Archduchess MARIA ANNA OF HABSBURG-LORRAINE (6th October 1738 to 19th November 1789), familiarly nicknamed Marianne, was the eldest survived daughter of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I Stephen. Unmarried and childless, she spent most of her life in the Imperial palaces in Vienna and their surroundings.
Among her numerous siblings, Marianne’s complicated personality was what caught my attention. Despite her fragile health, which frequently forced her bed, she was highly intelligent, talented in music and art and had a brilliant memory and a scientific way of thinking. Sadly, those characteristics were generally considered inappropriate for someone of her sex and social rank. Both neglected by the Empress and disapproved of in the noble circles, she became the target of mockery from the sisters and brother closest to her in age. Besides, she was not considered beautiful, which, quite understandably, was virtually a catastrophe for a young princess in those days.
It is easy to come to a compassionate conclusion knowing that Marianne’s sense of rejection must have been overwhelming. I cannot disagree; she must have had several dark moments. At the same time, these circumstances make her a promising protagonist for a novel. The change in her personality due to her corporeal and emotional sufferings, her inner growth and deepening understanding offer a brilliant basis for a historically realistic and psychologically believable character.
On the bright side, Marianne had a close relationship with her father, the Emperor, and some of her younger siblings. Her personnel were loyal and supportive of her and some educated persons encouraged her interests, relieving her intellectual loneliness. Later in life, she was fortunate enough to be surrounded by truly amiable company and form friendships that lasted until her final days. Thus, despite all the complications, I’m inclined to think that she may have lived quite a satisfying life.
However, in spring 1757, all of this is yet unknown to Marianne. She is only 18 years old, taking the first hesitant steps on her long path towards self-realisation.
ELEONORA PRINCESS SCHWARZENBERG (20th June 1682 to 5th May 1741), born Princess Lobkowitz, is another champion of the narrative. By birth and by marriage she belonged to two of the most ancient and influential aristocratic families in Central Europe – Lobkowitz and Schwarzenberg. The position of the Schwarzenbergs increased remarkably in the beginning of the 18th century when Prince Adam Franz, Eleonora’s husband, inherited lavish estates and titles. Yet, at the same time, the couple had to cope with the most serious existential threat an aristocratic family could have faced.
Eleonora’s life was obviously far too troubled to call her a happy woman. Her extremely strange and complicated married life; the tragic death of her husband, which may or may not have been an accident; her unbridled manners and scandalous reputation; the contradictory ways in which her personality has been interpreted by her contemporaries as well as by modern researchers – all of this is more than enough to take an intriguing narrative as a given.
A trivial story, one might say. Well, rather trivialised, or even commercialised in popular culture.
In some way, Eleonora is an all-in-one character, equally fitting the shoes of a potential suspect, a murderer, an adulteress and a victim, depending on the viewpoint and the development of the narrative. It is thanks to her story that Marianne becomes an investigator, that the book could be classified as a ‘historical mystery’.
I am a historian from Northern Europe, holding a PhD in Educational Sciences. Having completed my academic career and withdrawn into privacy, I now focus on my own research and writings. For years, my personal interest has been the history of the Holy Roman Empire and the Habsburgs, although my path to them has been rather long and winding. Quite apart from my professional activity, I have always been captivated by two sub-genres that require a clear distinction between fact and fiction: the possible real-life parallels of popular fairy tales, and unsolved mysteries from the past.
Coming from Europe’s periphery myself, the Habsburg dynasty perfectly fits these criteria for me: its imperial grandeur is exotic enough to spark the imagination, yet the ambitions and desire for rationality and enlightenment of its individual members remain relatable. For these (and many other less conscious) reasons, I have chosen Archduchess Maria Anna of Habsburg-Lorraine as my protagonist.
The Case of Princess Schwarzenberg is the first fruit of my labour, grounded in thorough historical research, with a particular focus on its literary interpretation. The two main storylines—Maria Anna’s life at the Viennese court from April to June 1757 and the peculiar maelstroms surrounding Princess Schwarzenberg throughout the first half of the century—are both historically authentic. My poetic licence was to intertwine them, creating a fictional but nonetheless realistic portrayal of their lives and aspirations.
In time, the series The Archduchess Investigates is intended to develop into a roman-fleuve. My aim is to create a long, evolving, and captivating tale, with characters as complex as real human lives. This brings me joy and fills my days with positive emotions.
I sincerely hope to share those feelings with you!
To contact the author directly, please send a message to m.m.grenze@gmail.com
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