ABSTRACT
Schloss Eggenberg occupied centre‐stage for an outstanding event of truly international dimensions only once during the seventeenth century. In October 1673, the wedding of Emperor Leopold I (1640–1705) with Claudia Felicitas of Tyrol (1653–1676) took place in Graz. Eggenberg Palace was chosen as residence for the imperial bride and her mother, Archduchess Anna, née de Medici. Twenty-four rooms on the second floor were prepared to accommodate the guests and furnished with lavish interiors and fittings. The entire second floor was divided into two equal state apartments, each incorporating twelve rooms, with a shared Guard’s Hall in the centre as an entrance. Even if the main wedding festivities took place in the city centre, Eggenberg became the most important ceremonial space for the empress-to‐be. This chapter offers insight into the ceremonial arrangements during the imperial wedding of 1673, focusing on the role of Eggenberg Palace. Contemporary descriptions of the wedding festivities provide for the first time vital information on the palace’s interior, the arrangement of space and the impact of this exceptional event on the princely family, the palace and the city.
