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Maria Christina of Austria

Židlochovice Castle, 21 Jul 1858 – Madrid, 6 Feb 1929

10 facts1 source

Facts and their sources

  • Born21 Jul 1858, Židlochovice Castlenot verified1 source
  • TitleAbbess of the Institution of Noble Ladies of the Prague Castle, 1875–1879or Consort of Spain, 1879–1885 · Regent of Spain, 1885–1902not verified1 source
  • TitleConsort of Spain, 1879–1885or Abbess of the Institution of Noble Ladies of the Prague Castle, 1875–1879 · Regent of Spain, 1885–1902not verified1 source
  • TitleRegent of Spain, 1885–1902or Abbess of the Institution of Noble Ladies of the Prague Castle, 1875–1879 · Consort of Spain, 1879–1885not verified1 source
  • Died6 Feb 1929, Madridnot verified1 source
  • FatherArchduke Karl Ferdinand of Austrianot verified1 source
  • MotherArchduchess Elisabeth Franziska of Austrianot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 21 Jul 1858

    Born in Židlochovice Castle

  2. 1875–1879

    Abbess of the Institution of Noble Ladies of the Prague Castle

  3. 1879–1885

    Consort of Spain

  4. 1880–1886

    3 children are born

  5. 1885–1902

    Regent of Spain

  6. 6 Feb 1929

    Dies in Madrid, aged 70

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 3

During her lifetime

She lived through 8 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Židlochovice Castle.

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

The 1850s · Maria is born in Židlochovice Castle

In the news1858

Introduction of new silver florin currency

The silver florin Austrian currency was introduced into circulation in 1858, replacing the previous Convention currency.

What people wore

Wealthy farmer's coin-studded belt

Wealthy farmers wore leather belts embroidered with peacock quills and silk, which were often studded with coins on the inside.

Getting around

Shift from carriages to trains

Travel by carriage was often considered expensive, slow, and uncomfortable, while the railway offered a more accessible and faster alternative. Trips that previously required two days, such as Prague to Karlovy Vary, became possible in just 6 hours by train.

Italy is unified. Garibaldi, Cavour and Victor Emmanuel joined the Italian states into one kingdom, with Rome its capital from 1871.In Europe · 1859–1871

Italy is unified. Garibaldi, Cavour and Victor Emmanuel joined the Italian states into one kingdom, with Rome its capital from 1871.

Baldassare Verazzi (1819-1886) · public domain

In the news1853–1882

1853: Mass emigration to Latin America starts

From 1853 to 1882, 325,000 Galicians emigrated, marking a period of intense, large-scale migration to Latin American countries like Cuba and Brazil.

Music

Intimate musical performances

Beyond formal feasts, people enjoyed music in intimate settings, sometimes accompanied by just a single musician such as a hurdy-gurdy player or a blind harpist. Musicians were often paid not only in cash but also in food, drink, or grain.

Daily life

Homemade lighting and fire safety precautions

In the 19th century, the cheapest source of light was a simple wooden piece known as a torchlight, which burned for about ten minutes and had to be constantly replaced. To prevent fire in wooden homes, children kept the light over a vessel filled with water so the burning end would drop safely into it.