Princess Marie of Windisch-Graetz (11 December 1856 – 9 August 1929) was an Austrian noblewoman and a noted archaeologist.
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Early life
Princess Marie Gabriele Ernestine Alexandra was born in Vienna in 1856 as the youngest daughter of Hugo, Prince of Windisch-Grätz and, his first wife, Duchess Luise of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Among her siblings were Hugo, 3rd Prince of Windisch-Graetz (who married Princess Christiane von Auersperg); Princess Alexandrine (wife of Count Rudolf von Khevenhüller-Metsch), Princess Olga (wife of Count Andreas Mocenigo). After her mother died in 1859, her father married Princess Matilda Radziwill (1836-1918), with whom he had three more children: Prince Ernst Wilhelm of Widisch-Graetz (1872-1897); Princess Aloisia Maria Mathilde of Widisch-Graetz (1874-1888) and Princess Elisabeth Maria Mathilde of Widisch-Graetz (1876-1884); all of whom died unmarried.
Her paternal grandparents were Weriand, 1st Prince of Windisch-Graetz and Princess Maria Eleonore Carolina of Lobkowicz (1795-1876). Her maternal grandparents were Grand Duke Paul Frederick and Princess Alexandrine of Prussia.
Archeological interests
Marie née Windisch-Graetz surveyed several archaeological excavations in Austria and Carniola, including excavations at Hallstatt Archaeological Site in Vače. Some of the artifacts were sold to museums in Harvard, Oxford and Berlin by her daughter Duchess Marie Antoinette of Mecklenburg.