Content deleted Content added
Owenerotrot (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
Tag: Reverted |
||
Line 149:
Maria Theresa's mother, Empress Elisabeth Christine, died in 1750. Four years later, Maria Theresa's governess, Marie Karoline von Fuchs-Mollard, died. She showed her gratitude to Countess Fuchs by having her buried in the [[Imperial Crypt, Vienna|Imperial Crypt]] along with the members of the imperial family.{{sfn|Mahan|1932|p=22}}
[[Smallpox]] was a constant threat to members of the royal family. In July 1749, [[Maria Christina, Duchess of Teschen|Maria Christina]] survived a bout of the disease, followed in January 1757 by Maria Theresa's eldest son [[Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor|Joseph]].{{sfn|Stollberg-Rilinger|2017|p=507}} In January 1761, the disease killed her second son [[Archduke Charles Joseph of Austria (born 1745)|Charles]] at the age of fifteen.{{sfn|Stollberg-Rilinger|2017|pp=507, 935 n193}} In December 1762, her twelve-year-old daughter [[Archduchess Maria Johanna Gabriela of Austria|Johanna]] likewise died in agony from the disease.{{sfn|Stollberg-Rilinger|2017|p=507}} In November 1763, Joseph's first wife [[Princess Isabella of Parma|Isabella]] died from the disease.{{sfn|Stollberg-Rilinger|2017|pp=497, 508}} Joseph's second wife Empress [[Maria Josepha of Bavaria|Maria Josepha]] likewise caught the disease in May 1767 and died a week later. Maria Theresa ignored the risk of infection and embraced her daughter-in-law before the sick chamber was sealed to outsiders.{{sfn|Crankshaw|1970|p=273}}{{sfn|Stollberg-Rilinger|2017|p=508}}hola
Maria Theresa in fact contracted smallpox from her daughter-in-law. Throughout the city prayers were made for her recovery, and the sacrament was displayed in all churches. Joseph slept in one of his mother's antechambers and hardly left her bedside. On 1 June, Maria Theresa was given the [[Anointing of the Sick (Catholic Church)|last rites]]. When the news came in early June that she had survived the crisis, there was huge rejoicing at the court and amongst the populace of Vienna.{{sfn|Stollberg-Rilinger|2017|pp=508f}}
| |||