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Why did Maria Theresa retain most political power while Joseph II was her co-regent?
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Joseph II
Joseph II, Holy Roman emperor, detail of a painting by Pompeo Girolamo Batoni, 1769; in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.
After the death of her husband, Francis I, in 1765, Joseph II became Holy Roman emperor and co-regent of the Habsburg dominions. However, Maria Theresa retained primary political authority and made all important decisions during this period.12
Several factors contributed to this arrangement:
- Strong-willed Leadership: Both Maria Theresa and Joseph were strong-willed individuals, which led to frequent clashes regarding governance and policy.2
- Ideological Differences: Maria Theresa was deeply concerned by Joseph’s admiration for Frederick the Great and his interest in the "new philosophy" of the Enlightenment, which she viewed with trepidation.3
- Foreign Policy Disagreements: Maria Theresa often opposed Joseph’s foreign enterprises, which she felt risked the stability of the monarchy. For instance, she famously bewailed the immorality of the first partition of Poland when Joseph pressured her into it, and she single-handedly frustrated his attempts to initiate another war with Prussia in 1779.3
Ultimately, Maria Theresa maintained control to ensure the stability of her lands, continuing to govern until her death in 1780, at which point Joseph became the sole ruler.123