30 May

Empress Claudia Felicitas, the second wife of Leopold I, was born on 30 May 1653. Her name may not be widely recognised today. Although she descended from the powerful Medici clan through her mother and grandmother, Claudia Felicitas was, in fact, a born Habsburg — the last representative of the Tyrolean branch of the family. With no male heir in that line, Tyrol was to revert to the main Habsburg lineage. Meanwhile, Emperor Leopold I had recently been widowed and, as the last male of the Austrian Habsburgs, was under pressure to remarry and produce an heir.

From both sides, the political constellation favoured the match. Claudia Felicitas was described as beautiful, lively, intelligent, and musically gifted. She proved to be a caring stepmother to Leopold’s only daughter from his first marriage and wielded notable influence at court. She even took part in governmental matters with commendable results. Two daughters were born within the first two years of marriage, and a son was expected to follow in due course.

But instead of a long reign and further children, tragedy struck: Claudia Felicitas died suddenly at the age of just 22. The devastated Leopold had little time to grieve. Negotiations for a third marriage began almost immediately, and only a few months later he wed again — this time to the woman who would finally bear him the long-awaited male heirs.