The Merry Widow is a 1905 operetta by Franz Lehar based on a 1861 French comedy about a wealthy widow in a fictional Balkan kingdom. The story follows Count Danilo, who is tasked with wooing the widow to prevent the kingdom's bankruptcy. However, the Count and widow were once in love but forbidden to marry. Through the course of the operetta, the two admit they still have feelings for each other. The Merry Widow popularized its title character as a strong, independent woman and became a global success, establishing conventions for future musical theater productions.