Maria Theresa
Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, Archduchess of Austria, and Empress of Germany, daughter of the Emperor Charles VI.; born in Vienna , May 13, 1717. In 1736 she married Duke Francis Stephen of Lorraine, who, in 1737, became Grand-Duke of Tuscany. The day after her father's death, in 1740, she ascended the throne of Hungary, Bohemia, and Austria, and declared her husband joint ruler. The elector, Charles Albert of Bavaria, supported by France, laid claim to the Austrian hereditary territories, and the Elec- Grand-Duchess of Luxemburg; born in Nassau, who became Grand-Duke of 1894, granddaughter ter of Adolphus of Luxemburg in 1890. There being no male heir she succeeded her father, Grand-Duke for seven years, who died in 1912. She is also the granddaughter of Dom Miguel, of Portugal. The Duchess Marie strongly objected to the violation of the neutrality of Luxemburg by the Germans in 1914, and was said to be in favor of armed resistance. She abdicated in favor of her sister in 1919. See LUX- EMBURG.
MARIE ANTOINETTE (ong-twäter of Cologne and the Elector-Palatine net'), Queen of France; born in Vienna, Austria, Nov. 2, 1755. She was the would likewise not acknowledge her succession. Her states were invaded at the same time by Frederick the Great and by the Elector of Bavaria; and being compelled to fly to Pressburg, she convoked the Diet, and there threw herself on the sympathy of her Hungarian subjects. In the meantime the allies quarreled among themselves, and the King of Prussia made a separate peace with the empress.
The general opinion that the balance of power in Europe depended on the continuance of the house of Austria, induced England to arm for Maria Theresa; Holland paid her subsidies; and after the death of Cardinal Fleury, in 1743, the cause of Austria triumphed throughout Europe. Reverses, however, followed; and all the belligerents becoming desirous of peace, the treaty of Aix-la- Chapelle was concluded in 1748, by which 1749 Maria Theresa was secured in her rights.
In 1756 Frederick the Great began the Seven Years' War. In 1765 the Emperor Francis died. In 1772 she joined the King of Prussia and the Empress Catharine in the dismemberment of Poland. By the death of Maximilian Joseph, Elector of Bavaria, in 1777, war was rekindled between Austria and Prussia, but was terminated in 1779, by the peace of Teschen, which added to the former state a small portion of Bavaria. Maria Theresa introduced many social and political reforms. She died in Vienna, Nov. 29, 1780.
MARIAZELL (mä-re-ä-tsel'), the most famous place of pilgrimage in Austria, in the extreme N. of Styria, 60 miles from Vienna. It is visited by thousands of pilgrims annually, besides numerous vis- 000000 MARIE ANTOINETTE daughter of the Emperor Francis I. and the celebrated Maria Theresa. She left Vienna for Versailles in 1770, when MARIE DE MEDICI only 15 years of age, to give her hand to the young Duke of Berri, afterward Louis XVI. of France. She constantly opposed such measures of reform as had been proposed. Her unpopularity increased, and the general indignation was raised to the highest pitch by the enthusiastic reception given her at the guard's ball, on Oct. 1, 1789, where the white Bourbon cockades were worn, and the national cockade was trampled under foot. The insurrection of women and the attack on Versailles followed in a few days. The queen displayed such courage that she won the plaudits of the mob.
It was the queen who advised the flight of the royal family from Paris in June, 1791, which ended in their capture and return.
MARIETTA MARIENBAD (mä-rē'en-bäd), a city of Czecho-Slovakia, 47 miles N. W. of Pilsen, at an elevation of 2,057 feet above sea-level. The springs have long been used by the people of the vicinity, but it is only since 1807-1808 that it has become a place of resort for persons from distant parts of the world. The springs are numerous, varying in temperature from 48° to 54° F. They are saline, contain ing sulphate of soda and various alkaline ingredients, but differing considerably in their composition and qualities. They are used both internally and in the form of baths. Great quantities of the waters of the springs are exported to many parts of the world. Pop. about 7,500.
The queen exerted all her power to induce the king to meet death sword in hand; but he thought resistance was in vain, and was led with his consort before the Legislative Assembly, where she heard his deposition announced, and then knights, however, was founded here about accompanied him to the prison of the Temple. There she again showed the highest courage. In August, 1793, she was removed to the Conciergerie, and in October she was brought before the revolutionary tribunal. She replied with firmness and decision to the charges brought against her; and she heard her sentence pronounced with perfect calmness. She was executed on Oct. 16, 1793.
MARIE DE MEDICI (duh mã-disē'), Queen of France; born in Florence, Italy, April 26, 1573. She was daughter of Francis I., Grand-Duke of Tuscany, and married Henry IV. of France in 1600. The union was rendered unhappy in consequence of the jealous, obstinate, and violent character of the queen. On the death of Henry IV., in 1610, she was named regent; but her administration was disgraced by by the countenance she afforded to unworthy favorites. She even quarreled with her son, afterward Louis XIII., who was compelled to quit the effected between them by Richelieu. That court. A reconciliation was, however, minister subsequently forced her to leave France. The remainder of her life was spent in exile. She died in Cologne, July 3, 1642.
MARIE GALANTE (gä-longt'), a French island in the West Indies, 17 miles S. E. of Guadeloupe; area, 58 square miles; it is covered for the most part with wood and surrounded by coral reefs; sugar, coffee, cocoa, and cotton are exported. Discovered by Columbus in 1493. Chief town, Grandbourg, or Marigot, on the S. W. coast. Pop. about 15,000.
MARIENBURG (mä-rē'en-börg), a town of Prussia, on the Nogat, 30 miles S. S. E. of Danzig. It was long the seat of the Grand Masters of the Teutonic Order, who removed from Venice hither in 1309. The fortress of the Marienburg remained in their hands till 1457, when it was taken by the Poles, and by them it was held till 1772. The castle, in which 17 grand masters resided, a noble edifice in a style of Gothic peculiar to the vicinity of the 1842. Pop. about 7,000.
Baltic, was thoroughly restored in 1817-