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38-592: The Order was founded in 1668 by Eleonora Gonzaga of Mantua, dowager empress of the Holy Roman Empire . This all-female order was confirmed by Pope Clement IX on 28 June 1668 and was placed under the spiritual management of the Prince-Bishop of Vienna. Only high-born ladies could be invested with the Order, including “princesses, countesses, and other high nobility.” Once invested, members were to “devote themselves to

76-632: A friendly relation with Leopold I's third and final wife, Countess Palatine Eleonor Magdalene of Neuburg , who became, thanks to her protection, the emperor's wife. The dowager empress engaged in politics only when on behalf to her family's interests. In 1669, Eleonora had to resolve the conflict between the Imperial court in Vienna and the Holy See , which arose due to the fact that the Pope didn't appoint any cardinal of

114-573: A monastery. To raise the level of education among girls, in 1663 Eleonora invited the Ursulines to Vienna, where they built a complex that included a monastery, a church and a school. She also established two Orders for women: the Order of Virtuosity (de: Sklavinnen der Tugend ) in 1662 and the Order of the Starry Cross (de: Sternkreuzorden ) in 1668. The last years of Eleonora's life were overshadowed by

152-743: A result of the Portuguese revolution (called the Restoration of Independence ) of 1640, Vasconcelos was assassinated and the Duchess of Mantua tried to calm the Portuguese people during demonstrations in the Portuguese Terreiro do Paço (at the time Lisbon 's main square). The Portuguese proclaimed the Duke of Braganza as their new king. Margaret was surrounded in her headquarters in Lisbon, and her support collapsing,

190-705: A series of political conflicts between Duke Charles and her daughter-in-law, who ended with the banishment of Margaret of Savoy (Maria's mother) from Mantua. During this time, Eleonora lived in the Church of Sant'Orsola , where she remained with her mother until 1637, when after the death of her grandfather, her older brother became in the new duke of Mantua and Montferrat under the regency of their mother Maria. The princess received an excellent education, being fluent in French , Spanish and Italian , well versed in literature, music and art, and expert in dances and embroidery. Already in

228-572: A society of educated people, encouraged the development of science. After her arrival to Vienna, increased the influence of the Italians, and her native language became in the most used among the German aristocracy. Italian aristocrats and clergy held high positions. The Imperial court was, thanks to her, dominated by Italian fashion. The enormous influence of Italian culture was also noted in the local literature, music, theater, architecture and painting. From

266-745: The Duchy of Mantua , whereas in the Duchy of Montferrat he was succeeded by his three-year-old daughter Maria, because it had been historically inherited by females, as it was a margraviate of Aleramici origin following a different rule of succession. Indeed, it had been brought to the Mantuan princely dynasty (the House of Gonzaga ) by the marriage of Margherita Paleologa, Margravine of Montferrat , in 1531. Accordingly, Maria's claims were asserted and Dowager Duchess Margaret required to be made her regent in Montferrat. This

304-582: The Duchy of Montferrat, and a dowry of 400,000 thalers . Duke Charles II agreed with only minor changes: Mantua would maintain its loyalty to the Holy Roman Empire only if the alliance didn't bring negative consequences to the duchy, and the bride's dowry would be paid in several installments in the next years. The marriage by proxy was solemnized on 2 March 1650 at the Basilica palatina di Santa Barbara , in which

342-403: The Imperial crown. However, the dowager empress put all her efforts to ensure the election of her stepson Leopold I as the new Holy Roman Emperor. Under the will of Ferdinand III, Eleonora assumed the guardianship of all his children. Her dower was provided by the cities of Graz and Linz and also was determined for her an annual pension of 200,000 florins (later increased to 230,000). During

380-701: The Mantuan claims. They had to wage war, but in the end their line prevailed and they commanded universal recognition as Dukes of Mantua and Montferrat. Upon the death in 1633 of her maternal aunt, Archduchess Isabella Clara Eugenia , ruler of the Low Countries , her brother Victor Amadeus became heir to the rights of their maternal grandmother Elisabeth of Valois , eldest daughter and heiress of Henry II of France and Catherine of Medici. She had ancestral links to Portugal : two of her great-grandmothers, Empress Isabella and Beatrice, Duchess of Savoy , had been daughters of king Manuel I of Portugal . Since 1580,

418-509: The Nevers branch of the House of Gonzaga and was Holy Roman Empress , German Queen , Queen consort of Hungary and Bohemia by marriage to Emperor Ferdinand III . Nicknamed the Younger (de: Jüngere ) to distinguish herself from her namesake grandaunt , she was considered one of the most educated and virtuous women of her time. Fascinated by religious poetry, she founded a literary academy and

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456-487: The Order, " Salus et Gloria ” – (Hail and Glory.) It is worn, pendent to a strip of black riband (sic), on the left breast." The order was conceived with only one class. According to the website of the Archdiocese of Vienna , the officers of the Order are: Eleonora Gonzaga (1630%E2%80%931686) Eleonora Gonzaga (18 November 1630 – 6 December 1686), was by birth Princess of Mantua , Nevers and Rethel from

494-410: The Starry Cross, after the engagement of Archduke Rudolf . Members of the Order wore the following insignia: "An oval medallion, with a broad blue enameled border, inclosing a black enameled Eagle with two heads, and claws, both of gold, on which lies a Gold Cross, enameled green, and bordered with brown wood. Over this, on an intwined (sic) wreath in black letters, on a white ground, is the motto of

532-482: The adolescence she manifested a poetic talent, which was expressed in her compositions of philosophical and religious poems. Eleonora's marriage was arranged by her godmother and namesake, the dowager Holy Roman Empress, who maintained close ties with her niece, the Duchess-Regent Maria (Eleonora's mother), and became the main supporter of her election as wife of Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor ; previously,

570-643: The beginning her married life Eleonora accompanied her husband during his trips to the Holy Roman Empire. In 1652–1654 she was with him in Regensburg during the Reichstag . While her husband was engaged in public affairs, she was responsible for organizing celebrations such as the Carnival before Lent , culminating in the premiere of the opera L’Inganno d’amore (the Cheating of Love) by Antonio Bertali . On 4 August 1653 she

608-543: The candidates proposed by the emperor. Then, Leopold I resorted to the mediation of his stepmother to solve the crisis. In 1671 she arranged the marriage of her nephew Ferdinando Carlo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat with Anna Isabella Gonzaga , the heiress of the Guastalla line with the purpose to unite the two Gonzaga rival families. She tried that Charles V, Duke of Lorraine (suitor and later second husband of her eldest daughter) could be elected King of Poland, but he

646-593: The closest male relative of the extinct main line of the House of Gonzaga) and Montferrat (due to the marriage of his heir with Maria Gonzaga, the last surviving scion of the main Gonzaga line and heiress of that duchy, which was demonstrably heritable by females since the Gonzagas had acquired it through marriage to Margherita Paleologa in 1540); however one month later (30 August 1631), Eleonora's father died of tuberculosis, and began

684-523: The daughter of Philip II of Spain . She was married to the future Francis IV, Duke of Mantua (1586–1612) and Montferrat on 19 February 1608. The wedding was celebrated in Turin. In 1612 Margaret's husband succeeded his father, Vincent I , as Duke of Mantua . Their marriage produced three children, but only one daughter, Maria , survived childhood. Francis died in 1612. As the couple had no surviving male issue, Duke Francis' brother Ferdinand succeeded him in

722-633: The death in 1635 of the then viceroy, the Count of Basto Diogo de Castro, who had ruled Portugal , Margaret's cousin, king Philip IV of Spain appointed Margaret as Vicereine of Portugal . She moved to Portugal in 1636. This nomination was the result of the efforts of Diogo Soares, member of the Council of Portugal at Madrid , a friend of the Count-Duke of Olivares and a relative of Miguel de Vasconcelos who, in 1635, would be named secretary of state of Portugal. As

760-509: The dowager empress was also able to arrange the marriage of Duke Charles II of Mantua (Eleonora's brother) with Archduchess Isabella Clara of Austria (a member of the Tyrolese branch of the House of Habsburg ) in 1649. During the nuptial negotiations, the emperor promoted the following conditions: the Duchy of Mantua would continue its loyalty to the interests of the Holy Roman Empire , the bride would retain her possible inheritance rights over

798-492: The emperor was represented by his ambassador, Count Johann Maximilian von Lamberg . The celebrations lasted until 22 March, when Eleonora, accompanied by some relatives, traveled from Mantua to Vienna. The cortege arrived at the Austrian city of Villach , where the bride said goodbye to her relatives and in the company of her godmother the dowager empress continued the trip to Wiener Neustadt , where on 30 April 1651 there took place

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836-459: The empress. In her portrait by Frans Luycx , Eleonora is depicted in the image of Diana , the ancient goddess of hunting. During her marriage, Eleonora gave birth to four children, two of whom survived into adulthood: Eleonora was a cultured woman. Together with her husband she founded a literary academy, and, despite their religious and strict adherence to Catholicism, would not discriminate enrolled Protestants. The empress has always been in

874-624: The epidemic of plague in 1679 and beginning of the Great Turkish War in 1683, in which, although the empire won, serious material damage was inflicted on the possessions of the dowager empress. In both cases, she had to flee from Vienna: the first time to Prague and Linz , and in the second to Linz and Innsbruck . Eleanora died in Vienna on 6 December 1686 and was buried in the Imperial Crypt . Margaret of Savoy, Vicereine of Portugal Margaret of Savoy (28 April 1589 – 26 June 1655)

912-516: The kingdoms of Portugal and Spain had been forcefully joined together, or annexed, under the rule of Philip II of Spain . In an assembly known as the Cortes de Tomar, the Spanish monarch maintained the Portuguese kingdom in an Iberian dynastic union , separate from Spain, and promised some local rule through a viceroy, who was meant to have local ties either to Portugal or the Spanish royal family. After

950-418: The official wedding ceremony between Eleonora and Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III. After the ceremony, the emperor gave his new wife the family jewels and a gift of 50,000 florins. For Ferdinand III, this was his third marriage; he had had children from both previous unions. In spite of the great difference in age, the marriage was a happy one. The active and sweet nature of the young empress helped her gain

988-601: The service and worship of the Holy Cross, and to lead a virtuous life in the exercise of religion and works of charity.” According to legend, the Habsburg dynasty owned a piece of the True Cross on which Jesus was crucified . Though it is impossible to prove its authenticity, the holy relic was set in gold and worn by at least two Holy Roman Emperors, Maximilian II and Ferdinand III . Ferdinand III’s last consort, Empress Eleanora,

1026-670: The summer she spent in the Favorita palace, which, together with Schönbrunn and Laxenburg she received from her godmother the late dowager empress. Under her supervision, was added an extension to the Hofburg , which then suffered a fire and was rebuilt again. The small court of the empress dowager was a meeting place for politicians and diplomats. There were often visitors like Minister Václav Eusebius František, Prince of Lobkowicz , ambassadors Jacques Bretel de Grémonville and Lorenzo Magalotti , and General Raimondo Montecuccoli . For some time

1064-622: The support of the Holy Roman Empire , the Kingdom of Spain and Duchy of Savoy , and thus started the War of the Mantuan Succession , during which infant Eleonora, with her parents and older brother Charles had to leave Mantua, but returned one year later after the signing of the Treaty of Cherasco (19 June 1631), under which were recognized the rights of Duke Charles of Nevers over the duchies of Mantua (as

1102-402: The sympathy of all members of the Imperial family. She established an excellent relationship with all her stepchildren. She learned German , and the emperor Italian. Together they participated in religious and secular ceremonies. Genuine piety of both spouses did not prevent them from patronizing literature and music activities, like visits to theaters or hunting, which was one of the passions of

1140-729: Was defeated by John Sobieski in 1674. Besides her political activity, Eleonora spent most of her time on works of charity and piety. In 1680 she invited the missionary and preacher Capuchin friar Marco d'Aviano to Linz . She was a patron of the Bavarian poet and painter Johann Georg Seidenbusch . She ordered the building in Vienna of a Baroque facade for the Kirche am Hof and the Jesuits . The Discalced Carmelites were also under her special patronage, and in Wiener Neustadt she helped them to build

1178-437: Was a contested inheritance - Maria was a minor for the next decade - and ultimately, Duke Francis' brothers failed to produce any legitimate issue, and the entire inheritance became subject to Mantuan War of Succession (1627–32). Duchess Margaret's daughter Maria was in 1627 married to Charles of Gonzaga-Nevers , the eldest son of the distant Gonzaga heir-male (at that point Charles I, Duke of Mantua ), in order to join two of

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1216-457: Was also a patron of musical theater. As Holy Roman Empress, she promoted the development of cultural and spiritual life at the Imperial court in Vienna , and despite being a staunch Catholic and benefactress of several monasteries, she had a tolerant attitude towards Protestantism . She established two female orders: the Order of Virtuosity (1662) and the Order of the Starry Cross (1668). Eleonora

1254-594: Was born on 18 November 1630 in Mantua , as the second child of Charles Gonzaga , styled Duke of Nevers (heir of the Duchy of Mantua ) and his wife and cousin Maria Gonzaga (heiress to the Duchy of Montferrat ). On her father's side her grandparents were Charles Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers and Rethel and Catherine of Mayenne –a member of the House of Lorraine – and on her mother's side her grandparents were Francesco IV Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Margaret of Savoy . She

1292-627: Was considered the possibility of a second marriage for Eleonora, with the Polish King John II Casimir Vasa , but this project was never implemented. Eleonora enjoyed great respect from Leopold I, who consulted with his stepmother on many political and personal issues. The dowager empress established good relations with her stepson's first wife, Infanta Margaret Theresa of Spain . The relationship with Leopold I's second wife Archduchess Claudia Felicitas of Austria were tense, but didn't last long due to her early death. Finally, she had

1330-476: Was crowned Holy Roman Empress in Regensburg Cathedral ; in 1655, she was crowned Queen of Hungary and on 11 September 1656 was crowned Queen of Bohemia. In April 1657 Eleonora became a widow, and a year later her only son also died. Archduke Leopold Wilhelm , Ferdinand III's younger brother, thought to marry Eleonora (who enjoyed the respect of her subjects) to strengthen his position as a candidate for

1368-416: Was given the relic by her stepson, Emperor Leopold I , after Ferdinand’s 1657 death. In the aftermath of a fire at the Hofburg on 2 February 1668 the relic was discovered in near-perfect condition. The dowager empress founded the Order in celebration that the relic had survived the fire, believing it to be a true miracle. In 1881, Empress Elisabeth accorded multiple noble ladies of the royal Belgian court

1406-458: Was named after her mother's paternal aunt Holy Roman Empress Eleonora , who was also her godmother. The marriage of Eleonora's parents was made with the purpose to reinforce the claims of the Nevers branch of the House of Gonzaga to the duchies of Mantua and Montferrat when the main line would become extinct. The duke of Nevers, a vassal of the Kingdom of France , had to face the opposition of Ferrante II Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla , who counted with

1444-498: Was the last Habsburg Vicereine of Portugal from 1634 to 1640. In Portuguese she is known as Duquesa de Mântua , being by marriage the Duchess of Mantua and Montferrat . She was also regent of Montferrat during the minority of her daughter from 1612. She was born in Turin , as the fourth child of Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy (1562–1630) and Infanta Catalina Micaela of Spain ,

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