Marie Henriette of Austria

1.1. Birth and Family Background

Marie Henriette Anne was born on August 23, 1836, in Pest, within the Kingdom of Hungary, at the Buda Castle. She was the youngest of five children born to Archduke Joseph, Palatine of Hungary, and his third wife, Duchess Maria Dorothea of Württemberg. Through her father, Marie Henriette was a cousin of Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria and a granddaughter of Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor. Her maternal lineage connected her as a first cousin, once removed, to the future Queen Mary of the United Kingdom. Her birth into the prestigious House of Habsburg was a significant factor in her future arranged marriage.

1.2. Childhood and Education

Marie Henriette spent a considerable portion of her childhood at the Buda Castle in Hungary, where her father served as Palatine of Hungary. She experienced a significant loss at the age of ten when her father passed away. Following his death, she became a ward of Archduke John of Austria, residing at the Palais Augarten in Vienna. It was noted that her mother raised her "as a boy," which likely contributed to her vibrant and energetic personality. She was described as having a strong will and a fiery temperament, and she developed a keen interest in riding, a passion that would define much of her life. Beyond her equestrian pursuits, she was also recognized as an artist and musician, known for her noble soul and charitable nature, earning her the nickname "Rose of Brabant."

2.1. Arranged Marriage and Initial Discontent

On August 22, 1853, just one day before her 17th birthday, Marie Henriette married 18-year-old Prince Leopold of Belgium, who was the heir to the Belgian throne. Leopold was the second surviving son of Leopold I of Belgium and his French wife, Louise of Orléans. This marriage made Marie Henriette the sister-in-law of Charlotte of Belgium, who would later become the Empress of Mexico, and a cousin by marriage to Victoria of the United Kingdom and Maria II of Portugal.

The marriage was primarily arranged to bolster the standing of the newly established Belgian Monarchy. As a former Protestant monarch, King Leopold I desired his son to marry into a Roman Catholic and esteemed dynasty, and Marie Henriette's Habsburg lineage made her a highly desirable match. The union also served to forge a historical link between the young Kingdom of Belgium and the venerable Habsburg dynasty, which had previously ruled the Austrian Netherlands.

The proposal for the marriage came from King Leopold I to Marie Henriette's guardian, Archduke John of Austria, and the arrangements were made without her direct consent. She was introduced to Leopold at an Imperial court ball at the Hofburg Palace in May 1853, where she was informed of her impending marriage. Neither Marie Henriette nor Leopold made a favorable impression on each other. Despite her protests, she was persuaded by her mother to accept the union. Leopold himself acknowledged that he had agreed to the marriage solely due to his father's wishes.

Marie Henriette formally renounced her rights to the Austrian throne and signed the marriage contract in Vienna on August 8, 1853. A proxy wedding ceremony was held at Schönbrunn Palace on August 10, after which she traveled to Brussels for the final ceremony with Leopold in person on August 22. The wedding was followed by a tour through the Belgian provinces and a trip to Great Britain in October. Queen Victoria commented to King Leopold I on the stark differences between the couple, noting Marie Henriette's intelligence, education, and cultivation, contrasted with Leopold's eloquence and interest in military affairs, but a complete lack of common interests. The marriage, arranged against both their wills, was unhappy from its inception.

2.2. Dissimilarities and Unhappy Union

After their marriage, Leopold and Marie Henriette settled in the Palace of Laeken in April 1854, assuming the titles of Duke and Duchess of Brabant. They initially lived with King Leopold I and his younger children, Philippe and Charlotte. While Marie Henriette did not develop a close relationship with her father-in-law, she became a personal friend of Charlotte. She was given her own household, overseen by her mother-in-law's former principal lady-in-waiting, the Comtesse de Mérode.

Marie Henriette dedicated herself to her profound interest in animals, particularly horses and riding, owning approximately fifty horses. She also engaged in the breeding of monkeys and dogs, and kept parrots and fish. Her passion extended to music, where she took lessons in singing, piano, and the harp.

For health reasons, the Duke of Brabant was advised to travel to warmer climates. Marie Henriette accompanied him on his 1855 journey to Egypt via Vienna, Trieste, and Corfu, and from Egypt to Jerusalem. They also undertook a state visit to France to attend the Exposition Universelle. During these travels, their fundamental differences continued to be a subject of observation. Marie Henriette was described as strong, vivid, and energetic, while Leopold was seen as serious, dry, and physically frail. She was extroverted, he was introverted. Pauline de Metternich famously remarked that their marriage was "between a stable boy and a nun, and by nun I mean the Duke of Brabant," highlighting their profound incompatibility. In 1856, her cousin, Archduke Maximilian, visited the Belgian court to meet his future wife, Marie Henriette's sister-in-law Charlotte. He observed that Marie Henriette's lively intelligence enabled her to navigate many sensitive situations and that she brought a much-needed vitality to the Belgian royal family.

In 1858, Marie Henriette gave birth to her first child, a daughter, which was a source of disappointment as an heir was desired. The future heir to the throne, a son, was finally born in 1859. Leopold undertook two more lengthy health trips in 1860 and 1864, this time without Marie Henriette, journeying to Egypt, Ceylon, India, and China. Both trips occurred while Marie Henriette was pregnant, and she expressed her disappointment at being left at home with the children while he embarked on distant travels.

2.3. Separation and Public Appearances

Following the birth of their fourth child, Clémentine, in 1872, the king and queen lived separately for the remainder of their lives, though they officially remained married. Leopold II accused Marie Henriette of responsibility for the death of their only son, an accusation she could not forgive. She was also subjected to humiliation due to Leopold's open adultery. After 1872, they no longer maintained a personal relationship but continued to appear together in public as king and queen, fulfilling their ceremonial duties.

The silver wedding anniversary of the king and queen in August 1878 was marked by national celebrations across Belgium. Festivals were organized, public buildings were adorned, and four public holidays were declared. Marie Henriette received a tiara funded by public contributions through a special committee, and in gratitude, she delivered a patriotic speech.

3.1. Reign and Royal Duties

On December 10, 1865, King Leopold I died, and his son succeeded him as Leopold II, making Marie Henriette the Queen of the Belgians. During the king's enthronement, there was debate about Marie Henriette's participation, but the king ultimately refused, relegating the queen to the role of a spectator at the ceremony.

For the first seven years of their reign as king and queen, Marie Henriette and Leopold continued to live together, but their relationship remained distant. Leopold was described as a polite but authoritarian husband. Marie Henriette found solace in her interests, particularly opera and theatre. She frequently visited the Royal Theatre of La Monnaie, where the royal box was extended with a private room, allowing the queen to socialize with a close circle of friends she had cultivated over the years.

In 1867, her sister-in-law, Empress Charlotte of Mexico, was imprisoned by her Habsburg in-laws due to mental instability. Leopold entrusted Marie Henriette with the delicate task of negotiating Charlotte's release to Belgium. She traveled to Vienna with her advisor, Baron Adrien Goffinet, and successfully completed her mission after two weeks of negotiations. Charlotte initially stayed with the royal couple at Laeken, where Marie Henriette reportedly remained constantly by her side, dedicated to improving her health. While Charlotte showed some signs of improvement, her condition regressed, leading Marie Henriette to lose patience. In 1869, Charlotte was permanently removed from Laeken.

3.2. Personal Interests and Pursuits

Queen Marie Henriette's primary passion lay with her Hungarian horses. She not only kept horses for riding but was also actively involved in their breeding. Unconventionally for a royal woman of her era, she personally tended to their needs, a practice considered eccentric at the time. Her interest in horses extended to military matters, and she often attended military drills at Beverloo in eastern Belgium, riding her Hungarian horse named Beverloo.

Beyond equestrianism, the queen was deeply interested in music and painting. She cultivated these artistic pursuits throughout her life. She also had a unique fascination with other animals, attempting the breeding of monkeys and dogs, and keeping parrots and fish.

3.3. Social Contributions and Humanitarian Efforts

Marie Henriette demonstrated a strong commitment to social welfare and humanitarian causes. During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, although Belgium remained neutral, the queen dedicated herself to caring for the wounded foreign soldiers who crossed Belgian borders. She successfully persuaded the king to open the royal palace in Brussels as a hospital for soldiers wounded after the Battle of Sedan, and she personally attended to the injured there. Her significant efforts were recognized, and King John I of Saxony awarded her the Order of Sidonia in acknowledgement. She also actively participated in the care of those afflicted during the smallpox epidemic in Brussels in 1871. Her actions during these crises showcased her compassionate nature and commitment to public health.

3.4. Views on Colonialism and Family Matters

Queen Marie Henriette held a critical view of King Leopold II's colonial ambitions in the Congo Free State. She openly opposed his venture, likening it to the failed project of the Second Mexican Empire and dismissing the entire colonial enterprise as an unrealistic and ill-advised adventure.

Her involvement in her children's lives was significantly impacted by personal tragedy and her own demanding nature. After the death of her only son, Prince Léopold, Marie Henriette largely delegated the care of her daughters to governesses and tutors. These caregivers reportedly abused their authority and treated the children poorly, yet their mother remained a distant figure and approved of their strict disciplinary methods. She strongly desired her daughters to enter advantageous dynastic marriages. She was pleased with Princess Louise's marriage, as it provided her with frequent opportunities to visit her childhood home in Hungary. She also expressed satisfaction with Princess Stéphanie's prestigious marriage to the Austrian crown prince in 1881. When their son-in-law, the Crown Prince of Austria, committed suicide in the Mayerling incident in 1889, Marie Henriette and Leopold defied the ban from the Austrian Emperor and attended his funeral. She actively supported a marriage between her youngest daughter, Princess Clémentine, and her husband's nephew, the Belgian crown prince, and was deeply devastated when the crown prince died in 1891.

4.1. Children

Marie Henriette and Leopold II had four children:

• Princess Louise of Belgium (1858-1924), who married Prince Philipp of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
• Prince Léopold, Duke of Brabant (1859-1869).
• Princess Stéphanie of Belgium (1864-1945), who married Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria, the son of Franz Joseph I of Austria and Elisabeth of Bavaria.
• Princess Clémentine of Belgium (1872-1955), who married Victor, Prince Napoléon.

4.2. Death of Prince Léopold

The death of her only son, Prince Léopold, Duke of Brabant, in 1869, was a profound tragedy for Marie Henriette and the royal family. While Marie Henriette did not display her grief as openly as Leopold, she undertook several journeys to Switzerland and Hungary without her husband to mourn, and she subsequently developed a deeper interest in religion. The king and queen briefly reconciled in the hopes of conceiving another son. However, their efforts resulted in the birth of another daughter, Clémentine, in 1872. This outcome led to their permanent personal separation for the remainder of their lives, although they remained officially married. Leopold II unjustly accused Marie Henriette of being responsible for their son's death, an accusation she could never forgive, further deepening the rift in their marriage.

7.1. Positive Contributions

Marie Henriette is remembered for her vibrant personality and independent spirit, which often contrasted with the rigid expectations of royal life. Her deep passion for equestrianism and her hands-on approach to horse breeding were distinctive and demonstrated a genuine love for animals. Beyond her personal pursuits, she made significant positive impacts through her humanitarian efforts. Her dedication to caring for wounded soldiers during the Franco-Prussian War and her involvement in public health initiatives, such as aiding those affected by the smallpox epidemic, showcased her compassion and commitment to social welfare. Her ability to bring a sense of vitality to the Belgian royal family, as observed by Archduke Maximilian, further highlights her positive influence in an otherwise often somber court.

7.2. Criticisms and Controversies

Despite her positive attributes, Marie Henriette's life also drew criticism and controversy. Her marriage to Leopold II was notoriously unhappy, characterized by their profound dissimilarities, Leopold's open adultery, and his harsh accusation regarding their son's death, which Marie Henriette found unforgivable. This personal misery and dissatisfaction were widely known. Furthermore, her parenting style, particularly after the death of Prince Léopold, has been subject to scrutiny. She largely entrusted her daughters' upbringing to governesses and tutors who reportedly abused their authority and treated the children poorly. Marie Henriette, in turn, became a distant figure to her children and approved of these strict disciplinary methods, which has been viewed critically by historians.

8.1. Titles and Styles

• August 23, 1836 - August 22, 1853: Her Imperial and Royal Highness Archduchess Marie Henriette of Austria
• August 22, 1853 - December 17, 1865: Her Imperial and Royal Highness The Duchess of Brabant
• December 17, 1865 - September 19, 1902: Her Majesty The Queen of the Belgians

8.2. Honours and Awards

Marie Henriette received numerous honors and awards throughout her life, reflecting her status and contributions:

• Order of the Starry Cross^German, 1st Class (Austria-Hungary)
• Order of St. Michael^German (Kingdom of Bavaria)
• Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold (Belgium)
• Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Charles, April 10, 1865 (Second Mexican Empire)
• Order of the Sun, 1st Class, June 17, 1873 (Persian Empire)
• Dame of the Order of Queen Saint Isabel, August 5, 1854 (Kingdom of Portugal)
• Order of Louise, 1st Class (Kingdom of Prussia)
• Order of Sidonia, 1871 (Kingdom of Saxony)
• Dame of the Order of Queen Maria Luisa, April 6, 1863 (Spain)
• Golden Rose, 1893 (Holy See) - a gift from Pope Leo XIII
• Royal Order of Victoria and Albert, 1st Class, 1878 (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland)

8.3. Coat of Arms