Duchess Sophie Charlotte in Bavaria

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photograph taken by Franz Hanfstaengl (1867)

Sophie Charlotte Augustine was Duchess of Alençon and born Duchess in Bavaria (February 23, 1847–May 4, 1897).

She was a daughter of Maximilian Joseph, Duke in Bavaria (1808–1888) and Ludovika, Royal Princess of Bavaria. She was also a sister of Empress Elisabeth of Austria and Queen Maria Sophia of the Two Sicilies.

She was engaged to her cousin King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Their engagement was publicized on 22 January 1867, but after having repeatedly postponed the wedding date, Ludwig finally cancelled it in October.

The following year, on 28 September 1868, she married Ferdinand Philippe Marie, duc d'Alençon (July 12, 1844–June 29, 1910), son of Louis Charles Philippe Raphael, duc de Nemours, at Possenhofen Castle near Starnberg.

Sophie died in a fire at a charity bazaar in Paris on 4 May 1897. She had refused rescue attempts, insisting that the girls working with her at the bazaar be saved first.

Ferdinand and Sophie had two children:

Louise d'Orleans (1869–1952), who married Prince Alfons of Bavaria (1862–1933) and had children (the line ended in dynastical sense in 1990 in male line and continues only in female line through lower marriages).

Emmanuel (1872–1931), duke of Vendome, who married Princess Henriette of Belgium and had children (the line ended dynastically in 1970 in male line but not yet in female line, and continues only in female line through lower marriages).