Background
Born Maria Anna Josepha, she was a daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I and Eleonor Magdalene of Neuburg.
Born Maria Anna Josepha, she was a daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I and Eleonor Magdalene of Neuburg.
Maria Anna was a sister of Holy Roman Emperors Joseph I and Charles VI. On 27 October 1708 Maria Anna of Austria married John V, King of Portugal. During her time as, she acted as regent during times of her husband"s illness. Once she was head of her household, Maria Anna reformed her court and its customs to follow the traditions and costumes of the traditional Queens of Portugal.
Her greatest influence on the court, and Portuguese nobility as a whole, was the increase of segregation between men and women, as well as between servants and masters.
Like John, Maria Anna had an exubrant taste, and this was best shown in her famous parties. Often lasting several days, she would invite the nobility from all over the country and hold a magnificent festival, often in concurrence with a saintly holiday, though religion played a small part in her parties.
She died while in residence in the Palace of Belém in 1754. After her death, she was buried in Lisbon, but her heart was brought to Vienna and buried there in the imperial crypt.
Titles and styles 7 September 1683 – 27 October 1708 Her Royal Highness Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria 27 October 1708 – 31 July 1750 Her Most Faithful Majesty the Queen of Portugal and the Algarves 31 July 1750 – 14 August 1754 Her Most Faithful Majesty the Queen Mother of Portugal and the Algarves.