Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria (1610–1665)

Maria Anna of Austria ( born January 13, 1610 Graz, † September 25, 1665 in Munich) was an Archduchess of Austria and by marriage Electress of Bavaria.

Life

Archduchess of Austria

Maria Anna was the eldest surviving daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II (1578-1637) from his marriage to Maria Anna (1574-1616), daughter of Duke Wilhelm V of Bavaria. Maria Anna, who had a particular fondness for hunting, was a strict Catholic education by the Jesuits, was considered a great beauty and was certified properties, such as wisdom, orderly life and stateliness. The archduchess also spoke fluent Italian in addition to their mother tongue.

Marriage

Maria Anna married on 15 July 1635 the Augustinian Church in Vienna as the second wife of her uncle, the Elector Maximilian I of Bavaria ( 1573-1651 ). The marriage was performed by the Bishop of Olomouc Franz Seraph von Dietrich stone. During the negotiation of the marriage contract, which was signed on 17 July 1635, Emperor Ferdinand the admission that Maria Anna should not pronounce the usual renunciation of inheritance, which for a extinction of the male descendants of Ferdinand II a Miterberecht Maria Anna envisaged. For the dowry of 250,000 guilders Anna Maria City and Castle Wasserburg and the district courts and markets Kraiburg and Neumarkt were assured. As a widow seat Maria Anna Trausnitz should be obtained from Landshut.

The marriage with Maria Anna was not only connected with the hope for the birth of a crown prince but also a political demonstration Maximilians than turning to the imperial house against France, which had begun on the verge of a war against the Empire. However, the connection only played a minor role in the relations between Austria and Bavaria later.

Electress of Bavaria

The marriage was very happy and Maximilian cared for his wife lovingly. During the first pregnancy, Anna Maria, the couple made ​​a pilgrimage to Andechs to pray for a happy birth. The first born son was named his godfather, Maria Anna's father Ferdinand. The birth was Maria Anna so weakened that she lost her ability to speak. The cure to have been accelerated by means of relics of St. Francis de Paula, why Maximilian this Holy vorm Wald founded a monastery in Nine castle.

Maria Anna supported her husband in government affairs and showed interest in the politics of the Electorate. They also personally took part in meetings of the Council of Ministers. With her ​​brother Emperor Ferdinand III. led them a detailed family but also political correspondence, where she represented the Bavarian standpoint. But even with numerous court officials led the Electress a detailed correspondence.

After the capture of Philipsburg by the French in 1644, Maria Anna urged on behalf of her husband, her brother Leopold Wilhelm, who was commander of the imperial army since 1639, to peace negotiations. Shortly before his death in 1650, Maximilian had written the good -hearted information for his wife and given her so a guide for their upcoming tutelary government.

Regent

When Maximilian I. in 1641 wrote his will, Maria Anna claimed in this for the eventual reign of her son, a co-signature law in national matters. For the Office of the Administrator women were excluded in Bavaria and Saxony, according to Golden Bull. She left without her husband's knowledge an expertise to commission and finally received the corresponding order in Maximilian Testament. Thus, after Maximilian's death Duke Albrecht of Bavaria Regent for his first-born son in the kingdom and course supplies, for Justice, Kameral and other country things Maria Anna was responsible. In addition to Albrecht and the Electress also Hofkammerpräsident Mändl belonged with the Administrationsrat who worked through adolescence the Elector in 1654.

1664 Maria Anna suggested that remained even after the end of the reign of her son's counselor, to this, to put the country under the patronage of St. Joseph. She lived after the death of her husband the widow floor, the southwestern part of the Munich Residence at Middle Schwabinger alley, today's residence street. Until her death she was a member of the Privy Council, the highest government body, where they, however, had no voting rights. She was buried in St. Michael's Church, Munich; her heart rests in the chapel Altöttings.

Progeny

From their marriage, Maria Anna had two sons:

• Ferdinand Maria (1636-1679), Elector of Bavaria

• Maximilian Philipp (1638-1705), Landgrave of Leuchtenberg