Marie Henriette of Austria

Marie Henriette of Austria VA ( born August 23, 1836 in Pest, Hungary, † September 19, 1902 in Spa ) was a member of the House of Habsburg- Lorraine and by marriage Queen of the Belgians. She came from the Hungarian branch of the House of Habsburg- Lorraine, the Archduke Joseph († 1847) declined.

Family and Youth

Marie Henriette was born as the daughter of Archduke Joseph of Austria and his third wife, Maria Dorothea of Württemberg. She grew up with her ​​siblings in Hungary. The Archduchess loved horses more than anything and was very athletic. She was interested in music and painting, later even composed an opera: Wanda.

In August 1853 Marie Henriette married despite tearful protest of the same age Crown Prince of Belgium, Leopold, Duke of Brabant. It started a very unhappy marriage.

They had four children: Louise, Leopold, Stephanie and Clementine.

Queen of Belgium

1865 Leopold II ascended the throne of Belgium. Marie Henriette was cold and inaccessible. Their children were brought up very strictly and with discipline, perhaps because they believed, by a privation childhood life can be mastered easily. Your only love and passion was her Hungarian horses.

As 1869 is the only Crown Prince Leopold died, broke Marie Henriette. Nevertheless, it was 1872 again pregnant, but the long-awaited Crown Prince was out, it was again a girl, Clementine.

Marie Henriette retired in 1895 after spa back and broke contact with their daughters off. Their daughter Clementine took over the representative duties. But the queen was with her in-laws aunt Anna, Countess of Meran ( born Plochl ), her uncle John the woman in correspondence. Lonely she died on September 19, 1902 after a severe asthma attack and heart spasms age of 66 of a heart attack and was buried in the Church of Our Lady in Brussels.