Albert Casimir, Duke of Teschen

Who was Albert Casimir, Duke of Teschen?

Prince Albert Casimir August of Saxony, Duke of Teschen was a German prince from the House of Wettin who married into the Habsburg imperial family. He was noted as an art collector and founded the Albertina in Vienna, the largest and finest collection of old master prints and drawings in the world.

He was a younger son of king Augustus III of Poland and Maria Josepha of Austria, a first cousin of empress Maria Theresa, being the eldest daughter of late Emperor Joseph I. Prince Albert of Saxony, Duke of Teschen, was also one of the godparents to his namesake Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Young Albert was specifically chosen by Archduchess Maria Christina of Austria to be her husband. This was a special favour granted by her mother, the great empress Maria Theresa of Austria because marriages of imperial children were usually used for diplomatic purposes. Still, the betrothal and wedding had to wait until the death of her father Emperor Francis I and the wedding decorations were black because it occurred during the official mourning period after his death.