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Granddaughters of Maria Theresa, Holy Roman Empress

Maria Theresa had 30 granddaughters (one unnamed not included in the images), 13 died in childhood, and the rest lived past the age of 17. Several of her granddaughters became Holy Roman Empress, Queen consorts of Sardinia, Empress of the French, and Empress consort of Austria.

The Eleven Daughters of Maria Theresa, Holy Roman Empress

Maria Elisabeth Amalia Antonia Josepha Johanna Gabriele Agathe, known as "Liesl", was a lively and beautiful child. A favourite of both her parents. Her grandfather, Emperor Charles VI, spoke with pleasure of his eldest granddaughter and often played with her. Unfortunately the little girl died at the age of 3.

Maria Anna Josepha Antonia was highly intelligent but physically disabled. She suffered from frail health, however, Maria Anna often played important roles in major events of state, including acting as sponsor at the christening of her youngest sister Marie Antoinette. As she didn't marry, she accepted a religious life and became a respected abbess with interests in science and art. She was the child least respected and loved by her mother Maria Theresa.

Maria Carolina Ernestina Antonia Johanna Josepha, died at age 1 from illness. Two of her sisters were named after her: one who lived shortly (born and died in 1748) and another (born in 1752), later became Queen of Naples and Sicily.

Maria Christina Johanna Josepha Antonia, known as "Marie" or "Mimi", was the undisputed favourite child of her mother. She was capricious and spirited in her youth, and received a particularly loving education from her parents. That notorious preference caused the intense jealousy of her brothers and sisters, who avoided her and criticized her prominent position within the family more and more vehemently. The dislike of her siblings increased later in life, since Maria Theresa increasingly used her to exercise influence over the other members of the family. She was beautiful, highly intelligent and also artistically gifted. In 1766, she married the Duke of Teschen, and was the only child permitted to marry for love.

Maria Elisabeth Josepha Johanna Antonia, known as "Liesl", was a sickly infant that grew into a lively child, who liked games and jokes, and teased her many siblings often. She was considered the most beautiful among her sisters. Elisabeth was described as unstable and eccentric, without any particular interests. She was fun-loving and neglected her studies. She earned her mother's censure by liking gossip and mocking everyone, offending her siblings and attendants with ironic comments. Her staff changed often, as few could stand her. Despite her great beauty in youth, smallpox was to scar her face which altered her prospects. She later became an abbess.

Maria Amalia Josepha Johanna Antonia, known as "Amélie", was raised to be the ideal consort and taught arts and how to be obedient, dutiful and representative. As a child, she was intelligent, but reserved and stubborn, considered difficult. Of all her daughters, Maria Theresa seems to have had the worst relationship with Maria Amalia. She grew into a strong, independent young woman who cared little for her mother's personal and political plans. In 1769, she married Ferdinand I, Duke of Parma against her wishes. As a Duchess, she was politically active and capable, but her strained relationship with her mother never recovered.

Maria Carolina, the tenth child and seventh daughter died during childbirth.

Maria Johanna Gabriele Josepha Antonia, was a lively, affectionate, and warm-hearted child. She was close to her sister Maria Josepha, who was born a year after her, and they were educated together with the same tutors. She was briefly retorted to King Ferdinand IV of Naples and Sicily. She died at the age of 12 from smallpox.

Maria Josepha Gabriele Johanna Antonia Anna, was usually described as one of the more gentle and dutiful daughters of Maria Theresa. She was the closest to her sister Maria Johanna who was born a year prior her birth. When Maria Johanna died from smallpox in 1762, Maria Josepha became terrified of dying from the same disease. She was engaged to King Ferdinand IV of Naples and Sicily, but the marriage never materialised due to Maria Josepha's death from smallpox at the age of 16, finally earning her the same fate as her favourite sister.

Maria Carolina Louise Josepha Johanna Antonia, known as "Charlotte" within the family, was the daughter who resembled her mother most, inheriting her strong-willed and dominant personality. formed a very close bond with her youngest sister, Marie Antoinette. In 1768, she married King Ferdinand IV of Naples and Sicily, who had been betrothed to two of her sisters. She disliked her husband, yet their marriage produced 17 children. Maria Carolina's combined intelligence and determination with a readiness to use power aggressively, stood out among her sisters as a true political actor—more comparable to a reigning monarch than a ceremonial queen. By the time of her death in 1814, she was the last surviving child of Maria Theresa.