Imperial Crypt Vaults - Maria Theresa's Vault

Maria Theresa's Vault

The three vaults of the Imperial Crypt held 44 bodies plus urns containing the hearts of two other persons when Empress Maria Theresa₅₆ started construction of the Maria Theresien Gruft in 1754. It is behind the church above, with its dome rising into the monastery courtyard and contains the tombs of 16 persons:

In the entrance archway:

• Emperor Joseph II (Schönbrunn 13 March 1741 – Vienna 20 February 1790 Son of Empress Maria Theresa.₅₆ A populist who became known as "the people's emperor," he initiated many reforms (including a prohibition on embalming and elaborate burials), many of which he repudiated in disillusionment shortly before his death. In keeping with his edict, his body is unembalmed and intact within a simple copper tomb. He died shortly before his 49th birthday after an official reign of 10 years. His equestrian statue in the Josefsplatz of the Hofburg palace is where Harry Lime's auto accident occurs in The Third Man. His two wives and two children are buried in this Vault.

In the small chamber immediately north of Emperor Joseph II₄₂:

• Countess Karoline von Fuchs-Mollard (1 January 1681 – 27 April 1754) Long-time family retainer and governess to Empress Maria Theresia,₅₆ her sisters_{23 39} and her children. The inscription of gratitude on the lid of her sarcopagus is signed by Empress Maria Theresa,₅₆ who ordered her burial with the imperial family (although she had no direct blood or matrimonial connection to the Habsburgs) when she died at age 73.

In the center of the vault, from left to right:

• Empress Maria Theresa (13 May 1717 – 29 November 1780) Eldest surviving descendant of Emperor Karl VI,₄₀ her ascension was contested and officially the crown of the Empire went to her husband (1736) Emperor Franz I Stephen.₅₅ Dying at age 63, her forty years' reign is thought of by the Austrians as the British think of Queen Victoria: the golden years of power, prestige and empire. A prominent statue of her enthroned and surrounded by her ministers is a landmark at the entrance to the Museumsplatz. Her heart is buried in the Herzgruft in the Augustinerkirche.

• Emperor Franz I Stephen (Lunéville 8 December 1708 – Innsbruck 18 August 1765) Duke of Lorraine and Grand Duke of Tuscany. Husband of Empress Maria Theresa,₅₆ he died at age 56 after nominally being Emperor for 25 years. His heart is buried in the Herzgruft in the Augustinerkirche.

This double tomb of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I Stephen, sculpted by Balthasar Ferdinand Moll is of particular artistic merit and is probably the most glorious in terms of design.

In the small chamber immediately south of Emperor Joseph II₄₂:

• Archduchess Maria Karolina (17 September 1748 – 17 September 1748) Still-born daughter of Emperor Franz I Stephen₅₅ and Empress Maria Theresa.

Along the south wall, young children of Emperor Franz I Stephen₅₅ and Empress Maria Theresa.₅₆ that died from smallpox. From left to right:

• Archduke Karl Joseph Emanuel Johann Nepomuck Anton Prokop (1 February 1745 – 18 January 1761) Second son of Emperor Franz I Stephen₅₅ and Empress Maria Theresa. Died of small pox shortly before his 16th birthday. His heart is buried in the Herzgruft in the Augustinerkirche.

• Archduchess Marie Johanna Gabriele Josephe Antonie (4 February 1750 – 23 December 1762 Eighth daughter of Emperor Franz I Stephen₅₅ and Empress Maria Theresa.₅₆ Died of small pox at age 12. Her heart is buried in the Herzgruft in the Augustinerkirche.

• Archduchess Marie Josephe Gabriele Johanna Antonie Anna (19 March 1751 – 15 October 1767) Ninth daughter of Emperor Franz I₅₅ and Empress Maria Theresa.₅₆ Unhappy with the marriage arranged for her, she died of small pox the day before her wedding, at age 16.

At the southwest bend:

• Unnamed princess (1744) Daughter of Prince Charles of Lorraine and Archduchess Maria Anna₃₉ (sister of Empress Maria Theresa₅₆).

Along the west wall, mainly the family of Emperor Joseph II.₄₂ From left to right:

• Archduchess Marie Elisabeth Amalie Antonie Josephe Gabriele Johanna Agathe (5 February 1737 – 7 June 1740) Three-years old, eldest daughter of Emperor Franz I Stephen₅₅ and Empress Maria Theresa.₅₆ Her intestines are buried separately in the Ducal Crypt of the Stephansdom.

• Empress Maria Josepha of Bavaria (30 March 1739 – 28 May 1767) Second wife (1765) of Emperor Joseph II.₄₂ She was the daughter of the only non-Habsburg Emperor since 1438, Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor and his wife, Empress Maria Amalia of Austria, a daughter of Emperor Joseph I.₃₅ Especially because of the unusually potent form of small pox of which she died at age 28, her body was not embalmed but immediately placed intact into her coffin. Her husband of 2 years had not developed a regard for her, and did not attend her funeral.

• Archduchess Princess Isabella Maria of Parma (31 December 1741 – 27 November 1763) First wife (1760) of Emperor Joseph II.₄₂ Daughter of Philip, Duke of Parma (1720–1765) (brother of King Philip V of Spain) and Princess Marie Louise Élisabeth of France (14 August 1727 – 6 December 1759) (daughter of King Louis XV of France). Greatly beloved by her husband, at age 21 she contracted small pox during her second pregnancy and died 5 days after giving birth to a still born daughter.₅₁ Under her husband's orders, her body was buried whole and unembalmed.

• Archduchess Christina (22 November 1763 – 22 November 1763) Still-born second daughter of Emperor Joseph II₄₂ and his first wife Archduchess Isabella.₅₀ Her tomb rests beneath that of her mother.₅₀

• Archduchess Maria Theresia (20 March 1762 – 23 January 1770) Eldest daughter of Emperor Joseph II₄₂ and his first wife Archduchess Isabella.₅₀ Died at almost 8 years of age.

• Archduchess Marie Caroline Ernestine Antonie Johanna Josephe (12 January 1740 – 25 January 1741) Third daughter of Emperor Franz I Stephen₅₅ and Empress Maria Theresa.₅₆ Died at age 1 year. Her intestines are buried separately in the Ducal Crypt of the Stephansdom.

Beside the entrance to Franz’s Vault on the north wall:

• Duchess Christina of Saxony-Teschen (16 May 1767 – 17 May 1767) Infant, only child of Duke Albert of Saxony-Teschen₁₁₁ and Archduchess Maria Christina.₁₁₂