Background
Maria Elisabeth was born on 13 August 1743.
Maria Elisabeth was born on 13 August 1743.
She was abbess of the Convent for Noble Ladies in Innsbruck from 1780 until 1806. During the period of 1756–1763, however, when she would normally have been married, there were difficulties finding a match considered suitable of her in age and status because of the political complications during the Seven Years" War. As an adult in the Imperial Court, her mother was somewhat troubled by Maria Elisabeth"s reputation as a "coquette".
In 1768, the recently widowed Louis XV of France considered marrying her.
However, Archduchess Maria Elisabeth"s chances of becoming Queen of France were destroyed by smallpox which terribly scarred her face, making her considered unfit for marriage. Her elder sister Archduchess Maria Anna was also ineligible for marriage due to physical disability.
Maria Elisabeth was called "Liesl", and known for her sharp tongue. She eventually became greatly overweight.
Maria Elisabeth first left for Vienna and later on moved to Linz, where she died on 22 September 1808.