Archduchess Maria Karoline of Austria

Life

Archduchess Maria Karoline was born in Vienna as the second daughter and sixth child of Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen and Princess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg. Her father, who was known for his victory at the 1809 Battle of Aspern-Essling, the first time Napoleon was personally defeated in a major battle, was a son of Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor and Infanta Maria Luisa of Spain. Her mother was a daughter of Frederick William of Nassau-Weilburg (1768–1816) and his wife Burgravine Louise Isabelle of Kirchberg. Between her siblings there were Maria Theresa, Queen consort of Two Sicilies and Archduke Albrecht, Duke of Teschen.

She was Princess-Abbess of the Theresian Royal and Imperial Ladies Chapter of the Castle of Prague (1844–1852).

On 21 February 1852, Maria Karoline married her cousin Archduke Rainer Ferdinand of Austria, third son of Archduke Rainer of Austria and Princess Elisabeth of Savoy-Carignano. The marriage was a very happy one, and the couple was probably the most popular amongst the Habsburg family. The marriage remained childless.

At the time of her death, she was the last surviving grandchild of Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor, and the last surviving great-grandchild of Maria Theresa of Austria.

Ancestry