Katarzyna Habsburżanka (photo:public domain)

Katarzyna Habsburżanka (1533-1572)

Daughter of Emperor Ferdinand I and Anna Jagiellon, wife of Zygmunt August. Catherine was born in 1533 in Vienna. At sixteen she married the Duke of Mantua, Francis III. Just a few months after her wedding, in 1550, she was widowed after her husband drowned in the lake. Katarzyna returned to her father's court.

Three years later, Polish MPs arrived in Vienna, seeking a wife for the also widowed Zygmunt August. Among them was one of the relatives of the recently deceased Barbara Radziwiłłówna. A possible relationship required the dispensation of the pope (not only were the fiancées related, but before that, the wife of the Polish king was Katarzyna's sister, Elżbieta). The consent was obtained.

The wedding took place on July 29, 1553 in Krakow. Reportedly, the young wife suffered an epilepsy on her wedding night. A year later, Katarzyna stated that she was pregnant, which was confirmed by a doctor. Unfortunately, the news turned out to be false. It caused a great reluctance by Poles towards the queen. The situation was also made worse by Bona Sforza's open hostility to her daughter-in-law. Moreover, Katarzyna began to fall ill. Gradually, there was practically a complete breakdown of the marriage between the spouses. Zygmunt August even wanted to divorce his wife. Eventually, Katarzyna left Poland and settled in a monastery in Linz. The queen died on February 28, 1572. In her will, she bequeathed her valuables to the king's sisters Anna and Catherine.