Archduchess Marie Amalie of Austria
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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.
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[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 Kauntiz both considered that union as not being good enough for an archduchess. Against her will, Maria Amalia was engaged and later married to Ferdinand, Duke of Parma (1751 - 1802), a grandson to Louis XV of France by his favorite daughter Princess Louise-Élisabeth. He was also a grandson to Philip V of Spain. The marriage was also supported by the future Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II, whose first beloved wife had been Ferdinand's attractive sister, Isabella Maria 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 on July 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 duchess' 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 duchess, who continued her immoral lifestyle despite del Llano's repeated entreaties. Finally, frustrated with her growing indiscipline and wary of being associated with her, Charles III washed his hands of 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 latter'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 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:
- Princess Caroline of Parma (November 22, 1770 - March 1, 1804).
- King Louis I of Etruria, Duke of Parma (August 5, 1773 - May 27, 1803). The first of only two kings of Etruria.
- Princess Marie Antoinette of Parma (November 28, 1774 – 20 February 1841).
- Princess Charlotte Maria of Parma (September 7, 1777 – April 5, 1813).
- Princess Antoniette Louise of Parma (October 21, 1784).
- Princess Marie Louise of Parma (April 17, 1787 – November 22, 1789).
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