Today's blog about our Danube River Cruise is to give you an important history lesson about the country and region's ruling family, the Habsburg Family. In a later blog, we'll take you to the Schönbrunn Palace, where they resided. In this blog, you'll learn about the family history and the most famous member of the dynasty - Maria Theresa. So MUCH of Vienna involves this family. Read on!
WHY WAS THERE A HABSBURG DYNASTY - This one family ruled the region of Austria (and surrounding countries) for about 650 years.
WHO WERE THE HABSBURGS - The Habsburgs originated in Swabia, a duchy of southwestern Germany. In 1246 they took control of the duchy of Austria. In the late thirteenth century, Rudolf I became the first of the line to be elected as Holy Roman Emperor; he passed this title on to his son Albert I. In 1438, Albert II succeeded to the title, followed by Frederick III.
After the death of Ferdinand I in 1564, the Habsburg domains were divided among his three sons: Maximilian II became Holy Roman Emperor, and also ruled Bohemia and Austria. Charles and Ferdinand shared Austria. The family continued to hand down rule until Maria Theresa.
1750 portrait of Maria Theresia in Graz
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WHERE DID SHE RULE? She was the ruler of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Transylvania, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands, and Parma.
Born: May 13, 1717, The Hofburg, Vienna, Austria
Died: November 29, 1780, The Hofburg, Vienna, Austria
Nationality: Austrian
Spouse: Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor (m. 1736–1765)
SPOKE MANY LANGUAGES - Maria Theresa spoke German, Italian, French, Spanish, Latin, Czech and she added Hungarian before she became the empress
NEXT: A MUSICAL VIENNA: Raditsky, Strauss, Mozart, Opera House
WATCH THIS 2 MIN. 49 SECOND VIDEO ABOUT MARIA THERESA'S RULE
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/OyFG3eJwfV8
