Cat's Historical Doodles

Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna was born on 2 November 1755 at the Hofburg Palace, in Vienna. She was the youngest daughter of Empress Maria Theresa, and her husband Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor. Maria Antonia was raised together with her three-year old sister, Maria Carolina, with whom she had a lifelong close relationship. Despite the private tutoring she received, the results of Maria Antonia’s schooling were less than satisfactory. At the age of ten, she could not write correctly in German, French and Italian, and conversations with her were stilted. She was, however, a good musician. She played the harp, the harpsichord and the flute, and she had a beautiful singing voice. Following the Seven Years’ War and the Diplomatic Revolution of 1756, Maria Theresa decided to end hostilities with King Louis XV of France. They sealed their alliance with a marriage: on 7 February 1770, Louis XV requested the hand of Maria Antonia for his eldest son and heir, Louis-Auguste. Upon her a...

Maria Sophia Elisabeth was born on 6 August 1666 at the Schloss Benrath, outside Düsseldorf. She was daughter of Philip William, Count Palatine of Neuburg, and Elisabeth Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt. In 1685, Maria Sophia's father became Elector Palatine, an inheritance that greatly benefitted he family's status. Maria Sophia's sister, Eleonore Magdalena married Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, due to the family's reputation as producing fertile women. After two marriages, Leopold I had no male heirs; Eleonore Magdalena quickly fulfilled her duty and gave birth to two sons. A similar succession crisis was occurring in Portugal. Isabel Luísa, Princess of Beira, heiress to the throne and sole daughter of King Pedro II, was childless and had been refused by most European sovereigns due to her sickly nature and strict Portuguese succession rights. As a result, the Portuguese ambassador was sent to Heidelberg to ask for the hand of Maria Sophia for his King. The marria...

Barbara was born on 30 April 1539, in Vienna. She was daughter of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor, and his wife, Anna of Bohemia and Hungary. In 1547, Barbara and her sisters Magdalena, Margareta, Helena and Johanna moved to Innsbruck, where they received a deeply religious education. Even though Barbara was considered plain, she received several proposals for her hand, due to her connection to the Austrian and Spanish courts. The chosen one was Alfonso II, Duke of Ferrara, and in 1565, their marriage was celebrated with much splendour. Barbara and Alfonso had a happy marriage, but they remained childless. In 1570 and 1571, after an earthquake, the Duchess of Ferrara decided to use her own income to support young girls without parents. She was also responsible for the foundation of the Conservatore delle Orfane di Santa Barbara , which was very much appreciated by the population of Ferrara. Barbara, deeply religious, was in constant touch with the Jesuits but, at the same ti...

Eleanor (Portuguese: Leonor) was born on 18 September 1434, in Torres Vedras, Portugal. She was one of the nine children of King Duarte of Portugal and his wife, Eleanor of Aragon. Her two older sisters died when they were young, leaving Eleanor as the eldest surviving daughter. The King died five days after Eleanor's fourth birthday and her brother Afonso succeeded him as Afonso V, with their mother as regent. In 1440, Eleanor's mother was forced to go into exile in Castile because she lost litigation against her brother-in-law Pedro, Duke of Coimbra, for the regency of the young King. Eleanor's marriage was likely suggested by her aunt, Isabella of Portugal, Duchess of Burgundy. Arrangements were made and Eleanor's portrait was painted. She received proposals from Louis, Dauphin of France and Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor. Eleanor chose Frederick herself because the match with him would give her the title of Empress. Eleanor and Frederick met for the fir...