When Charles VI dies, an edict paves the way to the throne for his daughter, Maria Theresa. The new Habsburg ruler is only 23 years old – and expecting her fourth child. Maria Theresa eagerly responds to her realm's need for reform and handles the state of affairs while her husband spends much of his time with their children. But Austria seems to be on the verge of collapse and European rulers soon attack the Habsburg Empire. It takes a diplomatic masterpiece for Maria Theresa to win allies and, eventually, revitalize an empire that influenced the rest of Europe for almost 150 years.