Maria Isabella of Spain
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Maria Isabella of Spain (6 July 1789, Madrid - 13 September 1848, Portici) was the second wife and only Queen consort of Francis I of the Two Sicilies.
[edit] Family
Maria Isabella was the fourth daughter of Charles IV of Spain and his wife Maria Luisa of Parma.
Her paternal grandparents were Charles III of Spain and Maria Amalia of Saxony. Her maternal grandparents were Philip, Duke of Parma and Princess Louise-Élisabeth of France.
Charles III and Philip were brothers, both sons of Philip V of Spain and his second wife Elisabeth of Parma.
[edit] Marriages
On 6 July 1802, Maria Isabella married her first cousin Prince Francis of Naples and Sicily by proxy in Barcelona. Francis was the eldest son of Ferdinand III of Sicily/Ferdinand IV of Naples and his first wife Marie Caroline of Austria. Ferdinand was her paternal uncle, a younger brother of her father.
She was sent to meet her new husband and a second marriage ceremony took place in Naples on 19 August 1802. This time married in person. The bride was thirteen years old and the groom twenty-five. They had twelve children:
- Luisa Carlotta (1804-1844), who married her maternal uncle Francisco de Paula, Infante of Spain. Their eldest son, Francisco de Asis de Bourbon, married Isabella II of Spain.
- María Cristina (1806-1878), who married 1st her uncle Ferdinand VII of Spain (her mother's older brother) and 2nd Ferdinand Muñoz, Duke of Rianzares.
- Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies (1810-1859) who became Francis I's successor and married twice.
- Carlo Ferdinando, Count di Capua (1811-1862). Married morganatically to Penelope Smyth and had issue.
- Leopoldo, Count di Siracusa (1813-1860). Married Maria Princess of Savoy-Carignano. No issue.
- Maria Antonietta (1814-1898). Married Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany.
- Antonio, Count of Lecce (1816-1843).
- Marie Amalie (1818-1857), who married Sebastian de Bourbon, Infante of Spain.
- Maria Carolina (1820-1861). Married Carlos, Conde de Montemolin and carlist pretender to the throne of Spain.
- Teresa (1822-1889). Married Pedro II of Brazil.
- Luigi, Count di Aquila (1824-1897). Married Januária, Princess Imperial of Brazil (sister of Pedro II of Brazil and Maria II of Portugal). Had issue.
- Francesco, Count of Trapani (1827-1892). Married Princess Isabella of Tuscany and had issue.
On 4 January 1825, her father-in-law Ferdinand I died and Francis succeeded to the throne. Maria Isabella served as his Queen consort. Her husband reportedly took little part in the government, which he left in the hands of favourites and police officials, and lived with his mistresses, surrounded by soldiers, ever in dread of assassination. He died on 8 November 1830).
Maria Isabella remained a widow for nine years. On 15 January 1839, Maria Isabella married her second husband Francesco, Count of Balzo (1805 - 1882). The bride was fifty years old and the groom thirty-four.
| Preceded by Lucia Migliaccio of Floridia (Royal consort) |
Queen Consort of the Two Sicilies 4 January 1825-8 November 1830 |
Succeeded by Maria Christina of Savoy |
