Empress Maria Theresa Monument, Vienna, Austria Editorial Image

Pictured is the monumental Empress Maria Theresa Monument, Vienna, Austria. It is ocated on the plaza named after her, Maria-Theresien-Platz, between the two Court Museums. One of Vienna’s landmarks, it glorifies Maria Theresa, who sits enthroned, high and mighty above her advisors and generals. The monument depicts Maria Theresa in her best-known aspects, as a mother figure and as an enlightened yet absolutist reformer. Gathered around her as ‘pillars of the throne’ are her chosen political supporters and other contemporary figures. Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina 1717 – 1780 was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma. By marriage, she was Duchess of Lorraine, Grand Duchess of Tuscany and Holy Roman Empress.