Maria Theresa

American  

[muh-ree-uh tuh-rey-suh, -zuh] / məˈri ə təˈreɪ sə, -zə /

noun

1. 1717–80, archduchess of Austria; queen of Hungary and Bohemia 1740–80 (wife of Francis II; mother of Joseph II, Leopold II, Marie Antoinette).

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Maria Theresa British  

/ məˈriːə təˈreɪzə /

noun

1. 1717–80, archduchess of Austria and queen of Hungary and Bohemia (1740–80); the daughter and heiress of Emperor Charles VI of Austria; the wife of Emperor Francis I; the mother of Emperor Joseph II. In the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–48) she was confirmed in all her possessions except Silesia, which she attempted unsuccessfully to regain in the Seven Years' War (1756–63)

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Example Sentences

Maria Theresa thought Catherine's interest in helping young people showed she was a "humanitarian" and that her own views about life connected with Catherine's.

From BBC • May 14, 2026

Saint-Jean-de-Luz is an upscale seaside town near the Spanish border and is historically known as the site of King Louis XIV’s wedding to his first wife, Maria Theresa of Spain.

From New York Times • Feb. 22, 2023

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson in Manila, Maria Theresa Daza, said without elaborating that a diplomatic note was relayed to China for “clarification from the Chinese side over the incident.”

From Seattle Times • Nov. 23, 2022

"I put my hand in once and found a 1771 letter from the Empress Maria Theresa," Sandra says.

From BBC • May 27, 2022

Max Franz, Archbishop of Cologne, was the youngest son of Maria Theresa, and the favourite of his brother, the Emperor Joseph II., whom he strongly resembled in character and disposition.

From Beethoven: A Memoir (2nd Ed.) by Graeme, Elliott