Maria Elisabeth von Österreich

Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria was born on 5 February 1737 at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. She was the eldest child and daughter of Maria Theresa and Francis Stephen, who was later elected emperor of the Holy Roman Empire as Francis I. Her birth initially provoked little celebration, as her parents and many members of the court had hoped for a son and future heir. Despite this initial disappointment, Maria Elisabeth grew into a particularly beloved child. She was considered lively and pretty and soon became the favorite of both her parents. Her grandfather, Emperor Charles VI, also spoke with great pleasure about his eldest granddaughter. He affectionately called her “Liesl” and often spent time playing with her. During her short childhood, she thus held a cherished position within the imperial family. Maria Elisabeth’s life ended when she was only three years old. During a stay at Laxenburg Castle, she suddenly became seriously ill on 7 June 1740. She initially suffered from stomach cramps and repeated vomiting. Over the course of the day, severe diarrhea and coughing followed. Her condition deteriorated rapidly, and she died at around nine o’clock that evening. Her father, Francis Stephen, later gave a moving account of the death of his firstborn daughter. After receiving a medical report indicating that the child would not live much longer, he went to his weeping wife and brought her to the rooms of the sick child. Shortly afterward, Maria Elisabeth sat up once more, looked at her father, and said in a clear voice, “I commend myself, O my God!” She then sank back and died in his arms. Maria Elisabeth was the first member of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine to be buried in the Maria Theresa Vault of the Imperial Crypt in Vienna. Her early death left a lasting impression on the family. One of her younger sisters was later also given the name Maria Elisabeth, allowing the memory of the deceased child to live on within the family.