S1, E1: The young Maria Theresia impatiently awaits her reunion with Franz Stephan of Lorraine. She had already fallen in love with the young duke as a child. However, in the absence of a male heir for the House of Habsburg, the courts of Europe are now searching for a more politically important marriage candidate for the young archduchess. This candidate is to rule the Habsburg hereditary lands, since a woman would not be accepted. Crown Prince Friedrich was proposed, because although he is a Protestant, the union between Habsburg and Prussia would secure peace for Austria. When the Prussian delegation arrives in Vienna, Maria Theresia makes no attempt to hide her negative opinion about the Prussian court. In doing so, she made herself seem ridiculous throughout Europe as a candidate for marriage, so her confessor suggested that she enter a convent and clear the way for her sister Anna. Through her teacher, Spannagel, Maria secretly learns about the Pragmatic Sanction, thanks to which a woman can also ascend to the Habsburg throne. However, the Hungarian Count Esterhazy discovers this and betrays her. In front of the court, she explains to Karl how she can marry Franz Stephen without the marriage endangering the European power structure. France would recognize the Pragmatic Sanction if Franz Stephan ceded Lorraine to France upon her marriage and received Tuscany in compensation. Impressed by Maria Theresia's determination, Karl relents. But Franz Stephan resolutely rejects the renunciation of Lorraine, which makes Maria Theresia doubt Franz Stephan's love. Meanwhile, Grumbkow plays a double game: he warns the terminally ill Prince Eugen of an impending war with Prussia, but at the same time he assures Maria Theresia of the European rulers' support for the Pragmatic Sanction. Above all, he claims that Prince Eugen has been bribed to enforce Maria Theresia's marriage to Friedrich of Prussia. Maria Theresia wants to confront Prince Eugen, but he is already dying and can only advise her to seek advice from Prince Kinský. On Maria Theresia's mother's birthday, Franz Stephan confesses his love for Maria Theresia before the assembled court, and accepts all the conditions for marriage. Their wedding is celebrated with great grandeur, but the strict court ceremonial leaves the young couple little room to live out their love. To Karls' disappointment, his first two grandchildren are girls. The entire court, as well as the population of Vienna, fears that fate will repeat itself and that Maria Theresia will be denied a male heir to the throne. To escape the pressure of the court, the young family move to Tuscany. While Maria Theresia enjoyed her family's happiness, Franz Stephan promoted the cloth manufacturers. Their carefree days are numbered, however, when Count Kinský brings them the news of Karls' death.