Theresia of Dietrichstein

She was the fourth child and second (but eldest and only surviving) daughter of Karl Johann Baptist, 7th Prince of Dietrichstein and his wife, Countess Maria Christina of Thun und Hohenstein, a daughter of Jan Josef František Antonín, Count of Thun und Hohenstein (1711-1788) and Princess Christine of Hohenzollern-Hechingen (1715-1749).

A woman of extraordinary beauty (she was nicknamed la celeste Therese), Emperor Joseph II became madly in love with her; in order to save her reputation and the position of the Dietrichstein family at court, when the Emperor was away in the Austro-Turkish War, was arranged her marriage with the Imperial Kammerherrn and General Count Philipp Joseph Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau (1741-1827).

The wedding took place in the Imperial court at Vienna on 27 August 1787: however, the union was extremely unhappy and the groom abandoned Theresia almost immediately after.

Since 1798, Theresia became close to Maximilian, Count of Merveldt, General of Cavalry and ambassador in the Russian and English courts.

Because he was a Teutonic Knight, he was unable to marry her until 1807, when Maximilian finally obtained the release of this vows; however, Theresia was still forbidden to remarry until Rome dissolved her marriage.