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Maria Theresa of Austria, Queen of Saxony

Florence, 14 Jan 1767 – Leipzig, 7 Nov 1827

9 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 14 Jan 1767

    Born in Florence

  2. 1795–1799

    4 children are born

  3. 7 Nov 1827

    Dies in Leipzig, aged 60

During her lifetime

She lived through 7 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Florence.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1760s · Maria is born in Florence

In the news1763–1767

Famine in Southern Italy (1763-1767)

A devastating famine occurred in Southern Italy, killing approximately 300,000 people due to starvation and related diseases like typhus. It was caused by extreme weather, poor agricultural practices, and failed food distribution systems.

What people wore

Daily Versus Festive Attire

The clothing construction was strictly dictated by social customs, with differences between daily wear and festive attire being more pronounced in women's clothing than in men's. Elaborate decorations such as embroidery and fine ornaments were significantly more abundant on garments worn during religious festivities and celebrations.

Getting around

Strict schedules for grain carts

Farmers transporting grain to cities used slow ox-drawn carts and had to arrive before noon, or they were forced to stay overnight in the town outskirts.

Watt’s steam engine. James Watt’s much more efficient steam engine, patented in 1769, powered the mills and mines of the Industrial Revolution.Around the world · 1769–1776

Watt’s steam engine. James Watt’s much more efficient steam engine, patented in 1769, powered the mills and mines of the Industrial Revolution.

Nicolás Pérez · CC BY-SA 3.0

In the news1756–1763

Seven Years' War casualties and destruction

During the Seven Years' War, some 160,000 Prussian soldiers died in battle or from disease, devastating the population.

Music

Celebrations during the religious novenas

During novenas, people gathered at small country churches for celebrations that included religious gosos (songs of praise), poetry competitions, and traditional music and dancing until late at night.

Daily life

Primitive one-room homes for the poor

For the poor, homes were primitive, one-room ground-floor dwellings built from raw bricks or stone with packed-earth or cobblestone floors and no windows. The hearth was dug into the floor in the center of the room, and the home contained only a large parents' bed and mats for the children.