103. Maria Theresa. A series of (25) autograph letters signed (“Marie Therese” and occasionally “MT”), together with (6) additional autograph letters (unsigned), 91 pages total (6.25 x 7.75 in.; 159 x 197 mm.), all accomplished on black-bordered mourning stationery, [Pressburg & Vienna], most undated, but span the period 1766-1778, in French, written to her son-in-law Prince Albert Casimir August of Saxony, the husband of her favorite daughter, Maria Christina. Offered with complete translations. Typical folds with a few minor marginal tears and creases.
 
The mother of Marie Antoinette, Austrian Empress Maria Theresa, with great foreshadowing tells of a riot “they ransacked the house and went to the King’s palace demanding bread.” A remarkable series of fully handwritten family letters concerning all aspects of mid 18th century Europe including war with Frederick the Great, mediating the Russo-Turkish War, and plans to bridge the Danube at Pressburg.

This remarkable correspondence covers a wide range of important subjects such as the Russo-Turkish War (1768-1774); the War of Bavarian Succession (1778-1779); efforts to construct a pontoon bridge over the Danube at Pressburg (Bratislava); the notorious Esquilache Riots in Madrid (1766); all of which reveal her deep understanding of domestic and international politics and an appreciation for maintaining the balance of power in Europe. Maria Theresa's letters also include discussions of her daughter Maria Christina's physical and emotional health—betraying the warmer side of this imposing and powerful sovereign whose very succession to the Austrian throne in 1740 sparked a general European war. Although most of the letters are undated, the correspondence begins in 1766, not soon after the marriage of Albert Casimir to Maria Christina on 6 April 1766. Due to the death of her husband Francis on 18 August 1765, Maria Theresa largely withdrew from public life, painted her rooms black and dressed in mourning attire for the remainder of her life, with all her correspondence accomplished on black-bordered mourning stationery. 
 
Russo-Turkish War, 1768-1772: Austria as mediator. Austria had been hobbled financially following the end of the Seven Years War that had engulfed Europe from 1755 to 1763 and Maria Theresa spent the next fifteen years rebuilding the empire's finances and reforming its administration. So when war erupted between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, she was justifiably worried. Although Austria was a longtime enemy of the Turks (Vienna had been nearly overrun by the Ottomans only eighty years before), in this conflict, Austria, together with Prussia and Great Britain, acted as mediators as they all feared an imbalance of power in Europe more than expelling the Turks from the continent. One of her advisors, Maria Theresa complained in a circa 1771 letter: ”is not in agreement. He would like to crush these poor Turks with the Russians and share the cake to which I will never go along.” Part of the mediation strategy involved Austria mobilizing a large body of troops in order to pressure the Russians into making peace. Maria Theresa lamented that the operation “would require 3 or 4 millions. It would be a high price to pay for a simple demonstration. But the demonstration paid off. Frederick the Great of Prussia, worried that Austria would enter the conflict on Russia's side which would have further upset the European balance of power, engineered the first partition of Poland in 1772. In exchange for staying out of the war, Austria gained sovereignty over the Kingdom of Galicia.
 
The War of Bavarian Succession (“The Potato War”). Maria Theresa's greatest rival for dominance in Central Europe was Frederick the Great of Prussia. The pair had already fought twice during her reign. They first squared off during the War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748) in which Austria lost mineral-rich Silesia to the Prussians. Maria Theresa attempted to regain the lost territory during the Seven Years War, but to no avail. At the start of 1778, another war erupted between the two great German powers. This time the conflict involved the succession to the Bavarian throne. The conflict, which technically lasted until the Spring of 1779, involved hundreds of thousands of Austrian and Prussian troops, but no significant battles, but a good deal of posturing and diplomacy. With a huge army of Prussians in Moravia, Maria Theresa confided to Albert on 14 June [1778] that, “although the surrender of Moravia pains me but I am almost starting to believe that we will spend that campaign in the most disagreeable incertitude but however to be preferred to a torrent of blood effusion.” The Austrian and Prussian armies continued in place in Moravia through the end of the year, but no advantage was gained by either side. Despite the lack of major hostilities, the armies lost about 10,000 due to disease and starvation while local farmers were forced to watch their crops dug up by hungry soldiers (the conflict became popularly known as “The Potato War” as soldiers spent more time foraging for food than anything else). Still, Maria Theresa preferred this over a large-scale conflict, writing on 13 August 1778: “I prefer a thin peace to a glorious war depriving me of my children and my crack good generals and soldiers. It is the thoughts of an old mother and wife but also of a Christian sovereign and friend of these friends.
 
Maria Christina, the Empresses’ favorite daughter. Despite the press of politics, Maria Theresa did not ignore her maternal side. While she enjoyed a reputation for being highly critical of her children including Marie Antoinette (whom she considered lazy), as well as Maria Amalia (poor French and haughtiness), Maria Carolina (political activism), Leopold (coldness), she did not behave the same way toward Maria Christina over whom she had complete trust (though she disappointed her mother in not producing any offspring). Of all her children, Maria Christina was also the only one allowed to marry for love rather than diplomatic or strategic advantage. Maria Christina chose Albert Casimir, a son of King Augustus III of Poland who became best known as an important art collector. Apparently, Maria Christina also used her mother's personal grief following the death of her husband to manipulate her into allowing her to marry for love. 

Her concern for her daughter's well being is copiously illustrated in this correspondence. While briefing Albert on developments in the War of Bavarian Succession, she confided to him:
“I do not spoil her [Maria Christina] by offering her all that I show you, but I owe her this justice in regards to you deserving to be informed, unique reward for her. Her health has repented a little for it, not for being sick but for this discomfort, such as headache, coughing but that do not keep her at home, but a note from you makes her get over it right away. I have loved my late adorable spouse very much but she still wins me over in affection and strength. I will never stop on this subject making my whole comfort.”
 
The Esquilache Riots. Her concern for her family's well being extended beyond her royal household. In March 1766, Maria Theresa breathlessly recounted the details of the Esquilache Riots, which had forced her in-law, Charles III of Spain (the father of Maria Luisa who married her son, Leopold II) to flee Madrid temporarily. The riots were sparked by a decree issued by Leopold de Gregorio, Marquis of Esquilache, an unpopular Neapolitan minister favored by King Charles III of Spain. Billed as a public security measure, Esquilache banned the donning of long capes and broad-brimmed hats, a traditional Madrid costume, which allowed the easy concealment of weapons. The measure caused a riot when the government began enforcing the ban: “News of tumult in Madrid that happened on March 23. People gathered by the dozen and more, shouting bread bread, prices were excessive for some time. They went to the palace of Squilacci [i.e. Esquilache] to club him but having found a way to escape they ransacked the house and went to the King’s palace demanding bread and death to Squilacci. There were a lot of talks but nothing could make them happy. They were stopping all the passer-by to look for Squilacci even our secretary of legation was nearly clubbed while going to the court to ask news about the royal family who had to flee the same night at 3 o’clock and went to Aranjuez. Tumult increased even more in the morning when it was known that the king had left. Misfortune had it that there were only 2 battalions in all of Madrid and couriers were sent to get troops but all this did not help at the time. More than one hundred persons were already dead. The King was forced to speak to them from a balcony capitulate and sign that Squilacci would be chased first from all of Spain; he left right away to Cartagena; that bread and all food be at half price and that the Spanish coats and round hats that the king had forbidden to wear be restored and that he uses only Spanish ministers in the future no strangers. It is feared that Grimaldi will be brought down also for which I will be sorry it is a terrible humiliation but nothing else could not do otherwise. At this time nobody will be more affected than the king who is not used to give ground. After this ceremony there were only shouts of joy and they were carrying palms all over the streets. I am waiting anxiously further news. The family was still in Aranjuez the 27.” Maria Theresa, in a testament to her deep understanding of politics and society, understood that the root cause was not a decree concerning dress, but rather “Bread bread bread”. Fortunately for her, she would not live to see the riots that would engulf France and brought her daughter Marie Antoinette to the guillotine in 1793.
 
Modernizing the Austrian Empire and the Hungarian capital at Pressburg. Despite her outspoken political and religious conservatism, Maria Theresa made impressive efforts to centralize the fragmented Austrian dominions. Yet the nature of the multinational (and multiethnic) empire often thwarted her ambitions for reform. The following excerpt from an undated letter in part encapsulates some of her frustrations while revealing her thinking on the nature of government: ”If we must stop at what people say or at critics of parties nothing would be done in this world and whom could expose themselves [to danger] if we hesitate to take upon ourselves to do good without looking if others find it good or bad. What we do is for peace it if after so many representations [reproaches] that we took it the duty to do so… If you are not convinced of this necessity then we can leave everything but it is necessary that we represent nothing on this subject and let it be known which council with best knowledge of what is right for the good of the country is responsible. I am so shaken that they do not always take timely countries interests which results in hardship afterwards, like the one of Bohemia and Moravia and next nobody wants to be responsible.” When Maria Theresa ascended the Hungarian throne, she promised to maintain residences both in Austria as well as in Hungary—a must as the Kingdom of Hungary comprised half of the empire. When in Hungary, she made her home at Pressburg (today's Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia), residing in Bratislava Castle (or Preßburger Schloß). Prince Albert, in his role as Governor of Hungary, also made his home at Bratislava Castle. During the 1760s, she embarked on ambitious renovations to the castle and the city, employing the great inventor Johann Wolfgang von Kempelen (1734 -1804) to design and implement a new water system to supply the castle and its gardens. Von Kempelen also designed the first bridge to span the Danube at Pressburg in 1770. The subject of a bridge came up several times in the correspondence. A 1766 letter concerning the long overdue project encapsulates the difficulty of the project: “Everything you tell me for the bridge is so true but expenses are excessive…in all justice it could not be put against the city and I. I could not be in charge of it either. With time to think about it carefully maybe some ways can be found but for this year a flying bridge is necessary.” It appears that the “flying bridge” was not built in 1766, but in 1770 when Von Kempelen constructed a pontoon bridge over the river (the first permanent bridge would not be completed until 1891).
 
Remarkable and deep correspondence from one of the most important monarchs of eighteenth-century Europe. A magnificent and important research collection.
$20,000 - $25,000

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, COD (cash on delivery), Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

After payment has been made in full, Profiles in History may, as a service to buyers, arrange to have property packed, insured and shipped at your request and expense. For shipping information, please contact Profiles in History at (310) 859-7701. In circumstances in which Profiles in History arranges and bills for such services via invoice or credit card, we will also include an administration charge. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping charges from Profiles in History's offices in Calabasas, CA to the buyer's door. If items are of unusual size and/or weight, they will require special handling and will incur an additional shipping premium as charged by the carrier. Please see Terms & Conditions of Sale.

by Profiles in History
June 11, 2015 11:00 AM PDT
26662 Agoura Rd
Calabasas, CA, US 91302

Profiles in History

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 28% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $49 $5
$50 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $249,999 $10,000
$250,000 + $25,000