Maria Josepha of Austria

Maria Josepha of Austria (Maria Josepha Benedikta Antonia Theresia Xaveria Philippine, , ; 8 December 1699 – 17 November 1757) was the Queen of Poland, Grand Duchess of Lithuania and Electress of Saxony by marriage to Augustus III. From 1711 to 1717, she was heiress presumptive to the Habsburg monarchy.

Early life

Maria Josepha was born in Vienna, an Archduchess of Austria, the eldest child and eldest daughter of Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor and his wife, Princess Wilhelmina Amalia of Brunswick-Lüneburg. She was named Josepha in honor of her father.

Heiress presumptive During the times of her childhood, the House of Habsburg had no male heirs, as her only brother, Archduke Leopold Joseph of Austria (1700-1701) died in infancy. During the reign of her grandfather, Maria Josepha's father and uncle signed the Mutual Pact of Succession of 1703, which was issued by her grandfather, Emperor Leopold I, and effectively made Maria Josepha the heiress presumptive to her uncle, Emperor Charles VI. However, Charles VI's Pragmatic Sanction of 1713 annulled the earlier agreement and made his eldest daughter Maria Theresa his successor instead of eldest his niece, Maria Josepha.

Marriage A marriage between Maria Josepha and Frederick Augustus II, Elector of Saxony (1696–1763) had been suggested by Frederick's father, August II the Strong, since 1704. The fact that Maria Josepha was not allowed to marry a non-Catholic, however, prevented the marriage. When Augustus converted to Catholicism in 1712, the negotiations became serious.

Emperor Charles VI forbade Maria Josepha and her sister from marrying until they renounced their positions in the line of succession, securing the succession for Charles's future daughter Maria Theresa. Maria Josepha renounced her claim on 10 August 1719. Ten days later, Maria Josepha and Frederick Augustus married. Through this marriage between the Houses of Wettin and Habsburg, Frederick Augustus II's father hoped to place Saxony in a better position should there arise a war of succession to the Austrian territories. The couple's eldest surviving son, Frederick Christian, eventually succeeded his father as Elector of Saxony. In Saxony, the couple lived at Dresden Castle. The marriage has been described as a happy one, and Augustus was apparently never unfaithful.

Queen and electress In 1733, Frederick Augustus was elected King and Grand Duke of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth as August III the Saxon. She shared an interest in music, art and hunting with her spouse, and they usually spent their autumns at the Palace of Hubertusburg for the hunting season.

She was devoted to Catholicism and especially venerated Saint Francis Xavier and was actively involved in the building of the Catholic Hofkirche in Dresden. She, as well as Frederick Christian and his spouse Maria Antonia, were all placed under house arrest at the palace of Dresden guarded by a Prussian commandant.

Issue Maria Josepha and Frederick Augustus had 14 children recognized by historians:

Frederick August of Saxony (1720–1721) died in infancy. Prince Joseph August of Saxony (1721–1728) died in childhood. Frederick Christian, Elector of Saxony (1722–1763) married Maria Antonia of Bavaria and had issue. Maria Amalia of Saxony (1724–1760) married Charles III of Spain and had issue. Maria Margaretha of Saxony (1727–1734) died in childhood. Maria Anna Sophia of Saxony (1728–1797) married Maximilian III Joseph, Elector of Bavaria and had no issue. Francis Xavier of Saxony (1730–1806) married morganatically Maria Chiara Spinucci and had issue. Maria Josepha of Saxony (1731–1767) married Louis, Dauphin of France and had issue. Charles of Saxony (1733–1796) married Countess Franciszka Korwin-Krasińska and had issue. Maria Christina of Saxony (1735–1782) died unmarried. Maria Elisabeth of Saxony (1736–1818) died unmarried. Albert of Saxony (1738–1822) married Maria Christina of Austria and had issue. Clemens Wenceslaus of Saxony (1739–1812) died unmarried. Maria Kunigunde of Saxony (1740–1826) died unmarried.

Ancestry