Maria of Austria

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Maria of Habsburg

Maria of Austria (18 September 1505 – 18 October 1558) is also known variously as Mary, Marie or Maria of Hungary (after her marriage), of Austria (due to her country of origin), of Habsburg (after her family), or of Spain (since her parents where king and queen of Spain).

[edit] Origins

She was born in Brussels to Philip I of Castile ("the Handsome") and Juana of Castile ("the Mad"). Her paternal grandparents were Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor and his first wife Mary of Burgundy. Her maternal grandparents were Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella of Castile.

Maria was a younger sister of Eleonore of Austria, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, Isabella of Burgundy and Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor. She was an older sister of Catarina of Spain.

[edit] Queen of Hungary

Before Maria closed her first year of life, she was promised as a wife to the first son to be born to Ladislaus II of Bohemia and Hungary and his fourth wife Anne de Foix. This son was born in 1506 and was to become Louis II of Hungary and Bohemia.

They were married on 13 January 1522 in Buda. Their joint portrait still exists. Both his robes and her alleged wedding dress are on display at the National Museum of Hungary.

Maria served as Queen consort of Hungary and Bohemia for four years and seven months. On 29 August 1526, Louis was killed in the Battle of Mohács while leading his forces against Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire. They were childless. The joined crowns of Hungary and Bohemia passed to her brother Ferdinand.

[edit] Regent in the Netherlands

Maria would not marry again. Her chance at personal rule came four years later. Her paternal aunt Margaret of Austria died on 1 December 1530, leaving the position of Governor of the Seventeen Provinces vacant. Her brother Charles established Maria as his regent of the Netherlands. She remained on the post until 1555. She was replaced by Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy.

She died three years later in Cigalos. In her last will she requested that her heart-shaped gold medallion, once worn by her husband, be melted down and distributed among the poor.