Maria Anna of Spain (born August 18, 1606 – died May 13, 1646) was a powerful empress. She became the Holy Roman Empress and Queen of Hungary and Bohemia when she married Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor. She even ruled as a temporary leader when her husband was away, especially in 1645.

Maria Anna was the daughter of King Philip III of Spain and Margaret of Austria. Before her marriage, she was considered a possible wife for Charles, Prince of Wales. This idea, known as the "Spanish match", caused big problems in England and Scotland. In the Imperial court in Vienna, Maria Anna kept her Spanish style, from clothes to music. She also helped make the Spanish and Austrian branches of the House of Habsburg family stronger friends.

Life of Empress Maria Anna
Children of Maria Anna
Maria Anna in Art
Images for kids
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Life of Empress Maria Anna

Early Years and Family

Infanta Maria Anna of Spain was born at the Palace of El Escorial, near Madrid. Her birthday was August 18, 1606. She was the fourth child of King Philip III of Spain and his wife, Margaret of Austria. Her parents were cousins, which was common for royal families back then.

Maria Anna had seven brothers and sisters, but only four lived past childhood. These included Anna (who later married King Louis XIII of France), Philip IV of Spain, Charles, and Ferdinand. Her grandparents were King Philip II of Spain and Archduchess Anna of Austria on her father's side. On her mother's side, they were Archduke Charles II of Inner Austria and Princess Maria Anna of Bavaria.

Marriage Plans and Betrothals

From a young age, Maria Anna was part of her father's plans for royal marriages. When she was a teenager, she was promised to Archduke John-Charles. He was the oldest son and heir of Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor. This marriage never happened because John-Charles died young in 1618.

In 1622, King James I of England wanted to make his country closer to Spain. He suggested a marriage between his son, Charles, Prince of Wales, and Infanta Maria Anna. Talks began between London and Madrid. This possible marriage was called the "Spanish match". It caused a big political stir in both England and Scotland. In 1623, the Prince of Wales even visited Madrid to meet Maria Anna.

However, Maria Anna did not want to marry a Protestant. Charles also did not want to become a Catholic. In the end, the wedding did not happen. This was due to political reasons and because the new Spanish King did not want a marriage with the House of Stuart. Charles later married Henrietta Maria of France, who was a strong Catholic.

Royal Wedding Journey

In late 1626, Maria Anna was promised to Ferdinand. He was the younger brother of her first fiancé and the new heir to Emperor Ferdinand II. He was also her first cousin. Before the official engagement, there were many talks in 1625. These talks covered all parts of Maria Anna's life at her future husband's court.

Maria Anna left Madrid for Vienna in December 1629. Her journey took over a year. On the way, she faced problems like the plague in Italy. She had to change her travel plans because of it. She finally arrived in Trieste on January 26, 1631. There, she met Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria, her future brother-in-law. He stood in for his brother at a wedding by proxy that very day.

Before the main wedding, King Ferdinand wanted to see his bride secretly. He pretended to be a nobleman and met Maria Anna. He was so impressed by her beauty that he revealed who he was. They started talking in Spanish. Ferdinand loved and respected Maria Anna throughout their marriage. He was always faithful to her.

The official wedding happened in Vienna on February 20, 1631. The celebrations lasted a whole month. Their marriage was described as a happy one. Maria Anna was known for being cheerful, friendly, and smart. She helped cheer up Ferdinand, who was often a bit sad.

Holy Roman Empress and German Queen

Detail of the portrait of Infanta Maria Ana of Austria by Felipe Diricksen, 1630 (Portland Art Museum)

Maria Anna brought Spanish fashion, theater, dance, and music to the Imperial court in Vienna. She got along well with her husband's family. However, she had some difficulties with Ferdinand's stepmother, Empress Dowager Eleonora Gonzaga. They competed for influence at the court. Maria Anna also loved art, especially painting. She collected works by Italian, Spanish, and Flemish artists.

On December 22, 1636, Ferdinand was chosen as King of the Romans in Regensburg. A week later, he was crowned. Maria Anna was crowned Queen of Germany on January 21, 1637. After his father died on February 15, 1637, Ferdinand became Holy Roman Emperor. He also became King of Hungary and Bohemia. As his wife, Maria Anna became Holy Roman Empress and Queen. Her coronation as Queen of Hungary happened in Pressburg.

Maria Anna was active in politics and advised her husband. She was an important link between the Emperor and their Spanish relatives. She always supported her husband's interests. But she also looked out for her brothers, King Philip IV and the Cardinal-Infante. Her court had many Spaniards, and the Spanish ambassador was a frequent guest. When the Emperor was away, he appointed Maria Anna as regent. For example, she ruled in 1645 during the Thirty Years' War when he was in Bohemia.

Final Years

In March 1645, Maria Anna and her children left Linz. They moved to Vienna because the Protestant Swedish army was getting close. By April, the army threatened to take Vienna. The Imperial family then fled to Graz. After returning to Vienna, they had to move again to Linz because of the plague.

Maria Anna became pregnant for the sixth time in January 1646. Four months later, on May 12, she suddenly became very ill with a fever and heavy bleeding. She died the next morning. Her unborn baby, a girl, was taken out alive. She was named Maria but lived only a few hours.

On May 24, both mother and daughter were moved to Vienna. They were buried together in the Imperial Crypt. This crypt already held the remains of two of Maria Anna's sons who had died earlier. The Emperor was very sad and could not attend the funeral. However, he paid his respects later. In September, he announced that their oldest daughter, Maria Anna, would marry Balthasar Charles, Prince of Asturias. Sadly, the Prince died the next month. The Spanish people who came with Maria Anna from Spain stayed at the Imperial court for a few more years after her death.

Children of Maria Anna

Maria Anna and Ferdinand had six children:

Ferdinand IV (born September 8, 1633 – died July 9, 1654). He was King of the Romans and King of Hungary and Bohemia.
Maria Anna (born December 22, 1634 – died May 16, 1696). She married her uncle, King Philip IV of Spain.
Philip August (born July 15, 1637 – died June 22, 1639). He was an Archduke of Austria.
Maximilian Thomas (born December 21, 1638 – died June 29, 1639). He was an Archduke of Austria.
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor (born June 9, 1640 – died May 5, 1705).
Maria (born and died May 13, 1646). She was an Archduchess of Austria.

Maria Anna in Art

Maria Anna was shown in plays and paintings. In 1624, the play The Renegado by Philip Massinger featured a princess named Donusa. Some people think this character was based on Maria Anna during her failed marriage attempt.

In 1634, the Spanish writer Pedro Calderón de la Barca created a play. It celebrated a victory by the Spanish and Austrians. Maria Anna and her husband were part of the performance.

Most portraits of Maria Anna are in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. The earliest painting, by Juan Pantoja de la Cruz, shows her as a baby. The Portland Art Museum has a portrait of Maria from the 1630s by Felipe Diricksen. A famous portrait of Maria Anna as Queen of Hungary and Bohemia was painted by Diego Velázquez. Other artists like Frans Luycx and Justus Sustermans also painted her. Their works are in museums like the Museo del Prado and Schloss Esterházy.

Images for kids

Infantin Maria Anna, Kaiserin, im Alter von 4 bis 5 Monaten, Bildnis in ganzer Figur (1607), by Juan Pantoja de la Cruz, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.
Maria Anna, Infanta of Spain, Later Archduchess of Austria, Queen of Hungary and Empress, as a child, by Bartolomé González y Serrano, National Trust, Cliveden.
Infantin Maria Anna, Kaiserin, in ganzer Figur (1617), by Bartolomé González y Serrano, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.
Retrato de la infanta María Ana de Austria (1630), by Felipe Diricksen, Portland Art Museum
María de Austria, reina de Hungría (1635), by Frans Luycx, Museo del Prado, Madrid.
María Ana de Austria (c. 1630), by Juan van der Hamen, Musée Fesch, Ajaccio.
Ölgemälde von Ferdinand III. von Habsburg und seiner ersten Gemahlin Maria Anna von Spanien (1628/30) by Justus Sustermans, Schloss Esterházy, Eisenstadt.
Infantin Maria Anna, Kaiserin, in ganzer Figur mit ihrem erstgeborenen Sohn Ferdinand (1634), Anonymous, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna.