Editing Maria Theresa (section)

==Legacy==
Maria Theresa understood the importance of her public ''persona'' and was able to simultaneously evoke both esteem and affection in her subjects; a notable example was how she projected dignity and simplicity to awe the people in Pressburg before she was crowned as Queen (Regnant) of Hungary.{{sfn|Browning|1994|p=67}} Her 40-year reign was considered to be very successful when compared to other Habsburg rulers. Her reforms had transformed the empire into a modern state with a significant international standing.{{sfn|Yonan|2011|p=3}} She centralised and modernised its institutions, and her reign was considered as the beginning of the era of "[[enlightened absolutism]]" in Austria, with a brand new approach toward governing: the measures undertaken by rulers became more modern and rational, and thoughts were given to the welfare of the state and the people.{{sfn|Vocelka|2009|pp=154–155}} Many of her policies were not in line with the ideals of the [[Age of Enlightenment|Enlightenment]] (such as her support of [[torture]]), and she was still very much influenced by Catholicism from the previous era.{{sfn|Vocelka|2009|p=156}} Vocelka even stated that "taken as a whole the reforms of Maria Theresa appear more absolutist and centralist than enlightened, even if one must admit that the influence of enlightened ideas is visible to a certain degree."{{sfn|Vocelka|2000|p=202}} Despite being among the most successful Habsburg monarchs and remarkable leaders of the 18th century, Maria Theresa has not captured the interest of contemporary historians or media, perhaps due her hardened nature.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/review-a-habsburg-to-be-reckoned-with-two-books-on-maria-theresa-austria-shadow-empress-11643385756|title=A Habsburg to Be Reckoned With: Two Books on Maria Theresa|first=A. Wess|last=Mitchell|date=28 January 2022|access-date=3 February 2022|website=Wsj.com}}</ref>

===Memorials and honours===
[[File:Wien - Maria-Theresien-Denkmal.JPG|thumb|right|[[Maria Theresa Monument]] on the [[Maria-Theresien-Platz]] in Vienna, Austria]]
[[File:2020 Angelobung der Bundesregierung (49345113843).jpg|thumb|Oath of allegiance ceremony of cabinet II of [[Austrian chancellor]] [[Alexander Schallenberg]] in the Maria Theresa Room of the [[Hofburg]] palace (2020)]]
[[File:BushSolyom2006-02.jpg|thumb|[[Hungarian President]] [[László Sólyom]] with US President [[George W. Bush]] in the Maria Theresa Room of [[Sándor Palace]] (2006)]]

A number of streets and squares were named after her throughout the empire as well as statues and monuments built. In Vienna a large bronze monument was built in her honour at [[Maria-Theresien-Platz]] in 1888. The [[Maria Theresia Garden Square (Uzhhorod)]] was constructed in her memory as recently as 2013.

The city of [[Subotica]] was renamed in her honor in 1779, as Maria-Theresiapolis, sometimes spelled as Maria-Theresiopel or Theresiopel.<ref>{{cite web | title = The History of Subotica | website = subotica.rs | url = https://www.subotica.rs/index/page/id/42/lg/en/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231004235446/https://www.subotica.rs/index/page/id/42/lg/en/ | archive-date = 4 October 2023 | url-status = live }}</ref>

A number of her descendants were named in her honour. These include: 
:* [[Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria (1762–1770)]],
:* [[Maria Theresa of Austria (1767–1827)]],
:* [[Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily]],
:* [[Maria Theresa of Austria-Este, Queen of Sardinia]],
:* [[Marie Thérèse of France]],
:* [[Maria Theresa of Austria (1801–1855)]],
:* [[Maria Teresa of Savoy (1803–1879)]],
:* [[Maria Theresa of Austria (1816–1867)]],
:* [[Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria-Este (1817–1886)]],
:* [[Maria Theresa of Austria-Este (1849–1919)]],
:* [[Princess Maria Teresa of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (1867–1909)]], and
:* [[Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria (1862–1933)]]. Her granddaughter Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily became Holy Roman Empress as well in 1792.
* The Imperial and Royal Navy ship ''[[SMS Kaiserin und Königin Maria Theresia]]'' was laid down in 1891.
* The [[Military Order of Maria Theresa]] was founded by her in 1757 and remained in existence until after World War I.
* The [[Theresianum]] was founded by her in 1746 and is one of Austria's finest schools.
* The [[Maria Theresa thaler]] was issued during her reign but was continued to be struck afterwards and became legal tender as far as the [[Persian Gulf]] region and [[Southeast Asia]]. The Austrian Mint continues to issue it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.muenzeoesterreich.at/eng/invest/investment-coins/maria-theresa-taler|title = Modern Re-strikes: Maria Theresa Taler in Silver|website=Muenzeoesterreich.at}}</ref>
* Asteroid [[295 Theresia]] was named in her honour in 1890.
* The garrison town of [[Terezin]] (''Theresienstadt'') in Bohemia was constructed in 1780 and named after her.
* A crystal [[chandelier]] with Bohemian crystal glass was named in her honour and is known as the ''Marie Therese'' chandelier.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.glowlighting.com/what-are-maria-theresa-chandeliers/|title=What are Maria Theresa Chandeliers?|website=Glowlighting.com|date=27 August 2020|access-date=7 August 2021|archive-date=7 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807204907/https://www.glowlighting.com/what-are-maria-theresa-chandeliers/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.artglass.cz/en/company/history/|title = History |website= Artglass.cz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lightingcompany.co.uk/blog/300th-anniversary-of-maria-theresas-birth/|title=300th Anniversary of Maria Theresa's Birth|website=Lightingcompany.co.uk|date=11 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.classicalchandeliers.co.uk/blog/tag/maria-theresa-chandeliers/|title = Blog : Maria Theresa Chandeliers |website=Classicalchandeliers.co.uk|date = 30 March 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nonsololuce.com/en/history-and-styles-of-chandeliers/|title = History and Styles of Chandeliers |website=Nonsololuce.com|date = 26 April 2021 }}</ref>
* 22nd Volunteer Cavalry Division 'Maria Theresa' (1943–1945)
* The Maria Theresa Room (''Maria-Theresien-Zimmer'') in the Leopoldine Wing of the [[Hofburg]] palace is named in her honour and a large state portrait of her by [[Martin van Meytens]]'s school from 1741 depicting her in the Hungarian coronation dress hangs in the centre. All [[oath of allegiance]] ceremonies of a newly elected [[government of Austria]] are conducted in this room with the signing taking place underneath her portrait.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bundespraesident.at/aktuelles/detail/maria-theresien-zimmer|title = Maria Theresia: Eine Frau, die alles im Blick hat|website=Bundespraesident.at}}</ref>
* The Maria Theresa Room is a room in the [[Sándor Palace, Budapest]], the official residence of the [[President of Hungary]]. It has a portrait of the Queen dressed for her coronation, alongside a portrait of her husband Emperor Francis I on the other side. The room was especially tailored in memory of the reconciliation between the monarch and the government{{cn|date=May 2025}} and is used for official state receptions.

===In media===
She has appeared as the main figure in a number of films and series such as the 1951 [[Maria Theresa (film)|''Maria Theresa'']] and [[Maria Theresia (miniseries)|''Maria Theresia'']], an Austria-Czech television miniseries from 2017. In the 2006 film ''[[Marie Antoinette (2006 film)|Marie Antoinette]]'', [[Marianne Faithfull]] portrayed Maria Theresa opposite [[Kirsten Dunst]] in the title role.

Years before, she appeared as a minor character in the 1938 film ''[[Marie Antoinette (1938 film)|Marie Antoinette]]'', starring [[Norma Shearer]], in which she was portrayed by [[Alma Kruger]].