Princess Maria Josepha Hermengilde Esterházy de Galantha (née von Liechtenstein, 13 April, 1768 — 8 August, 1845) was an aristocrat and patron of music.
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Early life
Maria Josepha von Liechtenstein was the daughter of Franz Josef I of Liechtenstein and Leopoldine von Sternberg. On 15 September 1783 she married Prince Nikolaus II Esterházy de Galantha, who in 1794 became the Prince of Esterházy. They married at her family home, because her mother was unwell, and were blessed by Cardinal Bathiany. The marriage contract specified thousands of guilders to be provided for the Princess.
The Princess was positively perceived by her peers, described as very talkative and charming, and having finer jewels than the crown. She was close friends with Maria Ludovica Beatrix, the Austrian Empress, with whom she exchanged intimate letters.
In 1785 she had a son, Paul Anton and in 1788 a daughter, Leopoldine.
Patron of music
Princess Esterházy was a patron of artists, and especially of Joseph Haydn, who from 1796 to 1802 was commissioned to write a yearly Mass to be performed on her nameday (8 September, the Nativity of the BVM). Thus originated the Heiligmesse (1796), Paukenmesse (1797), Nelsonmesse (1798), Theresienmesse (1799), Schöpfungsmesse (1801) and Harmoniemesse (1802). She may have had lessons from Haydn soon after her marriage. In 1808, she sat beside Haydn at a concert in honour of his birthday, and when she covered him with her shawl, believing him to be cold, she was copied by many of the other nobility present.
For her 1807 nameday, Ludwig van Beethoven composed his Mass in C major, op. 86.
Johann Nepomuk Hummel wrote five Masses for her nameday: Mass in E-flat major, Op. 80 (1804), Mass in D minor, WoO. 13 (1805), Mass in C major, WoO. 12 (1806), Mass in B-flat major, Op. 77 (1808) & Mass in D major, Op. 111 (1810)
One final Mass was written by Jan Ladislav Dussek, Missa Solomnelle in G major, C. 256 (1811).
Diplomacy and the Congress of Vienna
Maria Josepha became very close with her daughter-in-law, Princess Maria Theresia of Thurn and Taxis. For the 1814-5 Congress of Vienna, they collaborated to host a bal d'enfants or children's ball, which was attended by major aristocratic and diplomatic families.