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Czech Eccleastical Establishments Female Leaders

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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)

The Theresianian Noble Chapter at the Hradschin in Prague (The Theresian Royal and Imperial Ladies Chapter of the Castle of Prague (Äbtissin des k.k. Theresianischen adeligen Damenstifts ob dem Prager Schlosses - Äbtissin des Prager Hradschin Convents - Äbtissin des Hradschin) (Secular Abbess)
Other versions of the name are: Adelichen Damenstiftes auf dem Prager Hradschin/Theresianische Anstalt für adelige Frauen in Prag/The k.k. Theresianische adelige Damenstift at the Prague Hradschin
The Abbey was founded by Empress Maria Theresia in 1755, from 1766 the Abbess enjoyed princely ecclesiastical rank (fürstliche geistliche würde), only temporal duties and a high income, in 1791 the right to crown the Queens of Bohemia was transferred to her. The position of Princess-Abbess of the Chapter was the second highest non-imperial office after the Chancellor.

1766-81 Princess-Abbess Maria Anna von Habsburg-Lothringen 
The Abbey was founded by her mother, Empress Maria Theresia in 1755. In 1781 she resigned and moved to Klagenfurt where she lived close to the he Elizabethan Chapter the rest of her life. She lived (1738-89)

1791-1800 Princess-Abbess Maria Anna von Habsburg-Lothringen
Four days after her installation with her princely ecclesiastical rank she conducted the coronation - assisted by bishops - of her mother, Maria Ludovica de Borbon of Spain, as Queen of Bohemia. She and her husband, Leopold, had already been crowned as Holy Roman Emperors the previous year. Maria Anna resigned in 1800, and lived (1770-1809)

1834-35 Princess-Abbess Maria Theresia von Habsburg-Lothringen
She was only abbess of the Royal Chapter for a short time before her marriage to king Fernando II of Two Sicilies in 1835. Mother of two daughters and lived (1816-67).

1835-42 Princess-Abbess Hermine von Habsburg-Lothringen Hradschin in Prague 
Daughter of Josef Anton von Habsburg-Lothringen and Princess Hermine von Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym. She lived (1817-42).

1844-52 Princess-Abbess Maria Karolina von Habsburg-Lothringen
Her sister, Maria Theresia, was abbess around 1837. Maria Karoline married her cousin, Archduke Rainer, and became known as "Aunt Marie Rainer", she had no children, and lived (1825-1915). 

1875-79 Princess-Abbess Maria Cristina von Habsburg-Lothringen
She married Alfonso XII of Spain and after his death she became regent for her posthumously born son, Alfonso XIII in 1888.

1886-93 Princess-Abbess Margaretha  Sophie von Habsburg-Lothringen
In 1893 she married Albrecht von Württemberg (1865-1939), mother of three sons and lived (1870-1902).

1893-94 Princess-Abbess Karoline Immaculata von Habsburg-Lothringen
Married to Prince August Leopold von Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha (1867-1922) and lived (1869-1945). 

1894-1918 Princess-Abbess Maria Annunziata von Habsburg-Lothringen
Also was known as Miana, she was the daughter of Archduke Karl Ludwig and his third wife, Maria Teresa da Bragança. She acted as "first Lady" at the court of her father's brother, Emperor Franz Joseph after his wife, Empress Elisabeth, was murdered in 1898. Her oldest brother was the Heir to the Throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand (killed 1914), and her second brother's son was emperor Karl I (1887-1916-18-2). She was unmarried and lived (1876-1961). 

Royal Chapter St. Georg at the  Hradschin in Prauge (Äbtissin zu St. Georg auf dem Hradschin zu Prag, Sankt-Georg Kloster, Sv. Jiri, sv.Jiří na Pražském hradě)
It was the oldest convent in the Bohmian Lands founded in 973 by Prince Boleslav II and his sister, Mlada. The Abbess of was named Princess-Abbess in 1348 with the right to crown the Queens of Bohemia. During the reign of Josef II the Chapter was abolished in 1782.

967-983 Mlada Maria von Böhmen    
Daughter of Prince Boleslav I and Biagota, and lived (circa 935-after 983).

Until 1321 Kunigunde von Böhmen
The oldest daughter of Przemysl Ottokar II and Kunigunde of Kiew, she married Duke Boleslaw II of Masowien-Plock (after 1271-1313) and later became Abbess of  St. Georg zu Prag. She lived (1265-1321)

..1360.. Margaretha

..1367-74.. Elizabeth
She was mentioned together with the Prioress Bohunka and custrix Agnes. In 1370 Agnes is Prioress and in 1374 Dorothea is Prioress

..1387.. Cunka

...1392... Gunegundis

...1406-09 .. Anna
In 1406 she instigates a day of memory of the late Abbess Katherina. Dorotha is mentioned as Prioress in 1409 and Katherina as Cutrix

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Around 1450 Johanka z Risenberka
She was daughter of Děpolt z Risenberka (d. 1474) and Kateřina Sokolová z Lemberka (d. 1470)
And was Princess-Abbess of the St.Georg on Prague Castle.

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...1560... Ludmilla de Bliziva

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...1648.. Justina Anna Etlin von Rosenfels
Kayser Ferdinand gestattet....Abbtissin des Stiffts bey St. Georgen auf dem königl. Schloß zu Prag“, über deren Bitte ausnahmsweise und „in Ansehung deßelben bekandten großen Nothstandes“, „jedoch Niemandten zur Consequenz“ die Compensation der von ihr noch ausstehenden „getraidt Contribution als Fünfhundert Sieben vnd zwanzig Strich“ mit den von ihr „paar hergeschoßenen Kriegsvncosten.“

...1691... Anna Mechtildis Schönwiesin von Eckstein
Emperor Leopold allows her "Abbtissin Bey S. Georgen auf (Vnserm) Schloß zu Prag" to rebuild a church that burned down in 1688.

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1720... Rosina Clara Schlindlin von Hirschfeld
Carl der Sechste, Römischer Kayser“ bestätigt die neugewählte ,,fürstliche Abbatißin“ (zu St. Georg). Emperor Karl confirms her election as Princely Abbess.

1722 Isidora Constantia Raudnitzkin von Brzesnitz
Mentioned as "fürstlichen Abbatißin"

Until 1731 Maria Augusta von Fürstenberg
She was daughter of Reichsfürst Wenzel von Fürstenberg and Maria Josepha Truchess Trauchburg Friedberg

1732-35 Aloysia von Widmann
Her election was confirmed by Karl 6.

1735-.. Anna Scholastica Paulerin von Hohenburg
Emperor Karl 6 confirmed her election. "Carl der Sechste, Römischer Kayser", bestätigt die neugewählte Äbtissin von St. Georg"
 
1767-70 Maria Augusta Josepha von Fürstenberg-Stühlingen
Given the right to become canoness in Buchau from 1741 but it is not known is she acctually took up the position. 1767 Empress Maria Theresia confirmed her election "Maria Theresia, Kömische Kayserin, Wittib“ bestätigt die „nach tödtlichem Hintritt der Anna Scholastica Paulerin von Hohenburg“ erfolgte Wahl der „Maria Josepha aus dem fürstlichen Hauß von Fürstenberg“ zur Aebtissin von St. Georg". She was daughter of Joesph Wilhelm Ernst von Fürstenberg and Maria Anna von Waldstein. (d. 1770).

1770-...  Maria Electa Wrazda von Kunwald
Her election was confirmed by Empress Maria Theresia: "Maria Theresia, Römische Kayserin, Wittib", bestätigt die nach dem Tode der Maria Josepha von Fürstenberg erfolgte Wahl der Maria Electa Freyin Wrazda von Kunwald zur Aebtissin von St. Georg."
 

Stift zu den Engeln in Prag (Freiweltlich adeligen Damenstifts zu den Heiligen Engeln auf der Neustadt in Prag, Free Wordly Chapter for Noble Ladies of the Holy Angels in the New Town of Prague Chapel of Angels in Prague)
1706 the Abbess of the Chapter was given the title of Princess. The chapter was abolished in 1758.

1706-53 Princess and Abbess Marie Gertrude von Berlepsch
After husband, Wilhelm Ludwig von Berlepsch (1639-76) died of the wounds he received by the siege of Philippsburg, she became responsible for her two sons, Sittich Herbold (1673-1712) and the posthumously born, Peter Philipp Josef (1676-1721). As she chose to have her second son baptised by a Evangelican priest in 1680, the Prince-Abbot of Fulda sieged her castle Eichenzell and fined her 200 gulden, but she refused to bow. The same year the Emperor took her under his protection and in 1684 she was named Hofmeisterin (Mistress of the Court) in the Court of the first wife of the Pfalzgraf Johann Wilhelm von Pfalz Neuburg, and after her death in 1689, Marie Gertrude continued in office as Oberhofmeisterin (Chief Mistress) by the first wife of the Pfalzgraf and Elector Karl Philipp nach Neuburg an der Donau. 1690 she was appointed Oberhofmeisterin of Marie Anna who married king Carlos II of Spain, and during her time in Spain, she had a decisive influence on the politics of the country and thereby also in the rest of Europe. She worked for the interests of Austria and was very influential when it came to appointment to important offices and became very rich. In 1695, the Emperor raised her and her sons to the positions of Counts of the Realm (Reichsgrafenstand), but in the meantime the opposition against the German influence on the Queen-Regent grew, and Marie Gertrude left Spain in 1700. She bought back the part of the Estate of Eichenzell that had been taken as security by the Abbot of Fulda in 1680, and in 1699, she bought the Lordship of the Realm of Mylendok (Reichsherrschaft), and lived her to her death. 1706 she became the first Abbess of the newly founded Ladies Chapel in Prague (englischen weltlichen Fräulein-Stift in der Neustadt Prag) and she was appointed Princess of the Empire (Reichsfürstenstand). Born as Wolf von Gudenberg, she lived (1654-1723).

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Last update 13.05.13