Early Life
Her parents' fourth daughter but second to survive infancy, Archduchess Maria Leopoldina Josefa Carolina (English: Maria Leopoldine Josepha Carolina) or, as she was simply called, Leopoldina was born at Schönbrunn Palace on Sunday, January 22, 1797. She was one of twelve imperial children.
She was raised in accordance with the educational principles laid down by her grandfather, Emperor Leopold II. Among these was the habit of exercising her handwriting by writing the following text:
| “ | Do not oppress the poor. Be charitable. Do not complain about what God has given you, but improve your habits. We must strive earnestly to be good. | ” |
In addition, she and her sisters were taught how to speak French and Latin. They were also educated in drawing, piano, riding and hunting. Her mother died when she was ten years old and her father went on to remarry Maria Ludovika of Austria-Este. Her late mother was a soprano and Leopoldina had the chance of meeting Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in 1810 and 1812, when she went to Carlsbad with her stepmother. Her passions included natural sciences, especially botany and mineralogy. She was formed according to the three Habsburg principles: discipline, piety and a sense of duty.
Although Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily was her birth mother, Leopoldina always considered Maria Ludovika d'Este, her stepmother, to be her mother and she grew up with Ludovika as her "spiritual mother".
Read more about this topic: Maria Leopoldina Of Austria
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