How did the Pragmatic Sanction affect Maria Theresa’s right to inherit the Habsburg lands?

The Pragmatic Sanction, a decree promulgated by Holy Roman emperor Charles VI in 1713, was fundamental in establishing Maria Theresa’s right to inherit the Habsburg lands.12

Because Charles VI lacked a surviving son, he issued this royal act to ensure that his dominions would descend as an integral, undivided whole. The decree stipulated that in the absence of a male heir, the inheritance would pass to his eldest daughter, Maria Theresa. Although the decree was recognized by most major European powers and the individual estates of the Habsburg dominions, its legitimacy was contested immediately upon Charles VI's death in 1740.12

This challenge triggered the War of the Austrian Succession, as various powers sought to seize parts of the Habsburg territories despite their previous guarantees. Ultimately, while Maria Theresa lost Silesia and other minor territories, the Pragmatic Sanction successfully secured her position as the ruler of the remaining Habsburg inheritance.12