 Shortly after giving birth to the younger children , Maria Theresa was confronted with the task of marrying off the elder ones . She led the marriage negotiations along with the campaigns of her wars and the duties of state . She treated her children with affection but used them as pawns in dynastic games and sacrificed their happiness for the benefit of the state . A devoted but self @-@ conscious mother , she wrote to all of her children at least once a week and believed herself entitled to exercise authority over her children regardless of their age and rank . 
