Figure 1.--Here we see Archduchess Marie Valerie of Austria with her husband Archduke Franz Salvator and their children. The portrait was taken about 1905. Left to right: Archdss Elisabeth--Ella (1892-1930), behind Ella = Archduke Franz Karl Salvator (1893-1928), Archduke Theodor Salvator (1899), Archdss Marie Valerie with Archduke Clemens Salvator (1904-1974) on her lap, Archdss Gertrud (1900), Archduke Franz Salvator, Archdss Maria (1901-1936) (never married), behind Maria = Archduke Hubert Salvator (1894), and Archdss Hedwig (1896-1970).

Maria Valerie was born at Ofen in Hungary (1868). The Emperess Elizabeth was especially attached to their third surviving child Maria Valerie. She was born several years after the other children and Elizabeth was now more mature. Maria Valerie was Elizabeth's favorite child. Marie Valerie was a determined young lady. When it came time to marry, she chose love over a dynastic marraige. Thecfamily hoped she would marry some one like the Prince of Saxony or Prince Of Braganza. She flatly refused and Sissi supported her favorite daughter. Her choice apparently caused a rift between her and her brother--Crown Prince Rudolf. This seems strange because the Prince had marital problems because of a loveless marriage. One would think that he might be sympathetic. Maria Valerie finally married Franz Salvador (Habsburg) a year after her brother's tragic suicide (1890). Her chosen husband was a close cousin, from the Tuscan branch of the family. They had their first child, Hubert Salvator (1894). Nine more children followed in close secession. Maria Valerie died in 1924 at Schloss Wallsee.

Parents

The young princess had two of the most prestigious parents in the world.

Emperor Frances Joseph

Of all the Hapsburgs, one of the longest ruling was Francis Joseph I (1830-1916). He also proved to be end of the reining monarchs. By uniting himself with the conservative absolutist foces, he preserved the monarchy for over a half century. In the end, however, his refusal to allow basic democratic reforms would eventually lead tonthe end of the monarchy a few years after his death in 1916. Francis Joseph may indeed be the most tragic figure in the twilight of European monarchies. While he reigned for 7 tumultuous decades, his life was filled with tragedy. His brother Maximilian was executed in Mexico. His sonv Rudolf, a man of liberal ideals who might have saved the monarchy, commited suiside in a torrid love affair. His beloved wife Sisi was stabbed by an anarchist. His heir Francis Ferdinand was assasinated. His Empire had alrady begun to crumble in World War I, even before his death. Francis Joseph's rule was both magnificent and at the same time pathetic. The Austrian monarchy was one of the most prestiogious in Europe. The Emperor himself was the most long-lived soverign. Yet he lived to see Austria reduced to a second rate power by Germany, his loved ones die in tragic circumstances, and his Empire begin to desintegrate.

Emperess Elizabeth

The one moderating factor in Francis Joseph's court was his beloved wife, the Emperess Elizabeth or "Sisi" as she was known. She was by all accounts an especially beautiful and intelligent woman of liberal disposition. She grew up in the relative freedom of rge liberal and often excentric Bavarian court. She married Franz Josef when she was only 16 years old. She thus at this very young age was thrust into perhaps Europe's most conservative and formal court. Her youth and desire for independence affected her view of the Austrian court. Later as she developed political ideas, her democratic and liberal views further estraigned her from the restrictions of the Court and her role as Empersss. She has been criticized, however, for her lack of warmth as a mother. This is not just a family matter. Her son Rudolfis a man, who if he had become emperor, night have been able to stop World War I.

Siblings

Emperor Franz Josef and Emperess Elisabeth had four children. The Emperess gave birth to four children, three in quick order after marriage. She was not, however, a very engaged mother. She has been criticized, however, for her lack of warmth as a mother. This is not just a family matter. Her son Rudolfis a man, who if he had become emperor, night have been able to stop World War I. The Empresses' motherly role may have been affected by her treatment at Court. She was only 16 when she was married and very innocent. Her initail intinmate realtions with her husband appear to have been unpleasant. When the children arrived, Franz Josef's mother the Archduchess Sophia constantly interfered. She prohibited Elizabeth, for example, from breast feeding the children. She ccame to dislike, she used the term "loath" the idea of having children. [Haslip, p. 87.] After the first three children, even though her health was excellent, she insisted to her husband that they have no more children. This proved to be decission if enormous political consequence when their only son, Rudolf committed suiside. This showed a very strong turn of mind for a young woman in the mid-19th century. She in fact encouraged Franz Josef to find a mistress so as not to have further intimate relations with him. This rejection was a considerable scandal in court circles and very painful to Franz Josef as he was so attached to his wife.

Childhood

Maria Valerie was born in 1868 at Budapest. (Some surces note the birth place as Ofen in Hungary. Ofen is the German name for Budapest, but this name is hardly ever used, not even in Germany. At the time Maria Valeries was born, however, the Austrian authorities insisted using the German names for all the cities in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Stuhlweißenburg is just as difficult for Americans as is Szekesferhervár.) The Emperess Elizabeth was especially attached to their third surviving child Maria Valerie. She was born several years after the other children and Elizabeth was now more mature. Maria Valerie was Elizabeth's favorite child. Her siblings were mych older, more lie aunts and uncles.

Childhood Clothing

Education

Marriage

She married a close cousin, Franz Salvator, from the Tuscan branch of the family. His father was Grand Duke Karl Salvador (Hapsburg) of Austria (1839- ). His mother was Maria Immaculata de Bourbon of Sicily (1844- ). Marie Valerie was a determined young lady. When it came time to marry, she chose love over a dynastic marraige. The family hoped she would marry some one like the Prince of Saxony or Prince Of Braganza. She flatly refused and Emperess Elizaeth supported her favorite daughter. Her choice apparently cause a rift between her and her brother--Crown Prince Rudolf. This seems strange because the Prince had marital problems because of a loveless marriage. You would have thought that he might had been more sympathetic. Maria Valerie finally married Franz Salvador (Habsburg) in 1890 a year after her brother's tragic suicide. One sourse reports that he became King Franz II of The Two Sicilies. I think this mneant that he inherited the titles. Naples and Sicily at the time were part of the Italian monarchy.

Children

Marie Valerie appears to have chosen her new huband well. By all accounts she and Franz Salvatore appear to have had a happy marriage, at least their large family suggests this. They were blessed with ten children, Elizabeth (1892), Franz (1893), Hubert Salvator (1894), Hegwig (1896), Theodor Salvator (1899), Gertrude (1900), Maria Elisabeth (1901), Clemens Salvator (1904), Mathilde (1906) and lastly Agnes who was born and died the same day in 1911" [Johnson] Hubert Salvator married Rosemary Salm in 1926. At this time we have only very limited information on the children.

Death

Maria Valerie died in 1924 at Schloss Wallsee.

Sources

Johnson, Bryan, E-mail message, June 13, 2006.

Created: April 2, 2004
Last updated: 9:02 PM 5/19/2011