Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

Elisabeth Christine, Holy Roman Empress

Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (born August 28, 1691 in Brunswick, died December 21, 1750 in Vienna) was princess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel and Holy Roman Empress by her marriage to Charles VI. She was the mother of Empress Maria Theresa.

She was the oldest daughter of Louis Rudolph, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and his wife Christine Luise, Princess of Ottingen in Brunswick.

At age 13 she was already engaged to the future Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor through negotiations between her ambitious grandfather, Anthony Ulrich, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Charles' sister-in-law, Empress Wilhelmina Amalia, whose father was also Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. However, the Protestant bride opposed the marriage at first, since it involved her switching to Catholicism, but finally she gave in and on May 1, 1707 was converted in Bamberg.

Elisabeth Christine and Charles were married in 1708. They had two children survive infancy, Maria Teresa and Maria Anna.

[edit] Children

Preceded by: Anne Marie of Orléans	Queen consort of Sicily 1720-1734	Succeeded by: Maria Amalia of Saxony
Preceded by: Maria Luisa of Savoy	Queen consort of Naples 1713-1735
	Queen consort of Sardinia 1713-1720	Succeeded by: Anne Marie of Orléans
Preceded by Wilhelmina Amalia of Brunswick	Empress of the Holy Roman Empire, German Queen 1711-1740	Succeeded by Maria Amalia of Austria
	Queen consort of Bohemia 1711-1740
	Queen of Hungary, Queen consort of Croatia and Slavonia 1711-1740	Succeeded by Emperor Francis I
	Archduchess consort of Austria 1743–1765
Preceded by Henrietta Maria of Modena	Duchess consort of Guastalla, Duchess consort of Parma