Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Maria Cristina in mourning for niece




April 15, 1898

Queen Maria Cristina of Spain, the regent for her son, Alfonso XIII, has a lot on her plate, especially in connection with the United States and Cuba. She "has just been placed in mourning" by the death of her favorite niece, Archduchess Nathalie, one of nine children of Archduke Friedrich and Archduchess Isabella.

The young Archduchess "was a tall and well-developed girl, very pretty and graceful. with winning ways and a universal favorite," according to the Marquise de Fontenoy. Nathalie was "particularly bright and the constant companion" of her father, Archduke Friedrich. She often accompanied him on his walks at Pressburg and Vienna.

The young archduchess's body was "entombed in the vaults" of the Capucine Church, but her heart was cut out and placed in another church, following "the medieval practice still in vogue" at the Austrian court.

Archduchess Nathalie Maria Theresia was the fourth daughter of Archduke Frederick and Archduchess Isabella. She was born in Pressburg on January 12, 1884. She died at Pressburg on March 23 at the age of 14.

2 comments:

Paul Harten said...

Do we know what the cause of death was ?

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

Natalie does not even get a listing in the Habsburger Lexicon. No idea.