Francis I Stephen de Lorraine 1
- Born: 8 Dec 1708, Nancy, Lorraine
- Marriage: Maria Theresa Habsburg on 12 Feb 1736 in Vienna, Austria
- Died: 18 Aug 1765, Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria aged 56
General Notes:
Holy Roman emperor from Sept. 13, 1745; he was duke of Lorraine (as Francis Stephen) from 1729 to 1735 and grand duke of Tuscany from 1737. Although nominally outranking his wife, Maria Theresa (1717-1780), archduchess of Austria and queen of Hungary and Bohemia, the capable but easygoing Francis always was overshadowed by her strong personality.
From 1723 Francis, whose dynasty in Lorraine was closely connected with the Austrian Habsburgs, lived at the Viennese court of the Holy Roman emperor Karl VI. (1685-1740). His marriage to Maria Theresa, who was Karl's heiress, took place on Feb. 12, 1736. Karl consented to it only on condition that Francis make the sacrifice required by the French in order to end the War of the Polish Succession, namely, the cession of Lorraine to Stanislaw Leszczynski (Stanislaw I), for whom the French had failed to secure Poland. In compensation, Francis was allowed to succeed the childless Gian Gastone, last of the Medici grand dukes of Tuscany. These arrangements were confirmed by the 1738 Treaty of Vienna.
When Maria Theresa succeeded Karl VI (Oct. 20, 1740), she immediately appointed her husband coregent. During the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–48), Maria Theresa, apprehensive for Francis' life, refused his repeated demands to be allowed to defend her inheritance by leading the Austrian Army. During the war he was elected Holy Roman emperor after the death of the emperor Karl VII. (1697-1745) (the elector Charles Albert of Bavaria), who was one of his wife's chief adversaries. The influence of Francis in government was inconsiderable except in economic matters. He is better remembered for his cultural interests. Maria Theresa mourned his death throughout the 15 years by which she survived him. 2
Research Notes:
19th in line to the Stuart throne of Britain.
Noted events in his life were:
• He was a Duke of Tuscany.
• He was a Duke of Lorraine from 1729 to 1737.
• Acceded: Ruler of Florence, 1737.
• Acceded: Holy Roman Emperor, 1745.
Francis married Maria Theresa Habsburg, daughter of Charles VI Habsburg and Elizabeth Christine Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, on 12 Feb 1736 in Vienna, Austria. (Maria Theresa Habsburg was born on 13 May 1717 in Vienna, Austria and died on 28 Nov 1780 in Vienna, Austria.)
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