Margaret Theresa of Spain

Holy Roman empress (1651-1673)

Margaret Theresa of Spain (Spanish: Margarita Teresa, German: Margarete Theresia; 12 July 1651 – 12 March 1673), was by marriage, Holy Roman Empress, Queen of Germany, Archduchess of Austria and Queen of Hungary and Bohemia.

Margaret Theresa of Spain
Portrait from unknown artist, c. 1662–1664, currently displayed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Holy Roman Empress
Tenure25 April 1666 – 12 March 1673
Born12 July 1651
Royal Alcazar, Madrid, Spain
Died12 March 1673(1673-03-12) (aged 21)
Hofburg Palace, Vienna, Austria
Burial
Spouse
Issue
Detail
Maria Antonia, Electress of Bavaria
HouseHabsburg
FatherPhilip IV of Spain
MotherMariana of Austria

Biography change

She was the daughter of King Felipe IV of Spain and the older full-sister of King Carlos II of Spain, the last of the Spanish Habsburgs. She is the central figure in the famous Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez. She was the subject of many of his later paintings.

She was also a half-sister of Maria Theresa of Austria (the wife of Louis XIV of France) In Austria she was known as Margarete Theresia.

She is her father's favourite child. He called her "my joy" . She was an Archduchess of Austria by birth as well as by marriage and an Infanta of Spain. She was Margarita Teresa of Austria, but not "of Spain" due to being a member of the House of Habsburg.

Marriage change

She married her uncle, Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor an on 5 December 1666, the solemn entry of the Infanta in Vienna took place and the official marriage ceremony was celebrated seven days later, on 12 December. Throughout their marriage Margarita Teresa called her husband uncle.

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