Erzherzogin Monika, Herzogin von Santángelo

Archduchess Monika of Austria, Duchess of Santángelo, was born on 13 September 1954 in Würzburg, Bavaria. She was born in exile in West Germany and is the second-eldest of the seven children of Crown Prince Otto of Austria and his wife, Regina. Her father was the eldest son and heir of the deposed Austrian Emperor Karl I and his wife, Zita, née Princess of Parma. Her mother, Regina, was the youngest child of Hereditary Duke Georg of Saxe-Meiningen and his wife, Klara, who came from the Korff-Schmising-Kerssenbrock family. Monika’s birth was therefore connected with the history of the House of Habsburg and her family’s life outside the former monarchy. Only a few days after her birth, on 20 September 1954, Monika was baptized into the Roman Catholic faith together with her twin sister, Michaela. The two were younger sisters of Andrea, who was born in 1953. They were followed by Gabriela in 1956, Walburga in 1958, Karl in 1961 and Georg in 1964. Monika thus grew up in a large family whose members continued the Habsburg tradition and maintained their family connections with European noble houses. On 21 June 1980, Monika married Don Luis María Gonzaga de Casanova-Cárdenas y Barón in Pöcking, Germany. He was born on 24 April 1950 and was the only son and third child of Doña María de los Dolores Barón y Osorio de Moscoso, the 22nd Duchess of Maqueda, and Don Baltasar de Casanova-Cárdenas y Ferrer. Through this marriage, Monika’s Habsburg background became connected with a Spanish noble family. Monika and her husband have four sons. The eldest, Don Baltasar Carlos de Casanova-Cárdenas y Habsburgo, was born on 17 August 1981 in Vallfogona de Balaguer, Catalonia. He was followed by Don Gabriel María de Casanova-Cárdenas y Habsburgo, who was also born in Vallfogona de Balaguer on 21 March 1983. Their third son, Don Rafael María de Casanova-Cárdenas y Habsburgo, was born on 11 August 1986 at La Rápita Castle in Vallfogona de Balaguer. Their youngest son, Don Santiago de Casanova-Cárdenas y Habsburgo, was born there on 26 April 1993. Monika’s form of address and the titles associated with her family changed during her life. From her birth until her marriage, she was styled Archduchess Monika of Austria and Princess of Hungary, Bohemia and Croatia. Upon her marriage, she initially also assumed the titles of Marchioness of Elche and Countess of Lodosa. From 3 October 1980, she additionally held the title Duchess of Santángelo. Between 11 September 2002 and 25 July 2003, she was styled Duchess of Maqueda and during that period also held the titles Duchess of Santángelo, Marchioness of Elche, Countess of Monteagudo de Mendoza, Countess of Lodosa, Countess of Valhermoso and Baroness of Liñola. Since 25 July 2003, she has been styled Archduchess Monika of Austria, Princess of Hungary, Bohemia and Croatia, Duchess of Santángelo and Countess of Lodosa. Monika also holds dynastic distinctions of the House of Habsburg. She is a Dame of the Imperial and Royal Order of the Starry Cross and a Dame Grand Cordon of the Imperial and Royal Order of Elisabeth. Her life thus brings together the family’s memory of the Austrian imperial era, her birth in exile, her marriage into the Spanish nobility and her role as the mother of four sons.