Archduchess Marie Amalie of Austria
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maria Amalia of Austria (Feb 26, 1746, Vienna - Jun 18, 1804, Prague). Archduchess of Austria and Princess of Hungary by birth; Duchess of Parma, Plaisance and Guastalla by marriage.
Contents |
[edit] Archduchess of Austria
She was the eighth child of Maria Theresa of Austria and Emperor Francis Stephen. Raised in the Habsburg Viennese court, Maria Amalia was in her youth a very popular socialite and considered quite beautiful.
At 22 years old she wanted to marry the young and handsome prince Charles of Zweibrücken; however Maria Theresa and her minister Von Kauntiz both considered that union as not being good enough for an archduchess. Against her will, Maria Amalia was engaged and later married to Duke Ferdinand of Parma (1751 - 1802), a grandson to Louis XV by his favorite daughter Louise-Elisabeth de Bourbon. He was also a grandson to Philip V. The marriage was also supported by the future (Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor, whose first beloved wife had been Ferdinand's attractive sister, Isabella of Parma. Her husband was six years younger than Maria Amalia and also had some kind of mental deficiency problems.
[edit] Duchess of Parma
She left Austria on July 1, 1769 and married Ferdinand onJuly 19, at the Chateau de Colorno. Once in Parma, Maria Amalia started to interfere in the politics of the country, initially with the complete support and advice of her mother, Maria Theresa. The court of Parma also received financial support and political aid from France and Spain. Within a short while, Maria Amalia completely overshadowed her 14-yr-old husband and began a scandalous way of life which included lovers that she openly lived with. The Queen's adulterous behaviour shocked the European courts, each of which slowly severed relationships with Parma. Maria Amalia dismissed Du Tillot, a minister who opposed her adultery, and replaced him by a Spanish appointee, Jose del Llano, who was highly recommended by Charles III of Spain. However, the new minister had absolutely no influence over the Queen, who continued her immoral lifesgtyle despite del Llano's repeated entreties. Finally, frustrated with her growing indiscipline and wary of being associated with her, Charles III washed his hands off Parma. Maria Theresa, who then attempted to force Amalia into giving up her immoral way of life, was also told off in no uncertain terms. Amalia would remain estranged from her mother despite the lstter's repeated efforts at reconciliation for the rest of the Empress' life.
When Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Italy Maria Amalia and her family left to Austria and she died in Prague, in 1804.
[edit] Children and relatives
Maria Amalia was the younger sister to Emperor Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor and older sister to Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor, Marie Caroline of Austria and the more famous French Queen Marie Antoinette.
She and Ferdinand had seven children:
- Caroline of Parma de Bourbon (November 22, 1770 - March 1, 1804).
- Marie-Antoinette of Parma de Bourbon (November 28, 1774 – 20 February 1841).
- Charlotte Maria of Parma de Bourbon (September 7, 1777 – April 5, 1813).
- Antonietta Luisa of Parma de Bourbon (October 21, 1784).
- Maria Louise of Parma de Bourbon (April 17, 1787 – November 22, 1789).
[edit] External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: |
