Archduchess Hermine of Austria

Archduchess Hermine of Austria (Hermine Amalie Marie; 14 September 1817 – 13 February 1842^[1]) was by birth member of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, whose father was the Palatine of Hungary.

Hermine was the only daughter of Archduke Joseph, Palatine of Hungary by his second wife, Princess Hermine of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym,^[1] daughter of Prince Victor II of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym and Princess Amelia of Nassau-Weilburg. Her mother died shortly after giving birth to her and her younger twin brother, Archduke Stephen.^[2]

Although the infants had been born seven to eight months prematurely, both appeared healthy at birth, and were baptised four days later in a solemn ceremony following the death of their mother.^[2]

She was brought up by her stepmother, Duchess Maria Dorothea of Württemberg. She spent much of her childhood in Buda and at the family estate in Alcsútdoboz and received an excellent education.

Contemporaries described Archduchess Hermine as comely, kind and modest. However, she was a slim young woman, with frail body, and prone to diseases. She therefore never married.

In 1837 she became Princess-Abbess of the Theresian Royal and Imperial Ladies Chapter of the Castle of Prague (1835-1842).^[3]

Hermine died on 13 February 1842 in Vienna, Austria.