Constance of Austria

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Archduchess Constance of Austria (Constance Renate of Habsburg, in German language: Konstanze Renate von Habsburg, Erzherzogin von Österreich, Polish: Konstancja Austriaczka or Konstancja Rakuszanka) (December 24, 1588-July 10, 1631) was a Queen consort of Poland and Sweden.

She was a daughter of Charles II of Austria and Maria Anna of Bavaria. Her paternal grandparents were Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor and Anna of Bohemia and Hungary(1503–1547). Anne was the only daughter of King Ladislaus II of Bohemia and Hungary and his wife Anne de Foix. Her maternal grandparents were Albert V, Duke of Bavaria and Anne Habsburg of Austria.

Constance was also a younger sister of Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor, Margaret of Austria, Leopold V of Austria and Anna of Habsburg.

Her older sister Anna was the first wife of king Sigismund III Vasa. After her death Constance and Sigismund III Vasa were married on December 11, 1605. They had seven children:

1. Johan Kasimir (1607-1608)
2. John Casimir (1609-1672), (reigned 1648-1668 as John Casimir II Vasa of Poland)
3. Johan Albert (1612-1634)
4. Karl Ferdinand (1613-1655)
5. Alexander Karl (1614-1634)
6. Anna Konstantia (1616-1616)
7. Anna Katharina Konstanze (1619-1651)

She was a great politician. She built strong faction which consisted of important noble men, who were married to her handmaidens. She was very religious. She went to Mass two times every day. She also was a great patron of painters and architects.

!!! ATTENTION !!!

The image is not image of Constance. It's a portrait of her younger sister, Maria Magdalena. Her real image is under this address: http://img.interia.pl/encyklopedia/nimg/konstan1.jpg and http://www.zrodlo.krakow.pl/Archiwum/2005/03/07.jpg If some can change this mistake I would be very grateful. I'm a historian on Polish University, but I'm not good at changing something in the Internet (mostly images). Thank You very much.