'Ich hoff zu Gott': Archduchess Magdalena of Austria and Her Relationship to the Jesuits

Archduchess Magdalena of Austria (1532-1590), a nearly unknown member of the Habsburg dynasty, was one of the daughters of Emperor Ferdinand I. Choosing to “serve God” early on, Magdalena founded the religious community of Hall in the Tyrol with the help of her sisters, Margarethe and Helena, against great odds and the resistance of some of her brothers and the Jesuits, who were supposed to supervise women on religious matters. The Jesuits, fearing the possibility of a female section of their order, viewed her foundation as a threat. She overcame their refusal by enlisting the help of her brother, Emperor Maximilian II, using the uncertainty of religious upheaval and political tensions to her advantage, and promising to place the community into the hands of the order after her death.

This paper demonstrates that the relationship between the archduchess and the Jesuits was full of contradictions: she changed her will and ensured the continuation of her religious community against their wishes. Her ability to challenge the Jesuits can be partly understood by her collaboration with the Pope and her role in bringing forth the Counter Reformation in the region. Magdalena took positive steps to control the religious behavior of the citizens of Hall, by asking repeatedly for papal visitations, for example. After her death, Petrus Canisius claimed that her “virtue” was the only reason the Counter Reformation was successful in the Tyrol.  Even though Magdalena changed her last will, the Jesuits became the most active supporters for her beatification process. The motto, Tu felix Austria nube, conveys the idea that an archduchess’ main role was to serve the dynasty. Magdalena’s example shows that they often did in their own terms, acting with extensive freedom of action.