Sir, – Frank McNally's mention of the Irish Wild Geese fighting for France against Britain at the Battle of Fontenoy recalls an early skirmish in the fight for female emancipation (An Irishman's Diary, May 15th).
The War of the Austrian Succession was fought to prevent Maria Theresa succeeding to the Habsburg thrones because, as a woman, she was precluded from royal inheritance.
Though the French, led by Graf Hermann Moritz von Sachsen, one of the 362 illegitimate children of the German-born king of Poland, won the Battle of Fontenoy, the war was lost – or at least drawn. The death of half a million Europeans had made little difference to the status quo ante bellum.
Empress Maria Theresa was recognised as queen of Hungary and archduchess of Austria, with her daughter, Marie Antoinette, later becoming queen of France.
To celebrate his "victory" George ll of Great Britain commissioned Handel to compose the Music for the Royal Fireworks. – Yours, etc,
Dr JOHN DOHERTY,
Operngasse,
Vienna, Austria.