Mathilda of Austria-Teschen
Encyclopedia
Archduchess Mathilde of Austria (Mathilde Marie Adelgunde Alexandra; 25 January 1849, Vienna
– 6 June 1867, Schloss Hetzendorf
near Vienna) was an Austrian noblewoman. She was the second daughter of Archduke Albert, Duke of Teschen
and Princess Hildegard of Bavaria
(1825–1864).
and Princess Alexandra of Bavaria (1826-1875)
, with whom Hildegard had a very close relationship.
Mathilde had two elder siblings: Maria Theresia
(1845–1927) in 1865 married Duke Philipp of Württemberg (1838–1917) and her only brother, Karl Albrecht (1847–1848) who died of smallpox at the age of 18 months.
, Archduke Albrecht inherited in 1847 the Weilburg Palace in Baden bei Wien
, that Karl had built for his wife Princess Henrietta of Weilburg (1797–1829). Albrecht and his family usually spent the summer there, where Archduchess Hildegard especially found of its renowned public baths. Because of his charity, he was popularly named Engelsherz (Angel's-Heart). During the winter, the family lived in Vienna
. Her family was very close to the imperial family, and Empress Elisabeth
greatly enjoyed the company of her cousin Archduchess Hildegard.
Among Mathilde's circle of friends was the Archduchess Marie Therese (1849-1919), later Queen of Bavaria
, who was of the same age and also the stepdaughter of Karl Ferdinand (1818-1874)
, Mathilde's uncle.
A distant cousin, Archduke Ludwig Salvator
(1847–1915), of the Italian Habsburg line, fell in love with Mathilde and sought to marry her, but they never became engaged. Mathilde was intended to become Queen of Italy as the wife of Umberto of Savoy
(1844–1900) in order to improve the already tense relations between Austria-Hungary
and Italy
.
During her stay in Munich
for the funeral of her brother King Maximilian II (1811-1864)
in March 1864, Mathilde's mother became ill with a lung
inflammation
and pleurisy
, and died. Mathilde was only 15 years old.
, the Viennese home of Empress Elisabeth
, on 6 June 1867. The archduchess had put on a gauze
dress
to go to the theatre
. Before leaving for the theatre, she wanted to smoke a cigarette
but shortly thereafter her father, who had forbidden smoking
, approached her, and she hid the cigarette behind her dress, immediately setting light to its inflammable material and giving her second and third degree burns. Her death was witnessed by her whole family.
Archduchess Mathilde was buried in the imperial vault in the Imperial Crypt
beside her mother and her brother Karl Albrecht.
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...
– 6 June 1867, Schloss Hetzendorf
Schloss Hetzendorf
Schloss Hetzendorf is a baroque palace in Hetzendorf, Meidling, Vienna that was used by the imperial Habsburg family.- History :The building was originally a hunting lodge. It was refashioned by the architect Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt and again enlarged for Empress Maria Theresa in 1743 by...
near Vienna) was an Austrian noblewoman. She was the second daughter of Archduke Albert, Duke of Teschen
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,...
and Princess Hildegard of Bavaria
Princess Hildegard of Bavaria
Princess Hildegard of Bavaria was the seventh child and fourth daughter of Ludwig I of Bavaria and Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen....
(1825–1864).
Family
Her forenames were derived from her mother's sisters, Mathilde, Grand Duchess of Hesse (1813-1862), Adelgunde, Duchess of Modena (1823-1914)Princess Adelgunde of Bavaria
Princess Adelgunde of Bavaria was a daughter of Ludwig I of Bavaria and Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. She was Duchess consort of Modena by her marriage to Francis V, Duke of Modena.-Family:...
and Princess Alexandra of Bavaria (1826-1875)
Princess Alexandra of Bavaria
Princess Alexandra Amalie of Bavaria was a member of the House of Wittelsbach and devoted her life to literature.-Early life:...
, with whom Hildegard had a very close relationship.
Mathilde had two elder siblings: Maria Theresia
Maria Theresa of Austria (1845-1927)
Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria was a member of the Austrian house of Habsburg-Lorraine.- Life :Maria Theresa was a daughter of Archduke Albert, Duke of Teschen and Princess Hildegard of Bavaria....
(1845–1927) in 1865 married Duke Philipp of Württemberg (1838–1917) and her only brother, Karl Albrecht (1847–1848) who died of smallpox at the age of 18 months.
Life
After the death of his father Archduke KarlArchduke Charles, Duke of Teschen
Archduke Charles of Austria, Duke of Teschen was an Austrian field-marshal, the third son of emperor Leopold II and his wife Infanta Maria Luisa of Spain...
, Archduke Albrecht inherited in 1847 the Weilburg Palace in Baden bei Wien
Baden bei Wien
-Points of interest:The town offers several parks and a picturesque surrounding, of which the most frequented is the Helenental valley. Not far from Baden, the valley is crossed by a widespread aqueduct of the Vienna waterworks...
, that Karl had built for his wife Princess Henrietta of Weilburg (1797–1829). Albrecht and his family usually spent the summer there, where Archduchess Hildegard especially found of its renowned public baths. Because of his charity, he was popularly named Engelsherz (Angel's-Heart). During the winter, the family lived 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...
. Her family was very close to the imperial family, and Empress Elisabeth
Elisabeth of Bavaria
Elisabeth of Austria was the spouse of Franz Joseph I, and therefore both Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. She also held the titles of Queen of Bohemia and Croatia, among others...
greatly enjoyed the company of her cousin Archduchess Hildegard.
Among Mathilde's circle of friends was the Archduchess Marie Therese (1849-1919), later Queen of Bavaria
Queen of Bavaria
There have been three kinds of Bavarian consorts in history, Duchesses, Electresses and Queens. Most consorts listed are Duchesses. The first ever consort of Bavaria was Waldrada in the 6th century. The final consort was Maria Theresia of Austria-Este in 1913....
, who was of the same age and also the stepdaughter of Karl Ferdinand (1818-1874)
Archduke Karl Ferdinand of Austria
Archduke Karl Ferdinand of Austria-Teschen was the second son of Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen and Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg, and the maternal grandfather of King Alfonso XIII of Spain.A son of the "hero of Aspern" he started a military career in Infantry Regiment 57 in Brno...
, Mathilde's uncle.
A distant cousin, Archduke Ludwig Salvator
Ludwig Salvator
Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria, in Italian Luigi Salvatore Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Battista Dominico Raineri Ferdinando Carlo Zenobio Antonino, in German Ludwig Salvator Maria Joseph Johann Baptist Dominicus Rainerius Ferdinand Carl Zenobius Antonin , is known as a champion for...
(1847–1915), of the Italian Habsburg line, fell in love with Mathilde and sought to marry her, but they never became engaged. Mathilde was intended to become Queen of Italy as the wife of Umberto of Savoy
Umberto I of Italy
Umberto I or Humbert I , nicknamed the Good , was the King of Italy from 9 January 1878 until his death. He was deeply loathed in far-left circles, especially among anarchists, because of his conservatism and support of the Bava-Beccaris massacre in Milan...
(1844–1900) in order to improve the already tense relations between Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
During her stay in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
for the funeral of her brother King Maximilian II (1811-1864)
Maximilian II of Bavaria
Maximilian II of Bavaria was king of Bavaria from 1848 until 1864. He was son of Ludwig I of Bavaria and Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen.-Crown Prince:...
in March 1864, Mathilde's mother became ill with a lung
Lung
The lung is the essential respiration organ in many air-breathing animals, including most tetrapods, a few fish and a few snails. In mammals and the more complex life forms, the two lungs are located near the backbone on either side of the heart...
inflammation
Inflammation
Inflammation is part of the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process...
and pleurisy
Pleurisy
Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura, the lining of the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs. Among other things, infections are the most common cause of pleurisy....
, and died. Mathilde was only 15 years old.
Death
Mathilde died at the age of 18 in Schloss HetzendorfSchloss Hetzendorf
Schloss Hetzendorf is a baroque palace in Hetzendorf, Meidling, Vienna that was used by the imperial Habsburg family.- History :The building was originally a hunting lodge. It was refashioned by the architect Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt and again enlarged for Empress Maria Theresa in 1743 by...
, the Viennese home of Empress Elisabeth
Elisabeth of Bavaria
Elisabeth of Austria was the spouse of Franz Joseph I, and therefore both Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. She also held the titles of Queen of Bohemia and Croatia, among others...
, on 6 June 1867. The archduchess had put on a gauze
Gauze
Gauze is a thin, translucent fabric with a loose open weave.-Uses and types:Gauze was originally made of silk and was used for clothing. It is now used for many different things, including gauze sponges for medical purposes. When used as a medical dressing, gauze is generally made of cotton...
dress
Dress
A dress is a garment consisting of a skirt with an attached bodice or with a matching bodice giving the effect of a one-piece garment.Dress may also refer to:*Clothing in general*Costume, fancy dress...
to go to the theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
. Before leaving for the theatre, she wanted to smoke a cigarette
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
but shortly thereafter her father, who had forbidden smoking
Smoking
Smoking is a practice in which a substance, most commonly tobacco or cannabis, is burned and the smoke is tasted or inhaled. This is primarily practised as a route of administration for recreational drug use, as combustion releases the active substances in drugs such as nicotine and makes them...
, approached her, and she hid the cigarette behind her dress, immediately setting light to its inflammable material and giving her second and third degree burns. Her death was witnessed by her whole family.
Archduchess Mathilde was buried in the imperial vault in the Imperial Crypt
Imperial Crypt, Vienna
The Imperial Crypt in Vienna, Austria lies below the Capuchin Church and monastery founded in 1618 and dedicated in 1632. It is on the Neuer Markt square of the Innere Stadt, near the imperial Hofburg Palace...
beside her mother and her brother Karl Albrecht.