Archduke Joseph, Palatine of Hungary

Joseph of Austria
Archduke of Austria Palatine of Hungary
Archduke Joseph, Palatine of Hungary Portrait by Miklós Barabás (1846)
Spouse	Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia Princess Hermine of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym Maria Dorothea of Württemberg
Issue
Archduchess Alexandrine of Austria Archduchess Hermine Amalie Marie of Austria Archduke Stephen, Palatine of Hungary Archduchess Franziska Marie Elisabeth of Austria Archduke Alexander of Austria Archduchess Elisabeth Franziska of Austria Archduke Joseph Karl of Austria Marie Henriette, Queen of Belgium
Full name
Joseph Anton Johann
House	House of Habsburg-Lorraine
Father	Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor
Mother	Maria Louisa of Spain
Born	9 March 1776(1776-03-09) Florence
Died	13 January 1847(1847-01-13) (aged 70) Buda

Joseph Anton Johann, archduke of Austria (German: Erzherzog Joseph Anton Johann Baptist von Österreich-Toscana, aka Joseph Anton Johann von Österreich, Hungarian: Habsburg-Toscanai József Antal János főherceg, aka József nádor, Czech: Josef Habsbursko-Lotrinský, 9 March 1776, Florence – 13 January 1847, Buda), was the palatine of Hungary from 1796 to 1847. He was the seventh son of Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor and Maria Louisa of Spain.

Family

Archduke Joseph of Austria, Palatine of Hungary, about 1788

Aerial view of the remains of his palace at Alcsútdoboz

Joseph was one of fifteen children born to Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor and Maria Louisa of Spain. He was born in Florence, where his father was ruling as Grand Duke of Tuscany.

His father was a son of Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor and Maria Theresa of Austria. Joseph was a brother of Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor, Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Maria Clementina, Duchess of Calabria.

His mother was a daughter of Charles III of Spain. Through his mother, Joseph was a nephew among others of Charles IV of Spain, Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies, and Infante Gabriel of Spain. He was also a cousin of Ferdinand VII of Spain, Queen Charlotte of Portugal, and Queen Maria Isabella of the Two Sicilies.

In 1796, he was made Palatine of Hungary (nádor in Hungarian). This old dignity was in effect a deputy of the king when he could not attend to the country. Rather characteristic of a Habsburg, he showed genuine care for the country and throughout his years in office supported and promoted economic reforms, public works and constructions that aimed to bring Hungary closer to Europe. He was, just like a true Habsburg, wary of corrupt politicians seeking reforms, although he did not govern with a heavy hand; harsh measures were usually imposed from Vienna. His years saw the first steamboat and railroad in Hungary, the regulation of the Danube and the founding of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

He was very popular among the Magyars and became the founder of the Hungarian branch of the Habsburg family. His statue now stands in a place of honour at the very heart of Budapest in a square named for him, in front of the Ministry of Finance, facing the part of the city that grew up and burgeoned during his tenure.

First marriage

Joseph married Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia (1783–1801), on 30 October 1799 at Saint Petersburg. He was 23 years old; she was 16. She died giving birth to a stillborn daughter.

• Archduchess Alexandrine of Austria (stillborn 8 March 1801, Buda).

Second marriage

Joseph married secondly Princess Hermine of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym (1797–1817), on 30 August 1815 at Schaumburg. He was 39 years old; she was 17. She died in childbirth two years later. Both of Joseph's children with Hermine died unmarried and without issue.

• Archduchess Hermine Amalie Marie of Austria (14 September 1817, Buda - 13 February 1842, Vienna).
• Archduke Stephen, Palatine of Hungary (14 September 1817, Buda - 19 February 1867, Menton).

Third marriage

Joseph married thirdly Duchess Maria Dorothea of Württemberg on 24 August 1819 at Kirchheim unter Teck. He was 43 years old; she was 21. They were the parents of five children:

• Archduchess Franziska Marie Elisabeth of Austria (31 July 1820, Buda - 23 August 1820 Buda).
• Archduke Alexander of Austria (6 June 1825, Buda - 12 November 1837, Buda)
• Archduchess Elisabeth Franziska of Austria, (17 January 1831, Ofen Hungary - 14 February 1903), Vienna Austria ; married 1) Archduke Ferdinand Karl Viktor of Austria-Este (1821–1849), and 2) Archduke Karl Ferdinand of Austria (1818–1874).
• Archduke Joseph Karl of Austria (2 March 1833, Preßburg, now Bratislava in Slovakia - 13 June 1905, Fiume, now Rijeka in Croatia).
• Archduchess Marie Henriette of Austria (August 23, 1836 - September 20, 1902), married King Leopold II of Belgium, had issue.