What was the primary dispute in the War of the Austrian Succession?

The primary dispute in the War of the Austrian Succession was centered around Maria Theresa's claim to the throne of the Habsburg dominions. When her father, Charles VI, died in 1740, he had secured the Pragmatic Sanction, which sought to ensure that his daughter could inherit the Habsburg lands and maintain the dynasty’s influence in European politics. However, many European powers, including Prussia, France, and Bavaria, did not recognize this sanction and sought to challenge her succession by claiming rights to Austria, Silesia, and other territories.

Maria Theresa's accession to power was significant not only because she was a female ruler in a predominantly male-dominated royal landscape but also because it disrupted the intricate balance of power in Europe at the time. The war that ensued was largely fought among various European nations, with the competing claims to her rule and the territories she controlled acting as the catalyst for the extensive conflict. Although other issues, such as control of colonial territories and naval supremacy, were present during the period, they were secondary to the primary contention over her legitimacy and authority as the sovereign of Austria.