Eleonore-Magdalena of Neuburg
Encyclopedia
Eleonore Magdalene of Neuburg (Eleonore Magdalene Therese; 6 January 1655 – 19 January 1720) was Holy Roman Empress as the spouse of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
. Through her marriage, she was also Queen of Bohemia and Hungary, German Queen, and Archduchess of Austria. She served as Interim Regent in 1711. She was the paternal grandmother of Empress Maria Theresa.
, Eleonore Magdalene was the oldest daughter of Philip William, Elector Palatine and his wife Elisabeth Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt. Among her siblings were Maria Sophia
, future wife of Peter II of Portugal and Maria Anna
, future wife of Charles II of Spain
.
and connections, and although Claudia Felicitas of Austria
was chosen before her in 1674, she was chosen in 1676. She accepted without enthusiasm to make her parents happy: Eleonor was brought up to an extreme degree of Catholicism and had originally wished to become a nun
.
and was described as self-destructive. She introduced a more economical household at court: she hosted a court affected by her strong religious views: strict, simple and convent
like and, as it was said, in an atmosphere reminiscent of an eternal mourning period, which was regarded as somewhat ridiculous and exaggerated. She was drawn to the penitential side of Catholicism, and often dressed in black as if she were in mourning.
She was politically active and did not lack influence over her spouse: it is reported that she received and opened important political documents while the Emperor stood waiting beside her "as a secretary". She made great efforts to provide favors, positions and lucrative posts for her relatives, and secured high positions for her brothers. In addition, she was the protector of the chancellor Theodor Strattmann. She accompanied her spouse on his travels, and she also saw to the upbringing of her children personally.
She became widowed in 1705. As an Empress Dowager, she strived to keep her political influence through her daughter-in-law, Empress Wilhelmina Amalia.
, brother of the royal mistress of the late Emperor Joseph, Marianne Pálffy, from uniting with the rebels of Hungary, after which she signed the treaty of Szatmár
. She presided over the congress to determine the succession and election of an new Emperor, and favoured the election of Emperor Charles. When Charles returned from Spain, she resigned from court and retired to do works of charity and penance.
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Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
| style="float:right;" | Leopold I was a Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary and King of Bohemia. A member of the Habsburg family, he was the second son of Emperor Ferdinand III and his first wife, Maria Anna of Spain. His maternal grandparents were Philip III of Spain and Margaret of Austria...
. Through her marriage, she was also Queen of Bohemia and Hungary, German Queen, and Archduchess of Austria. She served as Interim Regent in 1711. She was the paternal grandmother of Empress Maria Theresa.
Birth and family
Born a Countess Palatine of Neuburg in DüsseldorfDüsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
, Eleonore Magdalene was the oldest daughter of Philip William, Elector Palatine and his wife Elisabeth Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt. Among her siblings were Maria Sophia
Maria Sofia of the Palatinate
Countess Palatine Maria Sophia Elisabeth of Neuburg was Queen consort of Portugal as the second wife of Peter II from 1687 until her death in 1699.-Family:...
, future wife of Peter II of Portugal and Maria Anna
Maria Anna of Pfalz-Neuburg
Countess Palatine Maria Anna of Neuburg was Queen consort of Spain from 1689 to 1700 as the second wife of King Charles II. She was known as Mariana in her adopted Spain...
, future wife of Charles II of Spain
Charles II of Spain
Charles II was the last Habsburg King of Spain and the ruler of large parts of Italy, the Spanish territories in the Southern Low Countries, and Spain's overseas Empire, stretching from the Americas to the Spanish East Indies...
.
Marriage
Eleonor married Emperor Leopold I in 1676. She was a good candidate as a bride for the emperor already in 1673 because of her family's reputed great fertilityFertility
Fertility is the natural capability of producing offsprings. As a measure, "fertility rate" is the number of children born per couple, person or population. Fertility differs from fecundity, which is defined as the potential for reproduction...
and connections, and although Claudia Felicitas of Austria
Claudia Felicitas of Austria
Archduchess Claudia Felicitas of Austria was the eldest daughter of Archduke Ferdinand Charles of Austria, and his wife Anna de' Medici...
was chosen before her in 1674, she was chosen in 1676. She accepted without enthusiasm to make her parents happy: Eleonor was brought up to an extreme degree of Catholicism and had originally wished to become a nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
.
Empress
Eleonor was active in social works. She suffered from depressionDepression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
and was described as self-destructive. She introduced a more economical household at court: she hosted a court affected by her strong religious views: strict, simple and convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
like and, as it was said, in an atmosphere reminiscent of an eternal mourning period, which was regarded as somewhat ridiculous and exaggerated. She was drawn to the penitential side of Catholicism, and often dressed in black as if she were in mourning.
She was politically active and did not lack influence over her spouse: it is reported that she received and opened important political documents while the Emperor stood waiting beside her "as a secretary". She made great efforts to provide favors, positions and lucrative posts for her relatives, and secured high positions for her brothers. In addition, she was the protector of the chancellor Theodor Strattmann. She accompanied her spouse on his travels, and she also saw to the upbringing of her children personally.
She became widowed in 1705. As an Empress Dowager, she strived to keep her political influence through her daughter-in-law, Empress Wilhelmina Amalia.
Regent
After the death of her son in 1711, she served as interim Regent, during which she had conflicts with Count Wratislaw and Prince Eugene of Savoy. She managed to stop Feldmarschall Johann Graf Pálffy von UngarnJohann Bernhard Stephan, Graf Pálffy ab Erdöd
Johann Bernhard Stephan, Graf Pálffy ab Erdöd was a Hungarian noble, Imperial Field marshal and Palatine of Hungary....
, brother of the royal mistress of the late Emperor Joseph, Marianne Pálffy, from uniting with the rebels of Hungary, after which she signed the treaty of Szatmár
Treaty of Szatmár
The Treaty of Szatmár was signed at Szatmár on April 30, 1711 between Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI, Hungarian Commander-in-Chief Sándor Károlyi and Imperial Field Marshal János Pálffy. Based on the terms of the accord, Charles promised to maintain the integrity of both Transylvanian and...
. She presided over the congress to determine the succession and election of an new Emperor, and favoured the election of Emperor Charles. When Charles returned from Spain, she resigned from court and retired to do works of charity and penance.
Issue
- JosephJoseph I, Holy Roman EmperorJoseph I , Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia, King of Hungary, King of the Romans was the elder son of Emperor Leopold I and his third wife, Eleonor Magdalene of Neuburg....
, later Emperor Joseph I (1678–1711) - Christina (1679 - 1679), Archduchess of Austria.
- Maria Elisabeth (1680–1741), Archduchess of Austria, Governor of the Austrian Netherlands.
- Leopold Joseph (1682–1684), Archduke of Austria.
- Maria AnnaMaria Anna of AustriaArchduchess Maria Anna of Austria , was Electress of Bavaria as the spouse of Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria. She also served as Regent of Bavaria during the minority of her son...
(1683–1754), Archduchess of Austria, married King John V of Portugal. - Maria Theresia (1684–1696), Archduchess of Austria.
- CharlesCharles VI, Holy Roman EmperorCharles VI was the penultimate Habsburg sovereign of the Habsburg Empire. He succeeded his elder brother, Joseph I, as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia , Hungary and Croatia , Archduke of Austria, etc., in 1711...
, later Emperor Charles VI (1685–1740) father of Empress Maria Theresa, - Maria Josepha (1687–1703), Archduchess of Austria.
- Maria Magdalena (1689–1743), Archduchess of Austria.
- Maria Margaret (1690–1691), Archduchess of Austria.
Ancestry
Sources
- Konrad Kramar und Petra Stuiber: „Die schrulligen Habsburger – Marotten und Allüren eines Kaiserhauses“. Ueberreuter, Wien 1999, ISBN 3-8000-3742-4.
- Kaiserin Eleonore Magdalena Theresia (1655-1720)
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