Princess Isabella of Croÿ

Isabella Hedwig Franziska Natalia Princess of Croy - Dülmen, Archduchess of Austria -Teschen ( born February 27, 1856 in Dülmen, † September 5, 1931 in Budapest) was a German high nobility.

Life

Isabella was born into the old, originally coming from the county of Ponthieu in Picardy noble family de Croy, which is first mentioned in the 12th century. She was a daughter of Duke Rudolf of Croy and his first wife, Princess Natalie of Ligne.

Isabella married on October 8, 1878 Archduke Frederick of Austria at Château L' Hermitage at Condé- sur- l'Escaut. The young Archduchess supported her husband in his work. By way of example they mastered household and the education of nine children. Isabella was a socially engaged woman. She promoted the handcrafted art of Hungarian women through the establishment of schools and enthusiastic about the music of the Roma. She was a talented photographer and played passionate about tennis. Because of their obesity She also was mockingly called Busabella.

Ironically, on -site tennis court in 1898 made ​​his a scandal. The gold pocket watch of the nephew of Emperor Franz Joseph I., Franz Ferdinand, who had already stayed several weeks in Halbturn had been found there. Great was the disappointment, not in the clock - as hoped - to find the image of their daughters, but the portrait of her own maid Sophie Chotková, the daughter of an insignificant professional diplomats. The story was even more embarrassing than the heir to the throne known for his love and married her in spite of all opposition. The heir to the throne, Franz Ferdinand and Sophie pair was assassinated in Sarajevo in 1914 by Serb rebels. After the First World War Isabella vigorously supported the efforts to win the Hungarian throne for her son, Albrecht.

Archduchess Isabella is with her husband Frederick in Hungarian Altenburg (West Hungary) in the parish church " St. Gotthard " buried.

Progeny

  • Maria Christina (1879-1962) ∞ Prince Emanuel of Salm- Salm
  • Maria Anna (1882-1940) ∞ Duke Elias of Bourbon- Parma
  • Maria Henriette (1883-1956) ∞ Prince Gottfried of Hohenlohe- Waldenburg - Schillingsfuerst
  • Natalie (1884-1898)
  • Stephanie (1886-1890)
  • Gabriele (1887-1954)
  • Isabella (1888-1973) ∞ 1912 Prince Georg of Bavaria
  • Mary Alice (1893-1962)
  • Albrecht II (1897-1955)
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