Maria Feodorovna (Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg)
Born Duchess Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg, she was a daughter of Friedrich II Eugen, Duke of Württemberg and his wife, Friederike Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt. She belonged to a junior branch of the House of Württemberg and grew up in Montbéliard receiving an excellent education for her time and station. In 1776, when Grand Duke Paul (the future Paul I of Russia), became a widower, Sophie Dorothea was chosen by Frederick II of Prussia, her maternal great uncle, and by Empress Catherine II of Russia, as the ideal candidate to be Paul’s second wife. They met in a state dinner in Berlin and their engagement was quickly arranged.
Archduke Joseph Franz of Austria
He was the seventh child born to his parents: Marie Louise was born in 1791, and later became Empress consort of the French, as wife of Napoleon I Bonaparte; Ferdinand was born in 1793 and later became Emperor of Austria, but was dethroned due to the fact that he was severely (mentally and physically) disabled; Marie Caroline was born in 1794, but died less than a year later in 1795; Caroline Ludovika was born in 1795, but died two years later in 1797; Marie Leopoldina was born in 1797 and became the first Empress consort of Brazil, as the wife of Pedro I of Brazil; and, finally, Clementina was born in 1798 and became Princess of Salerno, as the wife of Leopold, Prince of Salerno.