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Catherine the Great vs. Maria Theresa: Enlightened Enemies on Opposite Thrones
07/30/2026
Catherine the Great vs. Maria Theresa: Enlightened Enemies on Opposite Thrones
They were the two most powerful women in 18th-century Europe, ruling vast empires and reshaping the continent—but they absolutely despised each other. While Catherine of Russia embraced Enlightenment ideals and expanded her territory through cunning and force, Maria Theresa of Austria clung to tradition and Catholicism while fighting to keep her realm intact. Their clash wasn't just political—it was deeply personal, pitting two radically different visions of power, motherhood, and legacy against each other.
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