Princess Isabella of Croÿ
Encyclopedia
Princess Isabella Hedwig Franziska Natalie of Croÿ (27 February 1856 – 5 September 1931) was the daughter of Rudolf, Duke of Croÿ
, and his wife Princess Natalie of Ligne
.
on 8 October 1878. They had eight daughters and one son:
began visiting Isabella and Friedrich's home. At first, it was assumed that he was there to court one of their many daughters. Eventually, it was discovered that in fact he was courting Countess Sophie Chotek, a lady-in-waiting to Archduchess Isabella.
Isabella became infuriated that Franz Ferdinand had not singled out one of her eight daughters as his bride and future empress; as a result she engaged in a crusade to thwart the marriage of Franz Ferdinand and Sophie. Sophie was dismissed from service, thus beginning an ongoing conflict between Friedrich and Franz Ferdinand who married Sophie in 1900. The marriage was morganatic; Sophie was subjected to the indignities of a much lower rank at court than that of her husband, and none of their children could succeed to their father's dynastic honours—all chiefly as a result of Isabella's machinations.
A decade later, Archduchess Isabella created a similar furor when her nephew, Karl, 13th Prince von Croy, of the House of Croy
, sought to marry Nancy Leishman, the charming young daughter of United States Ambassador to Germany
John George Alexander Leishman
, the former president of Carnegie Steel. As with Sophie Chotek, the Archduchess felt Nancy was not sufficiently aristocratic. Karl and Nancy were wed, nonetheless; today their grandson is the present Duke of Croy.
House of Croÿ
The House of Croÿ is an international family of European mediatized nobility which held a seat in the Imperial Diet from 1486, and was elevated to the rank of Imperial Princes in 1594...
, and his wife Princess Natalie of Ligne
Prince of Ligne
Prince of Ligne is one of the most prestigious Belgian noble titles. It goes back to the eleventh century and owes its name at the village in which it originated, between Ath and Tournai. The lords of Ligne belong to the entourage of the Count of Hainaut at the time of the crusades...
.
Marriage and issue
She married Archduke Friedrich, Duke of TeschenArchduke Friedrich, Duke of Teschen
Archduke Friedrich, Duke of Teschen was a member of the House of Habsburg and the Supreme Commander of the Austro-Hungarian Army during World War I.-Early life:...
on 8 October 1878. They had eight daughters and one son:
- Maria Christina, Archduchess of Austria-TeschenArchduchess Maria Christina of Austria (1879–1962)Archduchess Maria Christina Isabelle Natalie of Austria, full German name: Maria Christina Isabelle Natalie, Erzherzogin von Österreich was a member of the Teschen branch of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine and an Archduchess of Austria and Princess of Bohemia, Hungary, and Tuscany by...
(1879–1962), married Prince Manuel of Salm-Salm - Maria Anna, Archduchess of Austria-TeschenArchduchess Maria Anna of Austria (1882–1940)Archduchess Maria Anna Isabelle Epiphanie Eugenie Gabriele of Austria, full German name: Maria Anna Isabelle Epiphanie Eugenie Gabriele, Erzherzogin von Österreich was a member of the Teschen branch of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine and an Archduchess of Austria and...
(1882–1940), married Elias, Duke of ParmaElias, Duke of ParmaElias, Duke of Parma and Piacenza was the head of the House of Bourbon-Parma and pretender to the defunct throne of Parma between 1950 and 1959... - Maria Henrietta, Archduchess of Austria-Teschen(1883-1956), married Prince Gottfried of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingfurst
- Natalie Maria, Archduchess of Austria-Teschen (1884–1898)
- Stephanie Maria Isabelle, Archduchess of Austria-Teschen (1886–1890)
- Gabriele Maria Theresia, Archduchess of Austria-Teschen (1887–1954)
- Isabella, Archduchess of Austria-TeschenArchduchess Isabella of AustriaArchduchess Isabella Maria Theresia Christine Eugenie of Austria-Teschen was a daughter of Archduke Friedrich, Duke of Teschen and his wife Princess Isabella of Croÿ...
(1887–1973), married Prince Georg of BavariaPrince Georg of BavariaPrince Georg of Bavaria was a member of the Bavarian Royal House of Wittelsbach and a Catholic priest.- Birth and family :... - Maria Alice, Archduchess of Austria-Teschen (1893–1962), married Baron Friedrich Waldbott von Bassenheim
- Albrecht Franz, Archduke of Austria, Duke of TeschenArchduke Albrecht Franz, Duke of TeschenAlbert Franz Josef Karl Friedrich Georg Hubert Maria, Archduke and Prince Imperial of Austria, Prince Royal of Hungary and Bohemia, Duke of Teschen – was a member of the House of Habsburg and titular pretender to the Duchy of...
(1897–1955)
Archduke Franz Ferdinand
In the mid-1890s, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of AustriaArchduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria
Franz Ferdinand was an Archduke of Austria-Este, Austro-Hungarian and Royal Prince of Hungary and of Bohemia, and from 1889 until his death, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne. His assassination in Sarajevo precipitated Austria-Hungary's declaration of war against Serbia...
began visiting Isabella and Friedrich's home. At first, it was assumed that he was there to court one of their many daughters. Eventually, it was discovered that in fact he was courting Countess Sophie Chotek, a lady-in-waiting to Archduchess Isabella.
Isabella became infuriated that Franz Ferdinand had not singled out one of her eight daughters as his bride and future empress; as a result she engaged in a crusade to thwart the marriage of Franz Ferdinand and Sophie. Sophie was dismissed from service, thus beginning an ongoing conflict between Friedrich and Franz Ferdinand who married Sophie in 1900. The marriage was morganatic; Sophie was subjected to the indignities of a much lower rank at court than that of her husband, and none of their children could succeed to their father's dynastic honours—all chiefly as a result of Isabella's machinations.
A decade later, Archduchess Isabella created a similar furor when her nephew, Karl, 13th Prince von Croy, of the House of Croy
House of Croÿ
The House of Croÿ is an international family of European mediatized nobility which held a seat in the Imperial Diet from 1486, and was elevated to the rank of Imperial Princes in 1594...
, sought to marry Nancy Leishman, the charming young daughter of United States Ambassador to Germany
United States Ambassador to Germany
The United States has had diplomatic relations with the nation of Germany and its predecessor nation, the Kingdom of Prussia, since 1835. These relations were broken twice while Germany and the United States were at war...
John George Alexander Leishman
John George Alexander Leishman
John George Alexander Leishman was an American businessman and diplomat. He worked in various executive positions at Carnegie Steel Company and later served as an ambassador for the United States.-Biography:...
, the former president of Carnegie Steel. As with Sophie Chotek, the Archduchess felt Nancy was not sufficiently aristocratic. Karl and Nancy were wed, nonetheless; today their grandson is the present Duke of Croy.