Archduke Joseph, Palatine of Hungary

Joseph of Austria
Archduke of Austria
Palatine of Hungary
Archduke Joseph, Palatine of Hungary
Portrait by Miklós Barabás (1846)
Spouse Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia
Princess Hermine of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym
Maria Dorothea of Württemberg
Issue
Archduchess Alexandrine of Austria
Archduchess Hermine Amalie Marie of Austria
Archduke Stephen, Palatine of Hungary
Archduchess Franziska Marie Elisabeth of Austria
Archduke Alexander of Austria
Archduchess Elisabeth Franziska of Austria
Archduke Joseph Karl of Austria
Marie Henriette, Queen of Belgium
Full name
Joseph Anton Johann
House House of Habsburg-Lorraine
Father Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
Mother Maria Louisa of Spain
Born 9 March 1776(1776-03-09)
Florence
Died 13 January 1847(1847-01-13) (aged 70)
Buda

Joseph Anton Johann, archduke of Austria (German: Erzherzog Joseph Anton Johann Baptist von Österreich-Toscana, aka Joseph Anton Johann von Österreich, Hungarian: Habsburg-Toscanai József Antal János főherceg, aka József nádor, Czech: Josef Habsbursko-Lotrinský, 9 March 1776, Florence – 13 January 1847, Buda), was the palatine of Hungary from 1796 to 1847. He was the seventh son of Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor and Maria Louisa of Spain.

Contents

Family

Joseph was one of fifteen children born to Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor and Maria Louisa of Spain. He was born in Florence, where his father was ruling as Grand Duke of Tuscany.

His father was a son of Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor and Maria Theresa of Austria. Joseph was a brother of Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor, Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Maria Clementina, Duchess of Calabria.

His mother was a daughter of Charles III of Spain. Through his mother, Joseph was a nephew among others of Charles IV of Spain, Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies, and Infante Gabriel of Spain. He was also a cousin of Ferdinand VII of Spain, Queen Charlotte of Portugal, and Queen Maria Isabella of the Two Sicilies.

In 1796, he was made Palatine of Hungary (nádor in Hungarian). This old dignity was in effect a deputy of the king when he could not attend to the country. Rather characteristic of a Habsburg, he showed genuine care for the country and throughout his years in office supported and promoted economic reforms, public works and constructions that aimed to bring Hungary closer to Europe. He was, just like a true Habsburg, wary of corrupt politicians seeking reforms, although he did not govern with a heavy hand; harsh measures were usually imposed from Vienna. His years saw the first steamboat and railroad in Hungary, the regulation of the Danube and the founding of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

He was very popular among the Magyars and became the founder of the Hungarian branch of the Habsburg family. His statue now stands in a place of honour at the very heart of Budapest in a square named for him, in front of the Ministry of Finance, facing the part of the city that grew up and burgeoned during his tenure.

First marriage

Joseph married Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia (1783–1801), on 30 October 1799 at Saint Petersburg. He was 23 years old; she was 16. She died giving birth to a stillborn daughter.

Second marriage

Joseph married secondly Princess Hermine of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym (1797–1817), on 30 August 1815 at Schaumburg. He was 39 years old; she was 17. She died in childbirth two years later. Both of Joseph's children with Hermine died unmarried and without issue.

Third marriage

Joseph married thirdly Duchess Maria Dorothea of Württemberg on 24 August 1819 at Kirchheim unter Teck. He was 43 years old; she was 21. They were the parents of five children:

Ancestry