Elisabeth of Württemberg | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Archduchess Elisabeth of Austria, Princess Royal of Hungary and Bohemia | |||||
Born | 21 April 1767 Treptow an der Rega, Pomerania |
||||
Died | 18 February 1790 (aged 22) Vienna, Austria |
||||
Burial | Imperial Crypt | ||||
Spouse | Archduke Francis of Austria | ||||
Issue | Archduchess Ludovika Elisabeth | ||||
|
|||||
House | Württemberg | ||||
Father | Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg | ||||
Mother | Sophia Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt | ||||
Religion | Lutheranism then Roman Catholicism |
Full name | |
---|---|
Elisabeth Wilhelmine Luise |
Elisabeth of Württemberg (Elisabeth Wilhelmine Luise; 21 April 1767 – 18 February 1790) was by birth a Duchess of Württemberg and by marriage an Archduchess of Austria.
She was the eighth of the twelve children of Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg, by his wife, Sophia Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt. She was baptised with the names Elisabeth Wilhelmine Luise.
At the age of 15, she was called by Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II to Vienna and educated in the Salesianerinnenkloster where she also converted to Catholicism. The purpose of this was to make her the future wife of Joseph II's nephew Francis, the future emperor.
In Vienna on 6 January 1788, Elisabeth and Francis were married. At this time, Emperor Joseph was in ill health; the young archduchess was close to the emperor and brightened his last years with her youthful charm. At the end of 1789, Elisabeth became pregnant; however, her condition was very delicate. On the night of 18 February, she prematurely gave birth to Archduchess Ludovika Elisabeth of Austria, who lived for only 16 months. Elisabeth didn't survive the childbirth, which lasted more than 24 hours, and died, despite an emergency operation to save her life.
She is buried in the Imperial Crypt, in Vienna.