Maria Anna of Savoy
Empress of Austria from 1835 to 1848
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| Italian: Maria Anna Carolina Pia di Savoia |
Maria Anna of Savoy (Italian: Maria Anna Ricciarda Carolina Margherita Pia; 19 September 1803 – 4 May 1884) was Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary (see Grand title of the Empress of Austria)[1] by marriage to Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria. Born a Princess of Savoy, she was the penultimate child and daughter of King Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia, and his wife, Maria Theresa of Austria-Este.
Biography
Maria Anna was born on 19 September 1803 in Palazzo Colonna in Rome, the daughter of King Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia and his wife, Archduchess Maria Teresa of Austria-Este. She had a twin sister, Maria Teresa. The two princesses were baptised by Pope Pius VII.[2] Their godparents were their maternal grandparents, Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Este and his wife Maria Beatrice Ricciarda d'Este. In the Museo di Roma can be seen a painting of the baptism.[3] She was known as "Pia" within the family.[2]
On 12 February 1831, Maria Anna was married by procuration in Turin to King Ferdinand V of Hungary, eldest son and heir apparent of Emperor Francis I of Austria. On 27 February, the couple were married in person in Vienna in the Hofburg chapel by the cardinal archbishop of Olmütz. Maria Anna was selected to marry the future emperor at the age of 27, which was very late for a princess to marry in this time period. However, her age was seen as a sign that she would be more settled, religious, and easier to manage.[4]
Maria Anna and Ferdinand had no children.
Ferdinand succeeded as emperor of Austria on 2 March 1835; Maria Anna became empress. On 12 September 1836, she was crowned queen of Bohemia in Prague.
Maria Anna never learned to speak German during her tenure as empress but preferred to speak French. She enjoyed some popularity as empress, and a festival was celebrated on her name day, 26 July each year.[5] Minister Metternich managed the Government during the reign of her spouse. Unlike her sister-in-law Sophie of Bavaria, Maria Anna had no influence on policy. She supported Emperor Ferdinand, who was unable to manage state affairs because of his health and was respected for her devotion. Maria Anna referred to herself as his "nurse" highlighting her caring role in his life.[6]
During the 1848 Revolution, Maria Anna retracted her support from the Metternich Policy with support from Sophie of Bavaria. However, she did voice her opinion that stronger measures should be taken against the revolution.
On 2 December 1848, Ferdinand abdicated. Maria Anna was popular in Prague, where she was engaged in a local charity.
Maria Anna died in Prague. She is buried next to her husband in tomb number 63 in the Imperial Crypt in Vienna.
Honours
Austria-Hungary : Dame of the Order of the Starry Cross[7]
Spain : Dame of the Order of Queen Maria Luisa
Ancestry
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Footnotes
- ^ "Ferdinand (I) | Biography, Reign, & Facts".
- ^ a b Bloks, Moniek (11 March 2022). "Maria Anna of Savoy - A good and gentle being (Part one)". History of Royal Women. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ "Maria Anna of Austria (c. 1634–1696) | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ^ Martin Mutschlechner: Ferdinand: Ein „Betriebsunfall“ im Hause Habsburg
- ^ Maria Anna, In: Brigitte Hamann (Hrsg.): Die Habsburger, 1988
- ^ Martin Mutschlechner: Ferdinand: Ein „Betriebsunfall“ im Hause Habsburg
- ^ Hof- und Staats-Handbuch des Kaiserthumes Österreich (1868), p 110, Sternkreuz-Orden
Bibliography
- Biographisches Lexikon des Kaiserthums Oesterreich
External links
Media related to Maria Anna of Sardinia at Wikimedia Commons
Maria Anna of Savoy Born: 19 September 1803 Died: 4 May 1884 | ||
| Austro-Hungarian royalty | ||
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| Preceded by | Empress consort of Austria Queen consort of Dalmatia Queen consort of Galicia and Lodomeria Queen consort of Illyria Queen consort of Lombardy-Venetia Queen consort of Hungary Queen consort of Croatia Queen consort of Slavonia Queen consort of Bohemia 1835–1848 | Vacant Title next held by Elisabeth in Bavaria |
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- Princess Louise
- Louise, Duchess of Nemours
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- Maria Beatrice, Duchess of Modena
- Maria Anna, Empress of Austria
- Maria Teresa, Duchess of Parma
- Maria Cristina, Queen of the Two Sicilies
- Elisabeth, Archduchess of Austria
- Maria Vittoria, Countess of Syracuse
- None
* Princess of Savoy-Genoa
** Princess of Savoy-Aosta
** Princess of Savoy-Aosta
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