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How did the death of Emperor Charles VI create an opportunity for Frederick II?

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Portrait painting of Frederick II of Brandenburg, King of Prussia, wearing a dark coat with a star medal, yellow gloves, and holding a cane, with the inscription Fridericus II Rex Prussiae. — Frederick II Frederick II, painting in the Castello di Miramare, Trieste, Italy.

The death of Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI in October 1740 provided Frederick II with a strategic opportunity to revolutionize Prussia’s international standing.1

Charles VI left behind his daughter, Maria Theresa, as his heir. Although the Pragmatic Sanction was intended to ensure her succession, her position was vulnerable: her army was in poor condition, her government faced financial difficulties, and her ministers were considered mediocre.21

In contrast, Frederick II inherited a well-funded state and a highly capable army from his father. Recognizing the confusion surrounding the succession, Frederick moved to seize the wealthy and strategically important Habsburg province of Silesia. While he initially offered to support Maria Theresa in exchange for the territory, her refusal to cede it made the War of the Austrian Succession inevitable. This conflict allowed Frederick to assert Prussian power and ultimately secure Silesia, marking his emergence as a major European leader.13