Maria Theresa

Like Catherine the Great, Maria Theresa had herself painted on horseback to emphasize her sovereign position, which the crown over her head makes apparent. This portrait from 1757 does not make her seem warlike, however, as she carries no sword. She had sixteen children, two of whom became Holy Roman Emperor (Joseph II and Leopold II) and two of whom became queens (Marie-Antoinette of France and Maria Carolina of Naples). (Musée historique Lorraine, Nancy, France / Scala / White Images / Art Resource, NY.)