Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria (1737–1740)

Archduchess Maria Elisabeth
Extract from a portrait by Martin van Meytens, who represented the three daughters of Maria Theresa who died in infancy.
Born	(1737-02-05)5 February 1737 Vienna, Austria
Died	7 June 1740(1740-06-07) (aged 3) Laxenburg
Burial	Imperial Crypt, Vienna
Full name Maria Elisabeth Amelia Antonia Josepha Joanna Gabriella Agatha
House	Habsburg-Lorraine
Father	Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor
Mother	Maria Theresa of Austria

Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria (Full name (German): Maria Elisabeth Amalia Antonia Josefa Gabriele Johanna Agathe; 5 February 1737 – 7 June 1740), was the eldest child and daughter of Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria, later Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, and Duke Francis of Lorraine, later Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor.

Maria Elisabeth was born on 5 February 1737 at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. There was, however, no great jubilation at the birth of the child, since her parents had wanted a son and heir.

A lively and lovely child, she soon became in the favorite of both her parents and her grandfather Emperor Charles VI spoke with pleasure of his eldest granddaughter, whim whom she nicknamed Liesl and often played with her.

During a visit to Laxenburg castle on 7 June 1740, Maria Elisabeth became suddenly ill with stomach cramps and vomiting. Throughout the day, the stomach cramps alternated with ever-renewed vomiting until the little Archduchess died that night at 9 p.m. aged 3. Her father Francis reported the death of his first-born child:

At eight o'clock I was summoned and handed over to me a letter of the doctor, from which I deduced that it is time to take my wife away, for the child will not live longer. I walked away a little confused, and found my wife completely burst in tears when I arrived. I took them by the hand and took them to her apartments. Then I went back with the sick child. I had only been for a while when she sat up, looked at me, and said with a clear voice, "I command myself, O my God!". Then she fell back and died in my arms.

Maria Elisabeth was the first member of the Habsburg-Lorraine family to be buried in the Maria Theresa Vault at the Imperial Crypt, Vienna. One of her younger sisters was also given her name.