Maria Theresa of Austria (1767–1827)

For other people named Maria Theresa of Austria, see Maria Theresa of Austria (disambiguation).

Maria Theresa of Austria
Queen consort of Saxony
Tenure	5 May 1827 – 7 November 1827
Spouse	Anthony of Saxony
detail... Issue
Princess Maria Ludovika Prince Frederick Augustus Princess Maria Johanna Princess Maria Theresa
Full name
Maria Theresia Josepha Charlotte Johanna
House	House of Habsburg-Lorraine (by birth) House of Wettin (by marriage)
Father	Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
Mother	Maria Luisa of Spain
Born	14 January 1767(1767-01-14) Florence
Died	7 November 1827(1827-11-07) (aged 60) Leipzig
Burial	Katholische Hofkirche
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Maria Theresa of Austria (Maria Theresia Josepha Charlotte Johanna; Florence, 14 January 1767 – Leipzig, 7 November 1827) was born an Archduchess of Austria and a Princess of Tuscany. She was later Queen of Saxony as the second wife and consort of King Anthony of Saxony.

Biography

Maria Theresa was born in Florence, Italy, the eldest child of Grand Duke Peter Leopold of Tuscany (later Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor) and of his wife Maria Luisa of Spain. Like all the eldest daughters of her paternal grandparents, she was named after her grandmother, the Habsburg heiress and ruler Maria Theresa.

On 8 September 1787 Maria Theresa was married by proxy to King Anthony of Saxony; the couple renewed their marriage vows in person at Dresden on 18 October 1787. Anthony had previously been married to Maria Carolina of Savoy who died of smallpox in 1782.

Mozart's opera Don Giovanni was originally intended to be performed in honor of Maria Theresa and Anthony Clement for their visit to Prague on 14 October 1787, as they traveled between Dresden and Vienna, and librettos were printed with dedication to them.

The premiere could not be arranged in time, however, so the opera The Marriage of Figaro was substituted on the express orders of Maria Theresa's uncle, Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor. The choice of The Marriage of Figaro was considered improper for a new bride by many observers, and the couple left the opera theater early without seeing the entire work performed. Mozart complained bitterly of the intrigues surrounding this incident in a letter to his friend Gottfried von Jacquin that was written in stages between 15 October and 25 October 1787.

Tragedy dogged the remainder of Maria Theresa's life. Her four children all died as infants. She was able to enjoy the title queen of Saxony for only a few months after the death of her brother-in-law Frederick Augustus I in May 1827. The latter's alliance with Napoleon led to significant losses of territory for Saxony at the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars.

Maria Theresa died at Leipzig in 1827.

Issue

Maria Theresa and Anthony were parents to four children, but none survived to the age of two:

1. Maria Ludovika Auguste Fredericka Therese Franziska Johanna Aloysia Nepomucena Ignatia Anna Josepha Xaveria Franziska de Paula Barbara (b. Dresden, 14 March 1795 - d. Dresden, 25 April 1796).
2. Frederick Augustus (b. and d. Dresden, 5 April 1796).
3. Maria Johanna Ludovica Anna Amalia Nepomucena Aloysia Ignatia Xaveria Josepha Franziska de Chantal Eva Apollonia Magdalena Crescentia Vincentia (b. Dresden, 5 April 1798 - d. Dresden, 30 October 1799).
4. Maria Theresia (b. and d. Dresden, 15 October 1799).

Ancestry

Maria Theresa of Austria (1767–1827) House of Habsburg-Lorraine Cadet branch of the House of Lorraine Born: 30 January 1757 Died: 7 November 1827
German royalty
Preceded by Amalie of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld	Queen consort of Saxony 5 May 1827 – 7 November 1827	Vacant Title next held by Maria Anna of Bavaria

Persondata
Name	Maria Theresa Of Austria-Tuscany
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	14 January 1767
Place of birth	Florence
Date of death	7 November 1827
Place of death	Leipzig