Maria Anna von Habsburg-Lothringen

Erzherzogin Maria Anna Josepha Antonia von Habsburg-Lothringen (6 October 1738 - present) was the second child of Franz I, Holy Roman Emperor, and Maria Theresia, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia. As a child, and for a time the eldest surviving child, she was heiress presumptive, she suffered from ill health and physical disability.

Early Life
Erzherzogin Maria Anna (known as Marianna) was born on 6 October 1738 at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, the center of the vastly powerful Habsburg Monarchy. As the second but eldest surviving daughter of Maria Theresia, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia, and Franz I, Holy Roman Emperor, she was heiress presumptive of the hereditary lands of the Austrian Habsburgs between 1740 and 1741, until her younger brother Joseph was born.

Her mother gave her the customary education of the princely courts at that time. Maria Anna's musical talents were highly encouraged, but not her humanities talents. Maria Anna was the child least respected and loved by Maria Theresia—her younger brother Joseph and sisters Maria Elisabeth and Maria Christina always received the attention and care of the Empress: Joseph because he was the male heir, Elisabeth because she was considered the most beautiful of the daughters, and Christina because she was the undisputed favorite child of her mother.