Margaret Theresa of Spain
Margarita Teresa (Spanish: Margarita Teresa de Austria ) (* July 12, 1651 in Madrid, † March 12 1673 in Vienna) was Infanta of Spain from the Spanish line of the Habsburgs and Roman- German Empress. She was the first wife of Emperor Leopold I and sister of the last Spanish king from the House of Habsburg, Charles II of Spain.
Life
The Margarita Teresa's parents were King Philip IV of Spain and his almost thirty years younger niece Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria. This was called in Spain Mariana de Austria, and was the daughter of Emperor Ferdinand III. and sister of Emperor Leopold. The mother of Maria Anna was thus in turn the younger sister of King Philip IV From the marriage of Philip IV and Maria Anna were born six children, only two of which were grown up, Margarita Teresa and Charles the heir apparent. Margarita Teresa was her father, who described in his letters as " my joy " the favorite child. In contrast to her younger brother Margarita suffered not so much from the effects of inbreeding, which existed between the Spanish and the Austrian Habsburgs. She was repeatedly portrayed as a child by Spanish painters.
Margarita Theresa married in the course of the Habsburg marriage policy - after long marriage negotiations - at Easter 1666 by procurationem ( by proxy ) her uncle (also cousin ) Leopold. Only in December of the same year met the Spanish bride at age 15 in Vienna, where the official wedding was celebrated with great pomp. On the occasion of the wedding specially composed by Antonio Cesti opera " Il pomo d' oro " was performed ( The Golden Apple ). For the performance Leopold had built their own theater on the Cortina ( the site of today's National Library, next to the Vienna Hofburg ). This nine-hour performance, the cost of which amounted to 100,000 florins was still many years of conversation throughout Europe. A part of the opera had written himself for his bride, the musical emperor. Overall, the wedding festivities lasted all winter until Lent.
Margarita Teresa called the Kaiser during their marriage, " uncle", as he said " Gretl " to her. The connection of the pair was planned a long time and on this occasion was the court of Madrid three paintings by Diego Velázquez customize and send to Vienna showing the young Infanta at the age of three, five and eight years. The paintings hang today in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
The young Empress was of strict piety and prompted Leopold I to the expulsion of the Jews from Vienna, because it gave them the blame for her numerous miscarriages.
She shared her husband 's interest in music. The marriage was harmonious and six years of marriage, gave birth to the Empress six children (including two miscarriages ), of which only one daughter, Maria Antonia ( 1669-1692 ), later wife of Maximilian II Emanuel, survived.
Margarita Teresa was very tender. She suffered since her youth in a goiter, a lesion of the thyroid.
Due to the aloofness and arrogance of the Spanish retinue of the young Empress began at the court to undergo a broad anti-Spanish sentiment, which turned against Margarita Teresa. The courtiers gave openly expressed their hope that the ailing Empress would die soon to pave the way Leopold to a second marriage. This intolerable situation loaded Margarita Teresa and very shortly after the birth of her sixth child, she died weakened by the many pregnancies at the age of only 21 years. Her claim to the Spanish inheritance was thus transferred to the Emperor Leopold I.. Because of Margarita Teresa in contrast to her by King Louis XIV of France married half-sister María Teresa (1638-1683) was called for a waiver of the Spanish inheritance, founded Leopold I later under the Spanish Succession war with this marriage his claim to Spain.
Progeny
In marriage with Leopold I gave birth to the following children:
- Ferdinand Wenzel (September 28, 1667 - January 13, 1668 )
- Maria Antonia (18 January 1669 - 24 December 1692 ) ∞ 1685 Elector Maximilian II Emanuel of Bavaria
- Johann Leopold (* / † February 20, 1670 )
- Maria Anna Antonia (09 February 1672 - February 23, 1672)