How did the death of Francis I affect Maria Theresa?

The sudden death of Francis I in 1765 deeply affected Maria Theresa, plunging her into a period of prolonged grief that lasted for the remaining 15 years of her life. Despite the fact that Francis had not been a faithful husband, Maria Theresa remained devoted to him and never wavered in her love.12

Following his death, she emerged from her mourning with her zeal for administrative and social activity undiminished. She continued to pursue significant reforms, including the development of a new public-debt policy, the settlement of Hungarian lands, and the drafting of a new penal code. However, his passing also marked a shift in her domestic life, as it led to Joseph II—her son—becoming co-regent in the Habsburg dominions, which initiated a period of frequent conflict between the two over his political and foreign policy views.1