The Pragmatic Sanction was a crucial legal decree issued by Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI in 1713, intended to ensure that his daughter, Maria Theresa, could inherit his dominions. The belief was that this would prevent any fragmentation of the Habsburg Empire due to male primogeniture laws that favored male heirs. However, upon Charles VI's death in October 1740, this arrangement met with immediate challenges. France, Prussia, Bavaria, and Saxony all chose to disregard the Sanction, leading to significant political instability in Central Europe. Specifically, Frederick II of Prussia seized Silesia, a province of great economic and military value that was critical to the Habsburgs. Additionally, France and Bavaria sought to exploit the situation, siding with Silesia against Maria Theresa’s claim.

The refusal to honor the Pragmatic Sanction not only solidified rivalries between the major powers of Europe but also heralded a series of military engagements known as the War of the Austrian Succession. The conflict drew in multiple European nations, each motivated by territorial ambition or support for either the Habsburgs or their challengers. Maria Theresa adeptly negotiated alliances, particularly with Great Britain, and sought to garner support from other states, which ultimately turned the situation into a continental war spanning several years.