The Ill-Fated Archduchess Elisabeth of Austria

Duchess Elisabeth of Württemberg (Elisabeth Wilhelmine Luise; Treptow, Brandenburg, Germany, 21st April 1767 - Vienna, Austria, 18th February 1790)

Duchess Elisabeth of Württemberg by Johann Baptist von Lampi the Elder, 1785

Our guest today is, perhaps, a lesser known member of European nobility. Despite a long-planned and illustrious political marriage, Elisabeth was fated to live a short life. Although she was to become a favourite of an ailing Emperor and married an Emperor-in-waiting, her ill health ensured that she was never to see her own husband assume the throne of the Holy Roman Empire.

Elisabeth was one of a dozen offspring born to Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg,  and his wife, Sophia Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt. Like so many children of her class, it was intended from the start that she would make an expedient political marriage and negotiations swiftly began to secure her a fiancé. The groom-to-be was eventually named as Francis, nephew of Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II and the man who would one day hold that title himself.

Duchess Elisabeth of Württemberg by Johann Baptist von Lampi the Elder

When Elisabeth was 15 she travelled from Brandenburg to Vienna and took up resident with the sisters of the Salesianerinnenkloster. In her new home she converted to Catholicism in preparation for her marriage and completed her education. Here she remained until 1788 when, on 6th January, she married the twenty year old Francis. As the couple settled into life together the new Archduchess swiftly became a favourite of her new husband's uncle, Emperor Joseph II, who had brokered the marriage to his nephew. He found her charming and refreshing company and she came to view Joseph in a grandfatherly light, spending long hours in his company. Her affection was of great comfort to the Emperor; his health was falling and he had faced a series of high profile political failures that left him disillusioned and unhappy.

Francis I by Leopold Kupelwieser, 1805

In late 1789 Elisabeth fell pregnant and her condition was to have a huge impact on her health. The cheerful, charming young lady grew weaker by the day and after she attended the Emperor's Anointing of the Sick on 15th February 1790, Elisabeth passed out and was rushed to her chambers. Two days later she went into labour and suffered for a day and night before she gave birth to the extremely premature Archduchess Ludovika Elisabeth on 18th February. Although the little girl would survive for 16 months, Elisabeth passed away within hours of delivering her daughter and just two days later, her beloved uncle-in-law also lay dead.

The ill-fated Archduchess was interred in the Imperial Crypt in Vienna; her infant daughter and the deceased Emperor were laid to rest in the same crypt.

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The Marriage of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI

We have seen royal marriages before here at the salon but today marks the anniversary of a particularly iconic match of two young people. The leading players in this drama would meet famously unhappy ends, but for now let us visit them in earlier times and see how the match between Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI came to be.

Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria by Martin van Meytens, 1767-1768

The first die was cast with the death of Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor, in 1765. His widow, Maria Theresa, was left to rule the Holy Roman Empire alongside her son, Joseph II, and the politically astute Empress set about a carefully planned programme of dynastic marriages. These weddings were intended to cement alliances that were entered into during the Seven Years' War and Austria was set to advance via the altars of Europe.

With betrothals arranged with various royal houses, Maria Theresa intended that one of her daughters would marry the 14 year old Louis, Dauphin of France. However, smallpox swept through the House of Habsburg-Lorraine and killed or permanently disfigured the possible candidates for this key marriage other than 12 year old Archduchess Maria Antonia, who had survived the disease earlier in her childhood. The Empress presented Maria Antonia as a match for Louis and negotiations began in earnest, led by Étienne François, Duc de Choiseul.

Louis XVI by Joseph-Siffrein Duplessis, 1776

Over the two years that followed an enormous dowry of 200,000 crowns was agreed upon and the family of the groom to be began to view their likely new member with a critical eye. Her teeth were crooked and her smile unpleasant, they commented, and the young lady was subjected to months of unanaesthetised corrective surgery at the hans of dentist, Pierre Laveran, until both France and Austria were satisfied. Her wardrobe, hair, make up and etiquette skills were overhauled and finally, it was agreed that the young Archduchess was fit to marry into the Bourbon household.

On 19th April 1770, Maria Antonia attended the Augustinerkirche in Vienna to be married by proxy to Louis. Her brother, Ferdinand, served as groom for the ceremony and she officially took the name and title, Marie Antoinette, Dauphine of France.

The Augustinerkirche in Vienna

By now all of 14, Marie Antoinette immediately began the journey to her new life and two weeks later she was handed over to her French carers, including our old friend, Madame Etiquette, better known as Anne d'Arpajon, comtesse de Noailles. Finally, on 16th May, the bride and groom were married ceremonially in the royal chapel at Versailles before a crowd of 5000 who crowded into grandstands in the Hall of Mirrors to watch the procession pass. It was to be the start of a far from settled union plagued by politics, gossip and intrigue but for now let us leave the newlyweds on this, the 244th anniversary of their marriage.

To read about the tragedy that befell a public firework display in honour of the marriage, click here.

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The Philanthropic Life of Caroline Augusta of Bavaria

Caroline Augusta of Bavaria (Karoline Charlotte Auguste von Bayern; Mannheim, Germany, 8th February 1792 – Vienna, Austria, 9th February 1873)

Caroline Augusta of Bavaria, 1816

Another noble lady visits the salon today today with the story of Caroline Augusta of Bavaria, a shrewd and charitable sort!

Caroline Augusta was the daughter of Maximilian I Joseph, King of Bavaria and his wife, Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt. As a striking and vibrant young woman of an influential house, she was in demand as a dynastic match but was not willing to be a pawn to marriage.

The Imperial Family (l. to r., Caroline Augusta, ; Francis I, Napoleon II, Princess Sophie, Duchess Marie-Louise, Ferdinand I, Archduke Franz Karl) by Leopold Fertbauer, 1826

On 8th June 1808 she married Crown Prince William of Württemberg; the marriage was not one of love but was an arrangement of convenience to ensure that she could not be subjected to a marriage brokered by Napoleon. The couple lived apart and were never husband and wife in anything but law, eventually divorcing on 31st August 1814. Caroline Augusta ensured that the marriage was dissolved by Pope Pius VII, ensuring that she would be able to marry again should she wish.

Caroline Augusta of Bavaria photographed in 1873

In fact, Caroline Augusta remarried just two years later, when she became the wife of Francis I, Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary and Bohemia, having had the choice of the Emperor and his brother, Ferdinand. A well-liked and unassuming  woman with a love of philanthropy, she retired to Salzburg when widowed and indulged her charitable interests until her death.

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The Death of Charles X

Charles X (Charles Philippe; Versailles, France, 9th October 1757 – Görz, Austrian Empire, 6th November 1836) 

Charles X by Jean-Baptiste Paulin Guérin, 1827

It seems that we are destined to meet Charles X only on the most unhappy occasions. His last visit to the salon occurred on the anniversary of his abdication from the French throne and today we mark the date of his death. He passed his final days in Görz, but what were the events that brought him to his final destination?

At our last meeting we left Charles X in England before a crowd of unhappy Britons who met the newly-styled comte de Ponthieu with jeers and the tricolour flag. Not only were the locals in1830 less than welcoming, but Charles could not leave his debts behind as easily as his crown and he found his creditors had also crossed the Channel and were now more than keen to see the colour of his money. Luckily for Charles, his late wife, Maria Theresa of Savoy, had money held in trust in London and he used this to settle his debts.

As far as Charles was concerned, his life in England could now progress and for a short time he settled at Lulworth Castle before travelling north to take up residence at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh. The deposed Bourbons found it hard to settle in their new existence and two years after their arrival in England they were on the move again, happy to accept the offer of sanctuary in Prague from Emperor Francis I.

Home for now became Hradschin Palace and here they would remain until 1835, when the family purchased Kirchberg Castle. Unfortunately, they were unable to take up residence in their new home due to an unfortunately timed cholera outbreak and, as they waited for the danger to pass, Charles decided to take the sun in Görz.

In fact, it was a particular dark twist of fate that saw Charles contract cholera almost immediately upon arrival, dying soon after. As the townspeople mourned their late guest, Charles was interred in the Church of the Annunciation of Our Lady in the Kostanjevica Monastery, his roaming finally at an end.

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The Holy Life of Archduchess Maria Anna Josepha Antonia of Austria

Archduchess Maria Anna Josepha Antonia of Austria (Known as Marianna; Vienna, Austria, 6th October 1738 – Klagenfurt, Austria, 19th November 1789)

Archduchess Maria Anna Josepha Antonia of Austria by Martin van Meytens 

A little while ago we made the acquaintance of Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor and today the salon is visited by his daughter, Archduchess Maria Anna Josepha Antonia of Austria, known to those close to her as Marianna. Whilst her sister made a fateful marriage, Marianna was to dedicate her life to scholarly and religious pursuits, battling against ill health every step of the way.

Archduchess Maria Anna was born at the Hofburg Palce to Maria Theresa of Austria and Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor and until the birth of her brother, Joseph, in 1741 she was heiress presumptive to the territories of the Hapsburg empire. Although Marianna was a bright and intelligent girl, she endured a number of medical conditions, most notably a hump on her back as the result of an agonising fused spine. Already weakened, a spell of pneumonia at the age of 19 left the young woman with breathing difficulties for the rest of her life and when this was followed by a disfiguring bout of smallpox, it quickly became apparent that she was not going to make a suitable match on the European marriage market.

The Imperial Family by Martin van Meytens, 1754

Adored by her father who was concerned for her future, Mariana did not dwell on the empire-building impact of a good royal marriage and instead took holy orders, becoming abbess of the Imperial and Royal Convent for Noble Ladies in Prague and subsequently abbess of Klagenfurt, where she lived with her sister Maria Elisabeth. Her youngest sister Marie Antoinette, visited Marianna and Maria Elisabeth on her way to her own marriage at Versailles, spending an evening with her siblings during her journey.

As she increased her philanthropic efforts Marianna also remained dedicated to furthering her education and had a particular interest in science, conducting her own experiments and funding those of others, as well as archeological expeditions and creative endeavours. She was an important patron of the arts and was made a member of both the Vienna Academy of Art and the Florence Academy of Art, as well as gaining the respect of the scientific community for her patronage of research and scholarly pursuits. 

Respected by the people of Klagenfurt, the Archduchess remained there as her health deteriorated, eventually dying in the adopted city she had come to love. 

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Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor, A Ruler in Name Only?

Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor and Grand Duke of Tuscany (Francis Stephen; Nancy, France, 8th December 1708 – Innsbruck, Austria, 18th August 1765)

After an interlude with a somewhat ambitious lady we are back in Austria for an audience with another Holy Roman Emperor, the founder of the powerful Hapsburg-Lorraine dynasty. His life was one of politics and upheaval, steered through some very choppy waters by a politically astute wife who adored him.

Born into a dynasty that enjoyed some very influential connections, Francis was the son of Leopold Joseph, duke of Lorraine, and his wife Élisabeth Charlotte d'Orléans, daughter of Philippe, duc d'Orléans. The family had a long and fruitful relationship with the house of Hapsburg via marriage and it was an alliance that would prove fateful for Francis.

Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, was looking around the ruling houses for a suitable match for his daughter, Maria Theresa, and quite naturally turned his attention to his cousins in the house of Lorraine. There he settled on Francis' elder brother, Leopold Clement. However, when Leopold died Charles decided that Francis would be an idea substitute, taking the teenager to live in Vienna with his bride-to-be. Francis and Maria Theresa became very close, with the future bride particularly enthusiastic about their planned union.

Francis I by Martin van Meytens, 1745

As the years wore on Francis travelled throughout Europe, becoming a Master Freemason in the United Kingdom and Duke of Lorraine on his father's death. In 1732 Maria had him appointed Lord Lieutenant of Hungary, a position that he was less than thrilled to receive as he had warmed somewhat to life as a gentleman of leisure. 

In 1733 the War of the Polish Succession broke out and Lorraine fell to the French; when peace was declared two years later Francis was awarded the Grand Duchy of Tuscany by means of compensation as Lorraine was handed to Stanisław Leszczyński, the unsuccessful claimant to the Polish throne. Although Francis' family prevailed upon him to reject the deal, Charles strongly encouraged him to accept and the young man acquiesced to the wishes of his future father-in-law, agreeing to what would eventually become the Treaty of Vienna. The loss of Lorraine hit Francis' family hard and when it came time to make his engagement to Maria Theresa official, the young man wavered. A few tense minutes passed but Francis recovered his nerve and agreed to the wedding formally, with the ceremony taking place less than a fortnight later in February 1736.

Maria Theresa by Andreas Möller

A shrewd political negotiator, after the death of her father Maria Theresa found herself plunged into the War of Austrian Succession. With the excuse that a woman couldn't succeed to her father's throne, France and Prussia moved against her, determined to lessen the influence of the powerful Hapsburg dynasty. The War raged on for eight years before the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle brought it to an end in 1748 and we've already hosted one of its most infamous spies here at Gin Lane!

In fact, though Maria Theresa's gender did indeed preclude her from ruling the Holy Roman Empiere, she had long intended to make her husband co-Regent of her Austrian and Bohemian territories. This, she hoped, would lay the foundations for him to assume the Imperial throne. In fact, it would be another five years before this aim was achieved and in 1745 Francis was elected Holy Roman Emperor. 

In reality Francis would rule in name alone, with his wife the prime mover behind the Empire, a situation that suited her husband admirably. He did not share her love of politics and preferred to advise Maria Theresa in an administrative capacity, spending his time indulging his love of nature and engaging in a number of high profile love affairs. With his wife he had sixteen children including the last Archbishop-Elector of Cologne and the near-legendary Queen Marie Antoinette. 

The Wedding Breakfast of Maria Theresa of Austria and Francis  by Martin van Meytens

Whilst in Innsbruck to celebrate the wedding of one of his children, Francis took a trip to the opera. Returning in his coach on the evening of 18th August 1765, the Holy Roman Emperor died suddenly and unexpectedly. His reign may have been over but Maria Theresa's certainly was not. As her son, Joseph II, took the throne, he found himself a more than able guide in the form of his mother, who assured him that the business of the Holy Roman Empire was safe in her hands.



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The Fall of the Holy Roman Empire

A little more dynastic wrangling today, as Napoleon continues his campaign across the continent and this time, brings down the Holy Roman Empire.

Francis I, 1816

Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor, had never really been a fan of the French. A nephew of Marie Antoinette, as he watched Napoleon's seemingly unstoppable rise he took a dim view of the new political landscape as the French Empire crept up on the borders of his own Holy Roman Empire. A fierce defender of his country, Francis had led Austria in the French Revolutionary Wars and saw his forces fall to Napoleon in Flanders. This first defeat would cost him dearly in territory and morale under the terms of the Treaty of Campo Formio, hobbling Austria's military might.

The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries by Jacques-Louis David 1812

Undeterred, Francis forged on as part of the Third Coalition, eventually facing Napoleon again at the Battle of Austerlitz. After a gruelling nine hour battle the Russo-Austrian army fell, crushed beneath the might and strategy of Napoleon's campaign. Already weakened by earlier defeats, Austria faced further catastrophic financial and territorial sanctions under the terms of the Treaty of Pressburg. With the signing of the treaty there was little Holy Roman Empire left to speak of and Francis abdicated on 6th August 1806, dissolving the Holy Roman Empire. 

He founded the Austrian Empire and was henceforth known as Francis I of Austria, the loss of the imperial throne a humiliation that he would not soon forget.

Napoleon at the Battle of Austerlitz by François Gérard, 1810

Fired with new optimism by France's struggles in the Peninsular War, Francis had another tilt at Napoleon in 1809 and, perhaps unsurprisingly, found his armies defeated once again. This time the stakes were personal as Francis' daughter, Marie-Louise went on to marry Napoleon and for a while at least, all was peaceful in France and Austria.

This bliss couldn't lost though and soon Francis was sharpening his sword again, this time as a member of the sixth coalition  alongside Prussia, Russia, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Sweden and Spain. This time the outcome was to be very different as, after a series of battles across Europe, Napoleon's forces were slowly driven back towards France. By the end of the War of the Sixth Coalition over two million people were dead and Napoleon was in exile, his Empire in tatters. 

In honour of their part in the victory, Francis was given the honour of presiding over the Congress of Vienna but his country would never again know the might it had once enjoyed, forever weakened by its disastrous conflicts with the French.

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