Claudia Felicitas of Austria
Claudia Felicitas of Austria (30 May 1653 – 8 April 1676) was by birth an Archduchess of Austria and by marriage Holy Roman Empress, German Queen, Archduchess consort of Austria, Queen consort of Hungary and Bohemia as the second wife of Leopold I.
| Claudia Felicitas of Austria | |
|---|---|
Portrait by Carlo Dolci, 1672 | |
| Holy Roman Empress | |
| Tenure | 15 October 1673 – 8 April 1676 |
| Born | 30 May 1653 Innsbruck, County of Tyrol, Holy Roman Empire |
| Died | 8 April 1676 (aged 22) Vienna, Archduchy of Austria, Holy Roman Empire |
| Burial | |
| Spouse |
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
(m. 1673) |
| House | Habsburg |
| Father | Ferdinand Charles, Archduke of Austria |
| Mother | Anna de' Medici |
A member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic, she had a beautiful singing voice and composed music, and also was passionately fond of hunting. Claudia Felicitas had a great influence on her husband; thanks to her, all her political opponents were removed from court. She also struggled with the abuse of the executive and judicial systems. During her 3-year-long marriage, she gave birth to two children who died in infancy; she died after the birth of her second child. The Tyrolean branch of the House of Habsburg became extinct upon her death.