Archduchess Maria Christina of Austria (1574-1621)
Encyclopedia
Maria Christierna of Austria (10 November 1574 – 6 April 1621), was a German princess member of the House of Habsburg and by marriage Princess of Transylvania.
She was the daughter of Archduke Charles II of Austria, the son of Emperor Ferdinand I
, and Maria Anna of Bavaria. Her elder brother Archduke Ferdinand
, succeeded as Holy Roman Emperor
in 1619.
Sigismund Báthory
, ruling Prince of Transylvania, by the noblemen Stephen Bocskay
. The marriage contract was negotiated almost a month, and finally the bride on 15 June accompanied by her mother, the Prince-Bishop George of Lavant and 6000 German horsemen. In Kaschau Maria Christina fell ill with fever, which delayed the re-ride. The formal marriage took place in Weissenburg
on 6 August 1595, and soon after Maria Christina moved to Transylvania.
The marriage was regarded as a major political gain, as Sigismund, formerly a vassal of the Ottoman Empire
, now formed close ties with the Holy Roman Empire
. Emperor Rudolf II appointed Sigismund Prince of the Holy Roman Empire (Reichsfürst), and also secured the possession of Transylvania, if the couple remain without offspring. The agreement was signed on 16 January 1595 by the Hungarian parliament in Bratislava.
However, this union proved to be completely unhappy: Sigismund, after a disastrous wedding night, refused to consummated the marriage and sent his wife to a fortress in Kővár vára, where Maria Christina was kept as prisoner until 18 April 1598, when, at the request of the local nobility, she was chosen to occupied the Transylvanian throne after her husband abdicated; however, her rule was only nominal, because Emperor Rudolf II sent representatives to rule. On 20 August 1598 Sigismund Báthory regained the throne and reconcilied with his wife, but sent her again to Kővár.
When Sigismund abdicated for a second time in March 1599, Maria Christina finally left him and return to Austria in April. On 17 August 1599 Pope Clement VIII
dissolved her marriage, and in 1607 she joined to her younger sister Eleanor
in the Haller Convent (Haller Damenstift) in Hall in Tirol
, where she died in 1621, aged forty-six.
She was the daughter of Archduke Charles II of Austria, the son of Emperor Ferdinand I
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest...
, and Maria Anna of Bavaria. Her elder brother Archduke Ferdinand
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
, succeeded as Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
in 1619.
Life
On 7 February 1595 was received in Graz the formal petition of marriage between Maria Christina andSigismund Báthory
Sigismund Báthory
Sigismund Báthory was Prince of Transylvania.-Biography:Hailing from the Báthory family's Somlyó branch, he was the son of Christopher Báthory, Voivod of Transylvania, and nephew of Stephen Báthory, King of Poland...
, ruling Prince of Transylvania, by the noblemen Stephen Bocskay
Stephen Bocskay
Stephen Bocskai or István Bocskai Stephen Bocskai or István Bocskai Stephen Bocskai or István Bocskai (or Bocskay, (1 January 1557 – 29 December 1606) was a HungarianCalvinist nobleman, Prince of Transylvania (1605–06), who defended Hungarian interests when Hungary was divided into Ottoman...
. The marriage contract was negotiated almost a month, and finally the bride on 15 June accompanied by her mother, the Prince-Bishop George of Lavant and 6000 German horsemen. In Kaschau Maria Christina fell ill with fever, which delayed the re-ride. The formal marriage took place in Weissenburg
Weissenburg
The German names Weissenburg and Weißenburg can refer to:* Weißenburg in Bayern in Germany* Alba Iulia in Romania* Wissembourg in France...
on 6 August 1595, and soon after Maria Christina moved to Transylvania.
The marriage was regarded as a major political gain, as Sigismund, formerly a vassal of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, now formed close ties with the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
. Emperor Rudolf II appointed Sigismund Prince of the Holy Roman Empire (Reichsfürst), and also secured the possession of Transylvania, if the couple remain without offspring. The agreement was signed on 16 January 1595 by the Hungarian parliament in Bratislava.
However, this union proved to be completely unhappy: Sigismund, after a disastrous wedding night, refused to consummated the marriage and sent his wife to a fortress in Kővár vára, where Maria Christina was kept as prisoner until 18 April 1598, when, at the request of the local nobility, she was chosen to occupied the Transylvanian throne after her husband abdicated; however, her rule was only nominal, because Emperor Rudolf II sent representatives to rule. On 20 August 1598 Sigismund Báthory regained the throne and reconcilied with his wife, but sent her again to Kővár.
When Sigismund abdicated for a second time in March 1599, Maria Christina finally left him and return to Austria in April. On 17 August 1599 Pope Clement VIII
Pope Clement VIII
Pope Clement VIII , born Ippolito Aldobrandini, was Pope from 30 January 1592 to 3 March 1605.-Cardinal:...
dissolved her marriage, and in 1607 she joined to her younger sister Eleanor
Archduchess Eleanor of Austria (1582–1620)
Eleanor of Austria , was a German princess and a member of the House of Habsburg.She was the daughter of Archduke Charles II of Austria, the son of Emperor Ferdinand I, and Maria Anna of Bavaria...
in the Haller Convent (Haller Damenstift) in Hall in Tirol
Hall in Tirol
Hall in Tirol is a town in the Innsbruck-Land district of Tyrol, Austria. Located at an altitude of 574 m, about 5 km east of the state's capital Innsbruck in the Inn valley, it has a population of about 12,700 .-History:...
, where she died in 1621, aged forty-six.