Avançar para o conteúdo principal

Maria Christina, Princess of Transylvania

Maria Christina was born on 10 November 1574, in Graz. She was the daughter of Archduke Charles II of Austria and Maria Anna of Bavaria.



On 7 February 1595, a formal petition of marriage was made to Maria Christina on behalf of Sigismund Báthory, the ruling Prince of Transylvania. The marriage contract was negotiated, and, on 15 June, Maria Christina and her mother began the journey to Transylvania. In Kachau, Maria Christina fell ill with a fever, which delayed the journey. The formal marriage took place in Weissenburg on 6 August 1595. Soon after, Maria Christina finally arrived in Transylvania.


This marriage was regarded as a major political gain as Sigismund (formerly a vassal of the Ottoman Empire) now formed close ties with the Holy Roman Empire. Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor, appointed Sigismund Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, and secured the possession of Transylvania if the couple remained childless.

However, this union was completely unhappy – after a disastrous wedding night, Sigismund refused to consummate the marriage and sent his wife to a fortress in Kővár vára, where Maria Christina was imprisoned.

On 18 April 1598, at the request of the local nobility, she was elected to occupy the Transylvanian throne after her husband’s abdication. Her rule was only nominal, as Emperor Rudolf II sent representatives to rule. On 20 August 1598, Sigismund Báthory regained the throne and reconciled with Maria Christina, only to send her again to Kővár vára.

Then Sigismund abdicate for a second time In March 1599, Maria Christina finally left him and returned to Austria. On 17 August 1599, Pope Clement VIII dissolved her marriage.

In 1607, Maria Christina joined her younger sister, Eleanor, in the Haller Convent, in Hall in Tirol. She died there on 6 April 1621, aged 46.


Maria Christina, Princess of Transylvania
c. 1592

Comentários

  1. Well, that really was a short-lived happy marriage... In fact, it probably wasn't happy at any moment. Btw, Transylvania has to be one of the coolest names ever for a region XD. And your drawing is amazing, it's exactly like the original, only better! :)

    ResponderEliminar

Enviar um comentário

Mensagens populares deste blogue

Mihrimah Sultan

Mihrimah was born in Istanbul in 1522; she was the daughter of Sultan Süleyman I (aka The Magnificent) and his concubine, Hürrem Sultan . Her mother was freed in 1533 or 1534 and became the Sultan’s legal wife. On 26 November 1539, Mihrimah, aged 17, married Rüstem Pasha, who later rose to become her father’s Grand Vizier. Though this union was unhappy, Mihrimah flourished as a patroness of the arts and continued her travels with her father until her husband’s death. Mihrimah had two children: Osman and Hümaşah. Mihrimah travelled the Ottoman Empire with her father as he surveyed the lands and conquered new ones. In international politics, her mother sent letters to the Sigismund II, King of Poland, and the contents of these letters were mirrored in the letters Mihrimah sent. Although there is no proof of Hürrem and Mihrimah’s direct involvement in her half-brother Mustafa’s downfall, Ottoman sources and foreign accounts indicate that it was widely believed they worke...

Margaret of Provence

Margaret (French: Marguerite) was born during the spring of 1221, in Forcalquier. She was the eldest daughter of Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Provence, and Beatrice of Savoy. She had three younger sisters, who would all become queens like her: Eleanor (Queen of England), Sanchia (Queen of Germany) and Beatrice (Queen of Sicily). Margaret has a especially close relationship with Eleanor, and they remained friends until they grew old. In 1233, Blanche of Castile sent one of her knights to Provence to meet Margaret, whose grace and beauty was famous. Margaret and her father entertained the knight well, and soon Blanche and Ramon Berenguer were negotiating a marriage contract between Margaret and Louis IX of France, Blanche's son. Margaret was escorted to Lyon by her parents, where the marriage treaty was signed. From there, she was escorted to her wedding ceremony, in Sens. On 27 May 1234, Margaret became the wife of Louis IX and Queen of France; she was just 13. The marriage...

Catherine Parr

Catherine was born in the year of 1512, probably in August. She was the eldest child of Sir Thomas Parr and his wife, Maud Green. She had a younger brother, William, and a younger sister, Anne. Sir Thomas was a close companion to King Henry VIII, and Maud was a close friend and attendant of Queen Catherine of Aragon . The Queen was Catherine's godmother and she was probably named after her. Catherine's father died when she was young, and she grew up close to her mother. She received a standard education for women at the time, but developed a passion for learning throughout her life. She spoke fluent French, Latin, and Italian, and began learning Spanish when she became Queen. H er first marriage happened in 1529, when she was 17. She married Sir Edward Burgh, becoming known as Lady Burgh. Sir Edward was in his twenties, but his health may have not been the best. He died in 1533 and Catherine was widowed for the first time. Catherine's second marriage happened in ...