Maria Theresa vs Oba Esigie

Maria Theresa's father, Emperor Charles VI, issued the Pragmatic Sanction to ensure Habsburg lands would pass intact to his daughter. This document became the legal basis for her succession and triggered the War of the Austrian Succession.

Upon Maria Theresa's accession, Frederick II of Prussia invaded Silesia, sparking a European war. Despite losing Silesia in the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748), she retained the Habsburg throne and secured her dynasty's survival.

Maria Theresa initiated comprehensive administrative, fiscal, and military reforms in Austria. She centralized government, created a standing army, and improved tax collection, strengthening the Habsburg state after the losses of the war.

Maria Theresa orchestrated the reversal of traditional alliances, allying Austria with France and Russia against Prussia. This diplomatic shift led to the Seven Years' War, though Austria failed to recover Silesia.

Maria Theresa introduced compulsory primary education for all children in the Habsburg monarchy. The General School Ordinance established state-run schools, increasing literacy and reducing Church control over education.

Oba Esigie received Portuguese missionaries at his court in Benin City, allowing them to establish a mission. He learned Portuguese and engaged in diplomatic correspondence with the Portuguese king, opening trade relations.

Esigie defeated the Igala army at the Idah River, using Portuguese firearms for the first time in Benin warfare. This victory secured Benin's northern frontier and demonstrated the effectiveness of European weapons.

Esigie sent an ambassador to the Portuguese court in Lisbon, establishing formal diplomatic relations. This mission facilitated the exchange of goods, including ivory and pepper for European textiles and weapons.

Esigie patronized the art of brass casting, commissioning numerous plaques and sculptures for the royal palace. This period saw the flourishing of Benin's famous brass art tradition, which depicted court life and historical events.