What problems did Maria Theresa face when she inherited the Habsburg monarchy?

When Maria Theresa inherited the Habsburg monarchy in 1740, she faced a severe crisis that threatened the survival of her realm. Despite her father, Charles VI, securing the Pragmatic Sanction to ensure her succession, several European powers quickly contested her right to rule.123

The primary problems she encountered included:

• Military and Financial Weakness: The monarchy’s resources were exhausted by previous conflicts, leaving the state with an empty treasury, a poorly prepared army, and a lack of credit.124
• Foreign Invasion: Frederick II of Prussia invaded Silesia, the wealthiest Habsburg province, triggering the War of the Austrian Succession.15
• Hostile Coalitions: A powerful alliance—including France, Bavaria, and Spain—sought to dismember the Habsburg lands.15
• Political Isolation: Maria Theresa faced internal doubt from senior officials and the loss of the imperial title, as the electors chose Charles Albert of Bavaria as [Holy Roman emperor].12

Describing her situation, she famously noted she was "without money, without credit, without an army, without experience, and finally without advice".1