Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria (governor)

Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria (13 December 1680 in Linz – 26 August 1741 in Mariemont, Morlanwelz), was the governor of the Austrian Netherlands between 1725 and 1741.

Maria Elisabeth of Austria
Portrait by Jan van Orley
Governor of the Austrian Netherlands
In office Autumn 1725 – 26 August 1741
Preceded by	Prince Eugene of Savoy
Succeeded by	Count Friedrich August von Harrach-Rohrau (interim)
Born	13 December 1680 Linz, Archduchy of Austria, Holy Roman Empire
Died	26 August 1741 (aged 60) Château of Mariemont, Morlanwelz, County of Hainaut, Holy Roman Empire
Burial	Imperial Crypt, Vienna
Father	Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
Mother	Eleonore Magdalene of Neuburg

Joyous Entry into Brussels of Archduchess Maria Elisabeth on 9 October 1725 by Andreas Martin

Life

Maria Elisabeth, c. 1685

Maria Elisabeth was a daughter of Emperor Leopold I and Eleonore-Magdalena of Pfalz-Neuburg. She was well educated and fluent in Latin, German, French and Italian.

She never married.

Governor

Archduchess Maria Elizabeth by Johann Frederich Ardin, 1712

In 1725, she was appointed Prince Eugene of Savoy's successor as the regent governor of the Austrian Netherlands by her brother, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor.

Maria Elisabeth was described as a forceful administrator and a popular regent. Her independent politics, however, were not always appreciated in Vienna. She suspended the Ostend Company in 1727 and closed it in 1731.

She had enough financial means at her disposal to uphold an elaborate court which stimulated culture and music. Among others, she patronized Jean-Joseph Fiocco, her maestro di cappella who dedicated several oratorios to her between 1726 and 1738.

The architect Jean-Andre Anneessens designed the Château of Mariemont for her, where she spent her summers. Also, he renovated the Tervuren castle for her.

Death

She died unexpectedly at the age of 60, at Mariemont. She was then displayed at a public Lit-de-parade in Brussels 29 August. She was first buried in Brussels, then moved to Vienna in 1749 to the Imperial Crypt next to her brother Charles.

Ancestors

Ancestors of Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria (governor)

16. Charles II, Archduke of Inner Austria[1] (= 22) 8. Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor[2] 17. Maria Anna of Bavaria[1] (= 23, ≠9) 4. Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor[3] 18. William V, Duke of Bavaria[4] (= 26) 9. Maria Anna of Bavaria[2] (≠ 17, 23) 19. Renata of Lorraine[4] (= 27) 2. Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor 20. Philip II of Spain[5] 10. Philip III of Spain[6] 21. Anna of Austria[5] 5. Maria Anna of Austria[3] 22. Charles II, Archduke of Inner Austria[7] (= 16) 11. Margaret of Austria[6] 23. Maria Anna of Bavaria[7] (= 17, ≠9) 1. Maria Elisabeth of Austria 24. Philip Louis, Count Palatine of Neuburg[8] 12. Wolfgang William, Count Palatine of Neuburg[9] 25. Anna of Cleves[8] 6. Philip William, Elector Palatine[3] 26. William V, Duke of Bavaria[10] (= 18) 13. Magdalene of Bavaria[9] 27. Renata of Lorraine[10] (= 19) 3. Eleonore-Magdalena of Neuburg 28. Louis V, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt[11] 14. George II, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt[12] 29. Magdalene of Brandenburg[11] 7. Elisabeth Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt[3] 30. John George I, Elector of Saxony[13] 15. Sophia Eleonore of Saxony[12] 31. Magdalene Sibylle of Prussia[13]