At the end of the War of the Austrian Succession, Count Podewils was sent as an ambassador to the Austrian court by King Frederick II of Prussia. Podewils wrote detailed descriptions of Maria Theresa's physical appearance and how she spent her days.Mahan 1932, p. 230. Mahan, Jabez Alexander (1932). Maria Theresa of Austria. New York: Crowell.
It takes at least a week for the smallpox rash to appear after a person is infected. Since the rash appeared two days after Maria Josepha had visited the vault, the Archduchess must have been infected much before visiting the vault. Hopkins 2002, p. 64. Hopkins, Donald R (2002). The greatest killer: smallpox in history, with a new introduction. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. ISBN0226351688.
In a letter to Joseph, she wrote: "What, without a dominant religion? Toleration, indifferentism, are exactly the right means to undermine everything... What other restraint exists? None. Neither the gallows nor the wheel... I speak politically now, not as a Christian. Nothing is so necessary and beneficial as religion. Would you allow everyone to act according to his fantasy? If there were no fixed cult, no subjection to the Church, where should we be? The law of might would take command."Crankshaw 1970, p. 302 Crankshaw, Edward (1970). Maria Theresa. New York: Viking Press. ISBN0582107849.
Vocelka 2000, p. 201. Vocelka, Karl (2000). "Enlightenment in the Habsburg Monarchy: History of a Belated and Short-Lived Phenomenon". In Grell, Ole Peter; Porter, Roy (eds.). Toleration in Enlightenment Europe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN0521651964.
Vocelka 2000, p. 200. Vocelka, Karl (2000). "Enlightenment in the Habsburg Monarchy: History of a Belated and Short-Lived Phenomenon". In Grell, Ole Peter; Porter, Roy (eds.). Toleration in Enlightenment Europe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN0521651964.
Vocelka 2000, p. 202. Vocelka, Karl (2000). "Enlightenment in the Habsburg Monarchy: History of a Belated and Short-Lived Phenomenon". In Grell, Ole Peter; Porter, Roy (eds.). Toleration in Enlightenment Europe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN0521651964.
Roider 1972. Roider, Karl A. (1972). "The Perils of Eighteenth-Century Peacemaking: Austria and the Treaty of Belgrade, 1739". Central European History. 5 (3): 195–207. doi:10.1017/s0008938900015478. S2CID145605956.
Roider 1972. Roider, Karl A. (1972). "The Perils of Eighteenth-Century Peacemaking: Austria and the Treaty of Belgrade, 1739". Central European History. 5 (3): 195–207. doi:10.1017/s0008938900015478. S2CID145605956.