Final answer:
Maria Theresa's Court was influenced to some degree by Enlightenment ideas, particularly in the realms of education and legal reforms. However, it did not fully embrace Enlightenment concepts such as constitutionalism or popular sovereignty, so the answer to whether her Court adopted Enlightenment ideas is nuanced.
Step-by-step explanation:
Did Maria Theresa's Court adopt the ideas of Enlightenment thinkers? The answer is not a clear yes or no. Though Maria Theresa implemented reforms that reflected certain Enlightenment ideas, such as advancements in education and legal codes, her Court retained the principles of absolute monarchy rather than wholly embracing the nascent concepts of constitutionalism or popular sovereignty advocated by Enlightenment thinkers.
More broadly, the Enlightenment sparked a reevaluation of traditional power structures and paved the way for political change in Europe and the Americas. Philosophers like John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu argued for the protection and consideration of natural rights and the separation of powers.
Unlike her, other monarchs, termed 'Enlightened despots', invited philosophers to advise on matters of state. Notably, Frederick of Prussia welcomed Voltaire to help create policies that aimed to reflect the social contract. Maria Theresa’s Court may have been influenced by Enlightenment ideas to a degree, but did not fully adopt the ideas in a way that transformed it into a constitutional monarchy or a system that significantly restrains monarchical power.