The ineffable Mrs. Bennet of Pride and Prejudice saw herself as grievously burdened, what with five daughters to marry off and one of those daughters ridiculously unwilling to consent to a union that would keep a critically important piece of property in the family.
Maria Theresia, the ruler of the Habsburg monarchy and sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Transylvania, Milan, Moravia, Austrian Netherlands, Austrian Silesia, Dalmatia Tyrol, Parma, and several other very large pieces of property from 1740 until her death in 1780, could surely have provided Mrs. B. with some much-needed perspective. After all, the business of Maria Theresia’s life was to get seven daughters married. Its solace was keeping her subjects in line and watching powerful men make the mistake of underestimating her.
