maria beatrice d’este (maria beatrice ricciarda; 7 april 1750 – 14 november 1829) was heiress of the two duchies of modena and reggio. she was married to archduke ferdinand of austria, son of empress maria theresa of austria in an attempt to give the austrians more influence in the italian states. maria beatrice was the duchess of massa and carrara in her own right as well as an archduchess of austria by marriage. from 1790 until 1797 and from 1816 until her death in 1829. she and her husband formed the "house of austria-este".