Maria Theresa Ascends Habsburg Throne

Date: October 20, 1740 • Location: Rome, Italy

Under the terms of the Pragmatic Sanction, Maria Theresa (pictured) ascended the Habsburg throne.

The Pragmatic Sanction of 1713 was an edict issued by Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI, on 19 April 1713 to ensure that the Habsburg monarchy, which included the Archduchy of Austria, the Kingdom of Hungary, the Kingdom of Croatia, the Kingdom of Bohemia, the Duchy of Milan, the Kingdom of Naples, the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Austrian Netherlands, could be inherited by a daughter undivided.