in 1713, holy roman emperor charles vi established line of succession gave precedence own daughters on daughters of deceased older brother, emperor joseph i. protect habsburg inheritance, coerced, cajoled, , persuaded crowned heads of europe accept pragmatic sanction. in agreement, acknowledged of legitimate daughters rightful queen of bohemia, hungary , croatia, , archduchess of austria – break tradition of agnatic primogeniture.
holy roman emperors had been elected house of habsburg of previous 3 centuries. charles vi arranged marriage of eldest daughter, maria theresa, francis of lorraine. francis relinquished duchy of lorraine near france in exchange grand duchy of tuscany near austria make himself more appealing candidate eventual election emperor. on paper, many heads of state and, importantly, rulers of german states of holy roman empire, accepted pragmatic sanction , idea of francis next emperor. 2 key exceptions, duchies of bavaria , saxony, held important electoral votes , impede or block francis s election. when charles died in 1740, maria theresa had fight family s entitlements in bohemia, hungary , croatia, , husband faced competition in election holy roman emperor.
as prince-elector , duke of bavaria, max joseph (pictured) brought peace , prosperity realm. upon death, several men sought divide duchy.
charles, prince elector , duke of bavaria, claimed german territories of habsburg dynasty son-in-law of joseph i, , furthermore presented himself charles vi s legitimate imperial successor. if women going inherit, claimed, family should have precedence: wife, maria amalia, daughter of joseph i. both charles vi , predecessor joseph had died without sons. charles of bavaria suggested legitimate succession pass joseph s female children, rather daughters of younger brother, charles vi. different reasons, prussia, france, spain , polish-saxon monarchy supported charles of bavaria s claim habsburg territory , imperial title , reneged on pragmatic sanction.
charles of bavaria needed military assistance take imperial title force, secured treaty of nymphenburg (july 1741). during subsequent war of austrian succession, captured prague, crowned king of bohemia. invaded upper austria, planning capture vienna, diplomatic exigencies complicated plans. french allies redirected troops bohemia, frederick great, himself newly king of prussia, had taken advantage of chaos in austria , bavaria annex silesia.
charles s military options disappeared french. adopting new plan, subverted imperial election. sold county of glatz prussia reduced price in exchange frederick s electoral vote. charles s brother, klemens august of bavaria, archbishop , prince-elector of electorate of cologne, voted him in imperial election , crowned him on 12 february 1742 in traditional ceremony in frankfurt main. next day, charles s bavarian capital of munich capitulated austrians avoid being plundered maria theresa s troops. in following weeks, army overran of charles s territories, occupied bavaria, , barred him ancestral lands , bohemia.
charles vii spent of three-year reign emperor residing in frankfurt while maria theresa battled prussia patrimony in bohemia , hungary. frederick not secure bohemia charles, did manage push austrians out of bavaria. last 3 months of short reign, gout-ridden charles lived in munich, died in january 1745. son, maximilian iii joseph (known max joseph) inherited father s electoral dignities not imperial ambition. peace of füssen (22 april 1745), max joseph promised vote francis of lorraine, maria theresa s husband, in pending imperial election. acknowledged pragmatic sanction. in return, obtained restitution of family s electoral position , territories. subjects, negotiations ended 5 years of warfare , brought generation of peace , relative prosperity began father s death in 1745 , ended own in 1777.
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