They shaped their time
Queens, regents, trailblazers.
Regents, diplomats, sovereigns and founders: a journey through six centuries of women’s agency in Habsburg Europe and beyond.
- 4 chapters
- 23 women
- 1416–1989
1 / 4
Inheritance and entanglement
Burgundian, Iberian and Austrian realms were connected by women who inherited, governed and shaped dynastic transitions.
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Margaret of Austria electress of Saxony
Unknown author Unknown author
File:Margaret of Austria electress of Saxony.JPG · Public domain
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01 · 1416
Inheritance and entanglement
Margaretha von Österreich
Acted in territorial government and cultivated dynastic connections.
1477 — Burgundy becomes a dynastic hinge
Mary of Burgundy rules in her own right and connects her inheritance with Maximilian’s house.
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Mary of Burgundy title QS:P1476,en:"Mary of Burgundy " label QS:Len,"Mary of Burgundy " label QS:Lde,"Maria von Burgund"
Possibly Michael Pacher
File:Mary of burgundy pocher.jpg · Public domain
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02 · 1477
Inheritance and entanglement
Maria von Burgund
Ruled Burgundy in her own right and shaped the succession to her inheritance.
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Portrait of Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy (1480-1530)
Bernard van Orley
File:Portrait of Archduchess Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy (1480–1530), in widow's dress, by Bernard van Orley.jpg · Public domain
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03 · 1507–1515
Inheritance and entanglement
Margarete von Österreich
Governed the Netherlands and helped negotiate the 1529 Peace of Cambrai.
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German: Maria, Königin von Ungarn (1505-1558) Mary, Queen of Hungary (1505-1558) title QS:P1476,de:"Maria, Königin von Ungarn (1505-1558) " label QS:Lde,"Maria, Königin von Ungarn (1505-1558) " label QS:Len,"Mary, Queen of Hungary (1505-1558)" label QS:Lar,"صورة مارية المجرية (1505-1558)" label QS:Lnl,"Portret van Maria van Hongarije (1505-1558)"
Hans Krell
File:Maria, Königin von Ungarn (1505-1558).jpg · Public domain
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04 · 1531–1555
Inheritance and entanglement
Maria von Ungarn
Directed the finances, defence and administration of the Netherlands as governor.
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Catalina de Austria, reina consorte de Portugal
Antonis Mor
File:Infanta Caterina of Spain.jpg · Public domain
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05 · 1557–1562
Inheritance and entanglement
Katharina von Kastilien
Exercised effective governing power as regent of Portugal.
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Portrait of female
Antonis Mor
File:MargarethevonParma02.jpg · Public domain
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06 · 1559–1567
Inheritance and entanglement
Margarethe von Parma
Negotiated with nobles and estates as governor during the crisis in the Netherlands.
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Spanish: La emperatriz Isabel de Portugal Portrait of Isabella of Portugal label QS:Les," Retrato de Isabel de Portugal " label QS:Lfr," Portrait d'Isabelle de Portugal " label QS:Lca," Retrat d'Isabel de Portugal (Ticià) " label QS:Lpt," Retrato de Isabel de Portugal " label QS:Len," Portrait of Isabella of Portugal "
Titian
File:La emperatriz Isabel de Portugal, por Tiziano.jpg · Public domain
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07 · 1526
Inheritance and entanglement
Isabella von Portugal
Repeatedly governed Spain during Charles V’s absences.
2 / 4
Regency and shared sovereignty
Amid confessional conflict and composite monarchies, women directed governments, courts and diplomatic networks.
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Portyrait of Mary of Habsburg (1528-1603) title QS:P1476,en:"Portyrait of Mary of Habsburg (1528-1603) " label QS:Len,"Portyrait of Mary of Habsburg (1528-1603) " label QS:Les,"La emperatriz María de Austria, esposa de Maximiliano II" label QS:Lde,"Kaiserin Maria von Österreich, Gemahlin Maximilians II" label QS:Lnl,"Portret van Maria van Habsburg (1528-1603), echtgenote van Maximilian II"
Antonis Mor
File:Infanta Maria of Spain.jpg · Public domain
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08 · 1548
Regency and shared sovereignty
Maria von Spanien
Combined Spanish regency with political mediation between two Habsburg branches.
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Spanish: Retrato de doña Juana de Austria, princesa de Portugal Portrait of Doña Juana de Austria, Princess of Portugal title QS:P1476,es:"Retrato de doña Juana de Austria, princesa de Portugal" label QS:Les,"Retrato de doña Juana de Austria, princesa de Portugal" label QS:Len,"Portrait of Doña Juana de Austria, Princess of Portugal" label QS:Leu,"Joana Austriakoa Portugalgo printzesaren erretratua"
Alonso Sánchez Coello
File:Alonso Sánchez Coello - Portrait of Juana of Austria, Princess of Portugal - Google Art Project.jpg · Public domain
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09 · 1554–1559
Regency and shared sovereignty
Johanna von Spanien
Governed Spain and founded the Descalzas Reales in Madrid.
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María Tudor, reina de Inglaterra y esposa de Felipe II
Antonis Mor
File:Anthonis Mor 001.jpg · Public domain
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10 · 1554
Regency and shared sovereignty
Maria I.
Ruled England in her own right; her Catholic restoration brought deadly persecution.
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German: Infantin Isabella Clara Eugenia (1566-1633) Portrait of the Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia title QS:P1476,de:"Infantin Isabella Clara Eugenia (1566-1633)" label QS:Lde,"Infantin Isabella Clara Eugenia (1566-1633)"
Sofonisba Anguissola
File:Infantin Isabella Clara Eugenia, 1599.jpg · Public domain
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11 · 1598
Regency and shared sovereignty
Isabella Clara Eugenia von Spanien
Was co-sovereign of the Netherlands and employed Rubens in peace negotiations.
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Justus Sustermans 030
Workshop of Justus Sustermans
File:Justus Sustermans 030.jpg · Public domain
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12 · 1621–1628
Regency and shared sovereignty
Maria Magdalena von Österreich
Shared the Tuscan regency and pursued alliance and marriage policy.
3 / 4
Territory, crisis and inheritance
Regents asserted political room for action in France, Tyrol, Spain, Brussels and the Habsburg hereditary lands.
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French: Anne d'Autriche, reine de France Anne of Austria, Queen of France title QS:P1476,fr:"Anne d'Autriche, reine de France " label QS:Lfr,"Anne d'Autriche, reine de France " label QS:Len,"Anne of Austria, Queen of France"
Attributed to Henri and Charles Beaubrun
File:AnnaofAustria10.jpg · Public domain
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13 · 1643
Territory, crisis and inheritance
Anna von Österreich
Removed limits on her French regency and supported Mazarin during the Fronde.
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Portrait of Claudia de' Medici
Lorenzo Lippi
File:Claudia de' Medici wearing the coronet of an Archduchess of Austria by Lorenzo Lippi.jpg · Public domain
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14 · 1626
Territory, crisis and inheritance
Claudia de’ Medici
Governed Tyrol and Further Austria, strengthened fortifications and promoted trade in Bolzano.
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Porträt der Mariana de Austria
Diego Velázquez
File:Diego Velázquez 032b.jpg · Public domain
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15 · 1665–1675
Territory, crisis and inheritance
Maria Anna von Österreich
Held the Spanish regency and remained influential in court and succession politics.
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German: Erzherzogin Maria Elisabeth (1680-1741) im Alter von ca. vier Jahren title QS:P1476,de:" Erzherzogin Maria Elisabeth (1680-1741) im Alter von ca. vier Jahren" label QS:Lde," Erzherzogin Maria Elisabeth (1680-1741) im Alter von ca. vier Jahren"
Charles Brendel
File:Maria Elisabeth von Österreich - 1680–1741.jpg · Public domain
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16 · 1725–1741
Territory, crisis and inheritance
Maria Elisabeth von Österreich
Governed the Austrian Netherlands and advanced positions of her own toward Vienna.
1740 — Inheritance becomes rule
Maria Theresa defends her lands and governs them in her own right for four decades.
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German: Bildnis Maria Theresias als Königin von Ungarn Portrait of Maria Theresa as Queen of Hungary title QS:P1476,de:"Bildnis Maria Theresias als Königin von Ungarn " label QS:Lde,"Bildnis Maria Theresias als Königin von Ungarn " label QS:Lfr,"Impératrice Marie-Thérèse d'Autriche" label QS:Len,"Portrait of Maria Theresa as Queen of Hungary" label QS:Luk,"скачено з інтернету" label QS:Lnl,"Portret van Maria Theresia (1717-1780) als 'Koning' van Hongarije"
Martin van Meytens
File:Kaiserin Maria Theresia (HRR).jpg · Public domain
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17 · 1740–1780
Territory, crisis and inheritance
Maria Theresia
Ruled in her own right and reformed administration, finance and education.
4 / 4
Institutions and upheaval
Collections, reform, state formation and the monarchy’s end widened the settings of women’s politics.
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German: Maria Anna, Erzherzogin von Österreich Portrait of Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria title QS:P1476,de:"Maria Anna, Erzherzogin von Österreich " label QS:Lde,"Maria Anna, Erzherzogin von Österreich " label QS:Len,"Portrait of Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria"
Natale Schiavoni
File:Maria Anna d'Austria.jpg · Public domain
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18 · 1738
Institutions and upheaval
Maria Anna von Österreich
Created a lasting institutional legacy as collector and patron.
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Portrait of Archduchess Maria Christina (1742-1798), Duchess of Teschen label QS:Len,"Portrait of Archduchess Maria Christina (1742-1798), Duchess of Teschen" label QS:Lde,"Erzherzogin Maria Christine (1742-1798)"
Marcello Bacciarelli
File:Bacciarelli Marie Christine 1766.jpg · Public domain
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19 · 1781
Institutions and upheaval
Maria Christina von Österreich
Served as co-governor and helped build the collection that became the Albertina.
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Maria Carolina of Austria (1752-1814) label QS:Len,"Portrait of female" label QS:Lde,"Bildnis Maria Karoline von Österreich, Königin von Neapel"
Angelica Kauffmann
File:Angelika Kauffmann Portrait Maria Karoline von Österreich VLM off.jpg · Public domain
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20 · 1776
Institutions and upheaval
Maria Karolina von Österreich
Shaped appointments and the British alignment of Neapolitan foreign policy.
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Ritratto della duchessa Maria Luigia d'Austria, raffigurata a mezza persona assisa in trono e con le insegne dell'Ordine Costantiniano di S. Giorgio
Isacco Gioacchino Levi (1818-1908)
File:Maria Luigia of Austria, duchess of Parma.jpg · Public domain
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21 · 1814–1847
Institutions and upheaval
Marie-Louise von Österreich
Ruled Parma as sovereign duchess and founded welfare and cultural institutions.
1822 — State formation in Brazil
As regent and head of the Council of State, Maria Leopoldina helps shape the path to independence.
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Bernhard von Guérard Porträt Erzherzogin Maria Leopoldine 1816
Bernhard von Guérard
File:Bernhard von Guérard Porträt Erzherzogin Maria Leopoldine 1816.jpg · Public domain
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22 · 1822
Institutions and upheaval
Maria Leopoldine von Österreich
Helped shape Brazil’s separation from Portugal as regent and head of the Council of State.
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Kaiserin Zita
Unknown author Unknown author
File:Kaiserin Zita.jpg · Public domain
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23 · 1911
Institutions and upheaval
Zita von Bourbon-Parma
Participated in the 1917 peace initiative and pursued legitimist aims in exile.