Abbess, Royal. Five religious foundations in Austria have been established to provide suitable homes for impoverished ladies of such noble families as have rendered distinguished service to the imperial family or to the state. These are situated in Vienna, Prague, Brünn, Innsburck, and Graz. The Vienna institution was founded in 1769 by the Duchess Theresa of Savoy, that in Brünn by Emperor Leopold II in 1792, and those in Prague and Innsbruck in 1755 and 1765 respectively by the Empress Maria Theresa, the greatest of the name. The ladies who are received in the Prague, Vienna, and Innsbruck foundations must be able to show sixteen, those of Brünn five, and those of Graz four quarterings, respectively, on their arms. The institution in Prague is the most aristocratic. Only a princess of the imperial family can be appointed its abbess. Even if an exception be specially made in favor of a lady of merely noble blood, she has the right to the title of Royal Highness. The abbess is installed by a solemn court ceremonial, attended by all the highest dignitaries of church and state, headed by an Archduke as the representative of the Emperor. The abbess has the further right of crowning the Queen of Bohemia. She is not pledged to celibacy. In fact it is the usual custom for the imperial abbesses to marry for a short term of office. Maria Theresa, a daughter of Napoleon's opponent the Archduke Charles, married Ferdinand II., King of Sicily; Maria Christine married King Alphonso XII., and became Queen Regent of Spain; Margaret Sophia married Duke Albert, heir-presumptive to the throne of Wurtemberg; Caroline Immaculata in 1894 gave her hand to Prince August Leopold of Coburg.