Charles VI vs Mary I of England

Charles VI issued the Pragmatic Sanction, a legal instrument to ensure that the Habsburg hereditary lands could be inherited by a female heir (his daughter Maria Theresa) in the absence of a male son. He spent decades securing recognition from European powers, but it failed to prevent the War of the Austrian Succession.

Charles VI's forces, after a disastrous war with the Ottoman Empire, signed the Treaty of Belgrade. The treaty ceded Belgrade and northern Serbia to the Ottomans, reversing the gains of the Treaty of Passarowitz and weakening Habsburg influence in the Balkans.

Charles VI's death in 1740 triggered the War of the Austrian Succession, as Prussia, France, and Bavaria challenged Maria Theresa's inheritance. The war, lasting until 1748, resulted in the loss of Silesia to Prussia but confirmed Maria Theresa's rule in most Habsburg lands.

Mary I's government repealed the Protestant laws of Edward VI, restoring Catholic doctrine and practices. This included the revival of the Mass and the authority of the Pope in England.

Mary I became queen of England after deposing Lady Jane Grey. Her accession marked a return to Catholic rule and the reversal of Protestant reforms enacted under Edward VI.

Mary I married Philip II of Spain, a Catholic alliance that was unpopular in England. The marriage did not produce an heir and led to English involvement in Spanish wars, including the loss of Calais.

Mary I oversaw the execution of nearly 300 Protestants for heresy, including Thomas Cranmer, Hugh Latimer, and Nicholas Ridley. These burnings earned her the nickname 'Bloody Mary' and deepened religious divisions.

French forces captured Calais, the last English possession in France, during Mary I's reign. This loss was a major blow to English prestige and contributed to the unpopularity of her Spanish alliance.