Bratislava Marks 285th Anniversary of Maria Theresa's Coronation

Bratislava commemorated the 285th anniversary of the coronation of Empress Maria Theresa on Saturday, with the Slovak capital temporarily transformed into a royal coronation city for the occasion. The city hosted historical reenactments and festivities recalling the 1740 coronation of Maria Theresa, the Habsburg ruler who was crowned Queen of Hungary in Bratislava — then known as Pressburg — making the city one of the most important royal seats in Central Europe during her reign. Bratislava served as the coronation city of the Hungarian Kingdom for nearly three centuries, from 1563 to 1830, during which time numerous Habsburg monarchs were crowned there. The anniversary celebrations offered residents and visitors a glimpse into the city's rich imperial past, reinforcing Bratislava's historical significance as a former royal capital.