Femininity and Feminism: Maria Theresa as Landesmutter

This chapter examines Maria Theresa through the lens of femininity and feminism, contrasting traditional portrayals with modern perspectives on female agency. It acknowledges that while Maria Theresa gained power through a male system of dynastic succession, she never used her reign to challenge or reform its patriarchal foundations. It also presents the paradox of her sovereignty as she was a powerful female ruler whose authority was grounded in male-dominated norms. The chapter uses Montesquieu's L'Esprit des Lois to highlight Enlightenment arguments supporting female legitimacy in governance, suggesting Maria Theresa embodied many of the philosopher's ideals. Her leadership aligned with Enlightenment views on women in power and reinforces her role as Landesmutter, a mother-figure who governed within, rather than against, her era's gendered expectations.