Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria-Este (1817–1886)
Encyclopedia
Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria-Este (14 July 1817, Modena
, Duchy of Modena and Reggio
– 25 March 1886, Gorizia
, Austria–Hungary) was a member of the House of Austria-Este and Archduchess and Princess of Austria, Princess of Hungary, Bohemia, and Modena by birth. Through her marriage to Henri, comte de Chambord
, Maria Theresa was also a member of the House of Bourbon
. Henri was disputedly King of France and Navarre from 2 to 9 August 1830 and afterwards the Legitimist Pretender
to the throne of France from 1844 to 1883. Maria Theresa was the eldest child of Francis IV, Duke of Modena
and his wife Maria Beatrice of Savoy
.
, the posthumous son of Charles Ferdinand, Duke of Berry, younger son of Charles X of France
, by his wife, Princess Caroline Ferdinande of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, daughter of Francis I of the Two Sicilies
, by proxy on 7 November 1846 in Modena
and in person on 16 November 1846 in Bruck an der Mur
. Maria Theresa and Henri produced no children.
Maria Theresa had been chosen as Henri's wife by his paternal aunt Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte of France
. Marie-Thérèse sought to ally the exiled French Royal Family with the House of Austria-Este for several reasons: it was Roman Catholic and the only royal family not to have recognized the July Monarchy
of Louis-Philippe of France
. Henri had actually preferred Maria Theresa's youngest sister, Maria Beatrix
.
After Henri's death on 24 August 1883, Maria Theresa and a minority of Henri's supporters held that Juan, Count of Montizón
, as senior male descendant of Louis XIV
, was his successor. Juan's wife was Maria Theresa's sister, Maria Beatrix.
Maria Theresa was instrumental in building a crypt for the French Royal Family at the Church of the Annunciation of Our Lady on Castagnavizza in Görz (now in Nova Gorica
, Slovenia
). It was her wish that the last of the Bourbons be gathered in one place together within the monastery at Castagnavizza. Three years after the death of her husband Henri, Maria Theresa died on 25 March 1886 in Görz, then Austria and was interred with her husband in the crypt of the church of Franciscan Monastery of Castagnavizza in Görz, then Austria, now Kostanjevica in the Slovenian town of Nova Gorica
.
Modena
Modena is a city and comune on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy....
, Duchy of Modena and Reggio
Duchy of Modena and Reggio
The Duchy of Modena and Reggio |Italian]] state that existed from 1452 to 1859, with a break between 1796 and 1814. It was ruled by the noble House of Este, from 1814 Austria-Este.-House of Este:...
– 25 March 1886, Gorizia
Gorizia
Gorizia is a town and comune in northeastern Italy, in the autonomous region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. It is located at the foot of the Julian Alps, bordering Slovenia. It is the capital of the Province of Gorizia, and it is a local center of tourism, industry, and commerce. Since 1947, a twin...
, Austria–Hungary) was a member of the House of Austria-Este and Archduchess and Princess of Austria, Princess of Hungary, Bohemia, and Modena by birth. Through her marriage to Henri, comte de Chambord
Henri, comte de Chambord
Henri, comte de Chambord was disputedly King of France from 2 to 9 August 1830 as Henry V, although he was never officially proclaimed as such...
, Maria Theresa was also a member of the House of Bourbon
House of Bourbon
The House of Bourbon is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty . Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma...
. Henri was disputedly King of France and Navarre from 2 to 9 August 1830 and afterwards the Legitimist Pretender
Pretender
A pretender is one who claims entitlement to an unavailable position of honour or rank. Most often it refers to a former monarch, or descendant thereof, whose throne is occupied or claimed by a rival, or has been abolished....
to the throne of France from 1844 to 1883. Maria Theresa was the eldest child of Francis IV, Duke of Modena
Francis IV, Duke of Modena
Francis IV Joseph Charles Ambrose Stanislaus was Duke of Modena, Reggio, and Mirandola , Duke of Massa and Prince of Carrara , Archduke of Austria-Este, Royal Prince of Hungary and Bohemia, Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece...
and his wife Maria Beatrice of Savoy
Maria Beatrice of Savoy
Maria Beatrice of Savoy was a Princess of Savoy and Duchess of Modena by marriage. She was also the Jacobite Pretender from 1824 until her death.-Biography:...
.
Life
Maria Theresa married Henri, comte de ChambordHenri, comte de Chambord
Henri, comte de Chambord was disputedly King of France from 2 to 9 August 1830 as Henry V, although he was never officially proclaimed as such...
, the posthumous son of Charles Ferdinand, Duke of Berry, younger son of Charles X of France
Charles X of France
Charles X was known for most of his life as the Comte d'Artois before he reigned as King of France and of Navarre from 16 September 1824 until 2 August 1830. A younger brother to Kings Louis XVI and Louis XVIII, he supported the latter in exile and eventually succeeded him...
, by his wife, Princess Caroline Ferdinande of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, daughter of Francis I of the Two Sicilies
Francis I of the Two Sicilies
-Biography:Francis was born in Naples, the son of Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies and his wife Archduchess Maria Carolina of Austria. He was also the nephew of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI the last King and Queen of France before the first French Republic....
, by proxy on 7 November 1846 in Modena
Modena
Modena is a city and comune on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy....
and in person on 16 November 1846 in Bruck an der Mur
Bruck an der Mur
Bruck an der Mur is a city of some 13,500 people located in the Austrian state of Styria. It is located at the confluence of the Mur and Mürz Rivers. Its manufactures include metal products and paper; Bruck is an important rail junction in the region located on the Graz to Vienna main...
. Maria Theresa and Henri produced no children.
Maria Theresa had been chosen as Henri's wife by his paternal aunt Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte of France
Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte of France
Marie Thérèse de France was the eldest child of King Louis XVI of France and his wife, Queen Marie Antoinette...
. Marie-Thérèse sought to ally the exiled French Royal Family with the House of Austria-Este for several reasons: it was Roman Catholic and the only royal family not to have recognized the July Monarchy
July Monarchy
The July Monarchy , officially the Kingdom of France , was a period of liberal constitutional monarchy in France under King Louis-Philippe starting with the July Revolution of 1830 and ending with the Revolution of 1848...
of Louis-Philippe of France
Louis-Philippe of France
Louis Philippe I was King of the French from 1830 to 1848 in what was known as the July Monarchy. His father was a duke who supported the French Revolution but was nevertheless guillotined. Louis Philippe fled France as a young man and spent 21 years in exile, including considerable time in the...
. Henri had actually preferred Maria Theresa's youngest sister, Maria Beatrix
Archduchess Maria Beatrix of Austria-Este
Maria Beatrix of Austria-Este was a member of the House of Austria-Este and Archduchess and Princess of Austria, Princess of Hungary, Bohemia, and Modena by birth. Daughter of Francis IV of Modena and his niece, Beatrix II of Modena...
.
After Henri's death on 24 August 1883, Maria Theresa and a minority of Henri's supporters held that Juan, Count of Montizón
Juan, Count of Montizón
Don Juan Carlos María Isidro de Borbón, Count of Montizón was the Carlist claimant to the throne of Spain from 1860 to 1868, and the Legitimist claimant to the throne of France from 1883 to 1887.- Youth and marriage :...
, as senior male descendant of Louis XIV
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
, was his successor. Juan's wife was Maria Theresa's sister, Maria Beatrix.
Maria Theresa was instrumental in building a crypt for the French Royal Family at the Church of the Annunciation of Our Lady on Castagnavizza in Görz (now in Nova Gorica
Nova Gorica
Nova Gorica ; 21,082 ; 31,000 ) is a town and a municipality in western Slovenia, on the border with Italy...
, Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
). It was her wish that the last of the Bourbons be gathered in one place together within the monastery at Castagnavizza. Three years after the death of her husband Henri, Maria Theresa died on 25 March 1886 in Görz, then Austria and was interred with her husband in the crypt of the church of Franciscan Monastery of Castagnavizza in Görz, then Austria, now Kostanjevica in the Slovenian town of Nova Gorica
Nova Gorica
Nova Gorica ; 21,082 ; 31,000 ) is a town and a municipality in western Slovenia, on the border with Italy...
.
Titles and styles
- 14 July 1817 – 7 November 1846: Her Imperial and Royal Highness Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria-Este, Princess Imperial of Austria, Princess Royal of Hungary and Bohemia, Princess of Modena
- 7 November 1846 – 24 August 1883: Her Imperial and Royal Highness The Countess of Chambord, Duchess of Bordeaux
- disputedly Queen consort of France and Navarre
- 24 August 1883 – 25 March 1886: Her Imperial and Royal Highness The Dowager Countess of Chambord, Dowager Duchess of Bordeaux
- disputedly Queen dowager of France and Navarre