In this episode, Xavier Bonilla has a dialogue with Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger about the life and reign of Maria Theresa. They provide an overview of Maria Theresa, her upbringing, arranged marriage, the idea of “gynocracy,” succession, and her reign. They talk about her policies, modern comparisons, gender, being a wife and mother, her relationship with her son, her legacy, and many more topics.

Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger is professor of early modern history and rector of the Institute for Advanced Study in Berlin. Her books include The Holy Roman Empire: A Short History, The Emperor’s Old Clothes: Constitutional History and the Symbolic Language of the Holy Roman Empire, and her most recent, Maria Theresa: The Hapsburg Empress in her time.