Archduchess Renata of Austria
Encyclopedia
Archduchess Renata of Austria (28 September 1888 – 9 December 1935) was a daughter of Archduke Charles Stephen of Austria
and a first cousin of King Alphonso XIII of Spain. A member of the Teschen branch of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine and an Archduchess of Austria and Princess of Bohemia, Hungary, and Tuscany by birth, she renounced her titles in 1909 upon her marriage to Prince Jerome Radziwill.
and his wife Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria, Princess of Tuscany
. Both of her parents were closely related to Emperor Franz Joseph. Renata’s father was a grand son of archduke Karl of Austria who had led the Austrian army against Napoleon Bonaparte. Her father was a brother of Queen Maria Christina of Spain
. Renata’s mother, Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria, Princess of Tuscany
was a granddaughter of Leopold II, the last reigning Grand Duke of Tuscany, on her mother line she was a grand daughter of King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies
.
Archduchess Renata was educated by private tutors, her education made special emphasis on languages and she learned German, Italian, English French and from 1895 Polish. Her father had followed a career in the Austrian Navy and Renata spent her formative years primarily in Istria
in the then Austrian port of Pula
in the Adriatic. Her father was very wealthy and the family had a winter residence in the island of Losinj
in the Adriatic, a palace in Vienna
and in 1895 her father inherited from Archduke Albert
vast properties in Galicia. From 1907 the family main residence was in Zywiec
castle in western Galicia.
They had six children and lived at Balice Castle, one of the Radziwill estates. Her eldest son, Dominik, eventually married Princess Eugénie of Greece and Denmark
in 1938. With the defeat and dissolution of the Austrian Hungary Empire after World War I
, the destiny of her family was even more closely linked to Poland. Archduchess Renata lived at Balice Castle in Poland, where she died on May 16, 1935. Her husband outlived her for ten years. Prince Jerome remarried. Towards the end of World War II
, Prince Jerome was captured by Russian troops and he was taken behind the Iron Curtain. He died in a concentration camp in May 1945. The Radziwill properties were all lost.
Archduke Charles Stephen of Austria
Archduke Charles Stephen of Austria was a member of the House of Habsburg and a Grand Admiral in the Austro-Hungarian Navy.-Family:Charles Stephen was born in Židlochovice the son of Archduke Karl Ferdinand of Austria and of his wife Archduchess Elisabeth Franziska of Austria...
and a first cousin of King Alphonso XIII of Spain. A member of the Teschen branch of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine and an Archduchess of Austria and Princess of Bohemia, Hungary, and Tuscany by birth, she renounced her titles in 1909 upon her marriage to Prince Jerome Radziwill.
Background and early life
Archduchess Renata was a daughter of Archduke Charles Stephen of AustriaArchduke Charles Stephen of Austria
Archduke Charles Stephen of Austria was a member of the House of Habsburg and a Grand Admiral in the Austro-Hungarian Navy.-Family:Charles Stephen was born in Židlochovice the son of Archduke Karl Ferdinand of Austria and of his wife Archduchess Elisabeth Franziska of Austria...
and his wife Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria, Princess of Tuscany
Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria (1862–1933)
Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria was a member of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine and Archduchess and Princess of Austria, Princess of Hungary, Bohemia, and Tuscany by birth and through her marriage to Archduke Charles Stephen of Austria...
. Both of her parents were closely related to Emperor Franz Joseph. Renata’s father was a grand son of archduke Karl of Austria who had led the Austrian army against Napoleon Bonaparte. Her father was a brother of Queen Maria Christina of Spain
Maria Christina of Austria
Maria Christina of Austria was Queen consort of Spain as the second wife of King Alfonso XII of Spain...
. Renata’s mother, Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria, Princess of Tuscany
Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria (1862–1933)
Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria was a member of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine and Archduchess and Princess of Austria, Princess of Hungary, Bohemia, and Tuscany by birth and through her marriage to Archduke Charles Stephen of Austria...
was a granddaughter of Leopold II, the last reigning Grand Duke of Tuscany, on her mother line she was a grand daughter of King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies
Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies
Ferdinand II was King of the Two Sicilies from 1830 until his death.-Family:Ferdinand was born in Palermo, the son of King Francis I of the Two Sicilies and his wife and first cousin Maria Isabella of Spain.His paternal grandparents were King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies and Queen Marie...
.
Archduchess Renata was educated by private tutors, her education made special emphasis on languages and she learned German, Italian, English French and from 1895 Polish. Her father had followed a career in the Austrian Navy and Renata spent her formative years primarily in Istria
Istria
Istria , formerly Histria , is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. The peninsula is located at the head of the Adriatic between the Gulf of Trieste and the Bay of Kvarner...
in the then Austrian port of Pula
Pula
Pula is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula, with a population of 62,080 .Like the rest of the region, it is known for its mild climate, smooth sea, and unspoiled nature. The city has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing,...
in the Adriatic. Her father was very wealthy and the family had a winter residence in the island of Losinj
Lošinj
Lošinj is a Croatian island in the northern Adriatic Sea, in the Kvarner Gulf. It is almost due south of the city of Rijeka and part of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar county....
in the Adriatic, a palace in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
and in 1895 her father inherited from Archduke Albert
Archduke Albert, Duke of Teschen
Archduke Albrecht Friedrich Rudolf Dominik of Austria, Duke of Teschen was an Austrian Habsburg general. Inspector General for 36 years, he was honored with the rank of Field Marshal in the armies of Austria-Hungary and Germany .-Early life:He was the eldest son of Archduke Charles of Austria,...
vast properties in Galicia. From 1907 the family main residence was in Zywiec
Zywiec
Żywiec is a town in south-central Poland with 32,242 inhabitants . Between 1975 and 1998, it was located within the Bielsko-Biała Voivodeship, but has since become part of the Silesian Voivodeship....
castle in western Galicia.
Marriage
Archduke Charles Stephen put aside his career in the navy and centered his ambitions in creating a Polish branch of the house of Habsburg. He encouraged all of his children to become Polish and Archduchess Renata ended up marrying one of Poland’s richest landowners, Prince Jerome Radziwill. Their engagement was announced in September 1908. The Radziwill was one of the most distinguish families of Poland, but since he did not belong to a ruling family Renata had to renounce all of her titles, and the treatment of Imperial and Royal highness. They signed a prenuptial agreement and separation of property. The wedding took place on January 15, 1909, in the chapel at Zywic castle.They had six children and lived at Balice Castle, one of the Radziwill estates. Her eldest son, Dominik, eventually married Princess Eugénie of Greece and Denmark
Princess Eugénie of Greece and Denmark
Princess Eugénie of Greece and Denmark was the youngest child and only daughter of Prince George of Greece and Denmark and his wife, Marie Bonaparte, daughter of Prince Roland Bonaparte...
in 1938. With the defeat and dissolution of the Austrian Hungary Empire after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the destiny of her family was even more closely linked to Poland. Archduchess Renata lived at Balice Castle in Poland, where she died on May 16, 1935. Her husband outlived her for ten years. Prince Jerome remarried. Towards the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Prince Jerome was captured by Russian troops and he was taken behind the Iron Curtain. He died in a concentration camp in May 1945. The Radziwill properties were all lost.
Children
Archduchess Renata and Prince Jerome Radziwill had six children:- Princess Maria Teresa Radziwill ( 19 January 1910 - )
- Prince Dominic Radziwill (23 January 1911 – 19 November 1976) married Princess Eugénie of Greece and DenmarkPrincess Eugénie of Greece and DenmarkPrincess Eugénie of Greece and Denmark was the youngest child and only daughter of Prince George of Greece and Denmark and his wife, Marie Bonaparte, daughter of Prince Roland Bonaparte...
. - Prince Karol Jerome Radziwill (3 May 1912 – 27 November 2005)
- Prince Albert Radziwill (10 May 1914 – 23 June 1932)
- Princess Eleonore Radziwill (2 August 1918 – )
- Prince Leon Jerome Radziwill (28 October 1922 – )