 Maria Theresa and her husband , Francis I , Holy Roman Emperor , had sixteen children , including the Queen of France , the Queen of Naples and Sicily , the Duchess of Parma and two Holy Roman Emperors , Joseph II and Leopold II . Of the sixteen , ten survived to adulthood . She had eleven daughters and five sons . Though she was expected to cede power to Francis and Joseph , both of whom were officially her co @-@ rulers in Austria and Bohemia , Maria Theresa was the absolute sovereign who ruled by the counsel of her advisers . She criticised and disapproved of many of Joseph 's actions . Although she is considered to have been intellectually inferior to both Joseph and Leopold , Maria Theresa understood the importance of her public persona and was able to simultaneously evoke both esteem and affection from her subjects . 
