Archduchess Johanna Gabriela of Habsburg-Lorraine, the eighth daughter of Maria Theresa and Francis Stephan, was born on 4 February 1750. As she died at the age of 12, little is known about her life. She was closest to her sister Maria Josepha, who was only a year younger. The two girls were raised and educated together by the same governess.
A minor yet characteristic detail, repeated in biographies, is Johanna’s aversion to eating fish. One must acknowledge the pedagogical brilliance of a court physician who took the young archduchess to visit fishing ponds and the palace kitchen, allowing her to see how fish was prepared for a meal. After this experience, she was able to overcome her initial distaste.
From a young age, Johanna was considered a valuable prospect on the political marriage market. In the interests of the state, she was betrothed to Ferdinand of the Naples, son of the King of Spain. However, she died of smallpox before the wedding could take place. The only silver lining in this tragic event was that the young princess was spared a bad marriage, as Ferdinand proved to be anything but a model husband. Maria Josepha was next in line for the match, but she too died a few years later. Ultimately, the Neapolitan marriage fell to their younger sister, Maria Karolina.
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