The Austrian Succession refers to a series of conflicts in the 18th century over the inheritance of the Habsburg lands after the death of {Empress Maria Theresa} in 1740. The main issue was the {Pragmatic Sanction}, a legal agreement that allowed her to inherit the throne despite being a woman, which was contested by several European powers. The conflict escalated into the {War of the Austrian Succession} (1740-1748), involving major nations like {France}, {Britain}, and {Prussia}. The war ended with the {Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle}, which restored the status quo but did not resolve the underlying tensions, leading to further conflicts in Europe.