Maria Luisa of Savoy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Maria Luisa of Savoy by Jean Garavaque, 1701, The Louvre Museum
Maria Luisa of Savoy by Jean Garavaque, 1701, The Louvre Museum

Maria Luisa of Savoy (November 17, 1688 - February 14, 1714) was the first wife of king Philip V of Spain.

She was the third daughter of Victor Amadeus II of Savoy (1666 - 1732), Duke of Savoy and future king of Sicily and Sardinia , and his wife Anne Marie of Orléans, daughter of Philippe I of Orléans and Henriette Anne Stuart.

Her older sister Marie Adelaide married 1697 Louis, duc de Bourgogne and was the mother of Louis XV of France.

On November 2, 1701 Maria Louisa , just 12 years old , married the younger brother of her brother-in-law, Philip, duc d'Anjou who had just become king Philip V of Spain .

In 1702 the long and ruinous War of Spanish Succession broke out. Maria Louisa proved to have what it takes to be a great queen by making herself admired in Madrid. She also started to impose some order in the junta, and led by her example at least some individuals and cities to start supporting the government with troops and money.

She had a great influence on her husband, but was herself dominated by the Princess des Ursins.

They had 4 children :

She died in 1714, well loved in Spain.


Preceded by
Maria Anna of Pfalz-Neuburg
Queen Consort of Spain
1700–1714
Succeeded by
Elisabeth of Parma
Queen Consort of Naples and Sardinia
Duchess Consort of Brabant, Guelders, Limburg, Lothier, Luxembourg and Milan
Countess Consort of Flanders, Hainaut and Namur

1700–1713
Succeeded by
Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
Queen Consort of Sicily
1700–1713
Succeeded by
Anne Marie of Orléans