Worldwide Guide to Women
in Leadership
Female Heads of
Austrian-Hungarian
Royal Eccleastical Establishments
In Bohemia
there were 4 cases of a female "office-nobility" Amtsadels, who were all
raised to the position of Princess of the Realm (Fürstenstand), The Abbess of
St. Georg at the Hradschin in Prauge (Äbtissin zu St. Georg auf dem Hradschin zu Prag),
the Abbess of the Free Wordly Chapter for Noble Ladies of the Holy Angels in
the New Town of Prague (Äbtissin des freiweltlich adeligen Damenstifts zu den Heiligen Engeln
auf der Neustadt in Prag), the Abbess of the Theresian Royal and Imperial
Ladies Chapter of the Castle of Prague (Äbtissin des k.k.
Theresianischen adeligen Damenstifts ob dem Prager Schlosse) and The Prioress
of the Duchal Savoyian Ladies' Chapter in Vienna (Oberin des Herzoglich
Savoyschen Damenstiftes in Wien)
Also see Austria Heads of State and
Czech Eccleastical Establishments
Göss bei Leoben
A socalled Kanonissen or Chorfrauenstift it was founded around 1000 by
Countess Palatine Adala of Bavaria. The abbot or provost administered the
estates of the clerical ladies, arranged the statues and appointed the prioress.
In 1020 her grandchild, Aribo III handed it over to the protection of Emperor
Heinrich II, who granted it immunity and raised it to the status of an
Imperial Immediacy (reichsunmittelbaren
Abtei) - the only one in Austria - and removed the Chapter from the influence of
the Metropolits of Salzburg. The Abbess became a Prelate of the Realm in 1242
and member of the
bank of the Swabian Prelates of the Realm in the
Imperial Diet - Schwäbisches Reichsprälatenkollegium.
The chapter was secularised in 1783.
1020-after 27 Kunigunde I of Bayern
She was sister of Count Palatine Aribos, and was the first abbess with the title
of a Princess of the Realm (geistlichen Reichsfürstin)
Around 1052 Wilburgis
Circa 1066-? Richardis
She recived the full pastorial rights for the Church of the Chapter from the
Archbishop of Salzburg in 1070
1000s Margaretha I
1000s/1100s Hemma
Before 1148-after 78 Adelheid von
Sponheim
Also known as Alhedis
Before 1188-1230 Otilia von Gutenberg
Before 1239-69 Chunigunde II
During her reign, the ornate of the chapter was created.
Before 1271-83 Herburgis von Ehrenfels
1283-98 Euphemia
1298-1322 Herradis von Praitenfurt
1322-38/39 Bertha von Pux
Before 1340-49 Dimudis
Also known as Dietmut
1349-54 Katharina von Strettweg
1355-81 Gertrud I von Hanau
1381-after 98 Katharina von Truthan
1399-1421 Aloisia von Herbersdorf
1421-28 Gertrud II von Helfenberg
1428-63 Anna I von Herbersdorf
She is known in a folkstale as "Frau Hitt", a cruel and despotic ruler of the
Chapter and surrounding territories.
1463-74 Begina Grassler
1474-97 Ursula von Silberberg
1497-1505 Margaretha II von Harbach
1506-14 Veronika von Radmannsdorf
1514-23 Margaretha III von Mindorf
She was member of a noble family from Steiermark. During her reign the new
gothic church was finished.
1523-43 Barbara I von Spangstein
1543-66 Amalia von Leisser
1566-73 Barbara II von Liechtenstein-Murau
1573-76 Anna II von Harrach
1576-1602 Florentina von Putterer
1602-10 Regina von Schrattenbach
Freiin
1610-40 Margaretha IV von Khünburg
Freiin
(d.
1640)
1640-57 Maria Johanna von
Kollonitsch
Her family originally came from Croatia and moved to Austria in the 15th century
and were given a Countly title, held high offices in the army or in the church.
She was a great promoter of the chapter.
1657-95 Maria Benedicta Schrattenbach
In an official document from 1660, she is named as Frau Maria Benedicta, Äbtissin des
fürstlichen Stiftes Göss, geborener Gräfin von Schwarzenpach and in the
Topograhy of the Duchy of Steiermark from 1681, the entry about the chapter is
called "Das Hoch Adeliche Iungfraw Closter Göss.
1695-1706 Katharina Benedicta von Stürgkh
Freiin
1706-37 Maria Mechtildis Berchtold
Countess
1737-51 Maria Antonia Überacker
Countess
1751-78 Maria Henrica von Poppen
Member of a family of Slesian Barons (Freiiherren), she was highly educated,
gifted painter and promoter of arts and culture. At her seal she used the
titulature: Marin Henrick Freyin v. Poppen, Äbtissin zu Göss.
1779-83 Maria Gabriela Freiin von
Schaffmann-Hämmerle
She was the last Abbess of the Princely Chapter. She
lived
(1724-1801)
Nonnberg zu Salzburg
Founded by Rupertus von Worms in 714, and has never been abolished. In 1241 Archbishop Eberhard
of Salzburg gave the abbess the rank of a bishop and the right to bear the
crosier, the crucifix and a mitre instead of the crown. Thus, the convent's
mother superiors were put on an equal footing with the abbots from St. Peter. The requirement making admission to the convent dependent
on being aristocratic was abolished in 1848. According to some sources, the
abbess wore a ceremonial crown as late as
the 1920s.
714-18 Erentraud von Salzburg
Also known as Erintrudis, Erentrud, Ehrentrudis,
or Ehrentraud, she was probably niece of Rupertus. (circa 650-18 in Salzburg)
Circa 720 Regintrud
Became the fourth Abbess of the Chapter after the death of her husband, Duke
Theudebert of Bavaria
........
754 Hiltrud
Daughter of the Frankish Major Domus Karl Martell, married to Duke Odilo of
Bavaria and mother of Tassilo III, and joined the convent after her husband's
death. It is believed that she influenced her son in the many laws he issued,
granting women rather extensive rights.
...............
Around
1242 Gertraud von Stein
She received the "pontificalia" for her self and her successor by Prince-Bishop Eberhard II
in the name of the Pope and is raised to the estate of the prelates.
..........
1270-? Hilda
Her term in office was marked by catastrophies, wars and disputes, a large fire
destroyed Salzburg, the country was hit by famine and the fights agaonst Rudolf von Habsburg
against Otto of Bohemia also took its toll on Salzburg as Archbishop Erzbischof Friedrich II
had sided with King Rudolf. In 1274 the chapter had to pay heavy taxes to
finance the 7. crusaide and when she was accused by the Diocese of Salzburg in a
dispute over land she got support by Pope Gregory X.
............
Around 1464 Agatha von Haunsberg
She began to reconstruct the Romanesque church which had been devoured by flames
in 1423.
.................
Royal Chapter of Hall in Tirol (Königliches
Damenstift Hall) 1567-1783
1567-90 Abbess Magdalena von Habsburg
She founded the royal Chapter for royal and noble ladied and lived there with
her two sisters, Margaretha and Helena.
Daughter of Emperor Ferdinand I and Anna of Hungary, she lived (1532-90)
...............
Royal Chapter in Innsbruck - Kloster für adelige Damen in Innsbruck (1765-1808)
It was founded by Empress Maria Theresia with the purpose of praying for her
late husband, who died in 1765. 1807 the convent was disolved by Bavaria
1767-1805/07 Abbess Maria Elisabeth von
Habsburg-Lothringen
Daughter of Emperor Franz I Stefan and Maria Theresia, she had been hit by
small-pox in 1767 and she became Abbess of the Worldly Chapter for noble ladies.
She became the center of the town-life because of her outgoing personality. In
1805 she fled the Napolionic troops. She lived (1743-1808)
The Duchal Savoyan Ladies' Chapter in Vienna
(Herzoglich
Savoyschen Damenstiftes in Wien, Savoyensches Damenstift)
Maria Theresia Anna Felicitas
Duchess di Savoia-Carignan, born Princess of Liechtenstein and Heiress of
Troppau bought the Palais in 1742 after the
death of her husband, Duke Emanuel Thomas von Savoyen, who died after a few
year's marriage. In her will she set up a Ladies Chapter for 20 women from old
Bohemian and Austrian Nobility, with the Prince of Liechtenstein as Patron.
In 1772 The Prioress of the Duchal
Savoyian Ladies' Chapter in Vienna (Oberin des Herzoglich
Savoyschen Damenstiftes in Wien) was given the rank of Princess of the Empire.
1769-72 Head of the Chapter Theresia von Savoyen-Carignan, geb.
Prinzessin zu Liechtenstein, Hereditary Duchess zu Troppau
Also known as
Maria
Teresa Anna Felicita di Liechtenstein, Marie-Thérèse de Savoie or
Marie
Terezie Savojská vévodkyně z Lichtenštejna, she
became heir of the Duchy of Troppau through her
father,
Fürst Johann Adam Ulrich von und zu
Liechtenstein (1662-1712), who purchased the Counties of Vaduz and Schellenberg,
the core of the present day's principality. Both her 2 brothers died young
she married
Tommaso Emanuele de Savoie-Carignan
(Savoia-Carignano), Count of Soissons, Governor of
Antwerben (1687-1729) and after his death she took up residence at her family's
castle in Bohemia, Škvorec.
Her son,
Eugene Jean François de Soissons was Duke of Troppau (1714-29-34), and married
Duchess Maria Teresa di Massa e Carra, but he died before they ever met.
She lived (1694-1772)
1772... Princess Abbess.........
Empress Maria Theresia issued a diploma granting her the rank as Princess (Gefürstete
Äbtissin)
Until 1980 Gräfin Karoline Fünfkirchen
She was the last "ruler"/"regentin" of the chapter until her death.
Last update 28.11.08