohemian court chancellery (Boehmische Hofkanzlei) and court chamber later on), a tighter administration, the introduction of district commissions, the drawing up of a general land register, the conclusion of long-term agreements with the Estates, a reinforcement of the army and the foundation of a military academy (at the town of Wiener Neustadt). The new state chancellor W. A. Kaunitz, who was in charge of Austrian foreign policy from 1753, brought about an alliance with France ("reversal of alliances") which could not, however, prevent the defeat of the Habsburgs in the ensuing Seven Years´ War (1756-1763). Equalling Austria in strength, Prussia became Maria Theresia´s most determined foe within the Holy Roman Empire and thus decisively influenced her foreign policy. In 1765 the empress´s eldest child, Joseph II, became co-ruler in the Habsburg dominions. At that time the main purpose of the two rulers was to gain new territories in order to make up for the loss of Silesia. Consequently Galicia, the Bukovina (reward for mediation in a Russo-Turkish conflict) and the Innviertel (one of Upper Austria´s four main regions) were added to the Habsburg possessions.

The implementation of major internal reforms led to continuous tension between the empress and her son. Nevertheless, Maria Theresia abolished the trade barriers which had existed between the Habsburg dominions in order to enforce a common economic policy. She furthermore strove to ease the life of her peasants by limiting forced labour and promoting the introduction of new agricultural techniques. She founded a school type, the Volksschule (approx. = primary school) in 1774, which is symptomatic of her efforts to improve educational standards. Interventions in the internal management of religious orders, the abolition of the Jesuits in 1773, as well as the limitation of religious feast days resulted in the increasing subordination of the church to the authority of the state, a development which was particularly favourable to the rulers. The new philosophy of the Enlightenment made itself felt in the abolition of torture and the use of milder forms of punishments. During Maria Theresia´s reign, the organization of the army and the status of its soldiers were improved, the administrative system was reorganized (e.g. cadastral districts were created, a register of houses was drawn up, a state-wide system of conscription was introduced and the grounds for exemption from military service were defined).

Although Maria Theresia had always respected the status of Hungary as different from that of the Habsburg dominions and had thus avoided the implementation of major reforms there, all parts of the monarchy experienced the introduction of changes during her forty years´ reign

All the developments mentioned above were made possible by a number of remarkable men of intellect the empress managed to draw into her council, e.g. W. A. Kaunitz her foreign policy adviser, F. W. Haugwitz her adviser in matters of internal policy, L. J. Daun, E. G. Laudon and Count F. M. Lacy, her military commanders and advisers in the field of national defence and J. I. Felbiger her adviser in matters of education. However, Maria Theresia also relied on an increasingly efficient staff of civil servants who swiftly carried out her wishes, as well as the state council´s decisions.

Literature#