Princess Maria Pia of the Two Sicilies

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Maria Pia della Grazia of Bourbon (Gaeta, August 2, 1849 - Biarritz, September 29, 1882) was a Princess of the Two Sicilies.

Maria Pia was the daughter of King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies and Maria Theresa of Austria. She was forced into exile along with the rest of her family after the unification of Italy in 1861.

She married on April 5 1869 Duke Robert I the exiled Duke of Parma and Piacenza.

They had 12 children of whom at least 6 were mentally retarded:


[edit] Children

Name Birth Death Notes
Princess Marie Louise January 17, 1870 January 31, 1899 Married Ferdinand I of Bulgaria and had issue.
Prince Ferdinando March 5, 1871 April 14, 1871 Died in childhood.
Princess Luisa Maria March 24, 1872 June 22, 1943 She was mentally retarded.
Prince Henry (Enrico), Duke of Parma June 13, 1873 November 16, 1939 Titular Duke of Parma 1907-1939. He was mentally retarded, and from 1907 (his father's death), his brother Elias took up the role as head of the family, although Enrico continued to be considered by monarchists as Henry I of Parma. He held the title till his death.
Princess Maria Immacolata July 21, 1874 May 16, 1914 She was mentally retarded.
Prince Joseph (Giuseppe), Duke of Parma June 30 1875 January 7, 1950 Titular Duke of Parma 1939-1950. He was also mentally retarded, and his brother Elias continued the role as head of the family like he had done with their brother Enrico.
Princess Maria Teresa October 15, 1876 January 25, 1959 She was mentally retarded.
Princess Maria Pia October 9, 1877 January 29, 1915 She was mentally retarded.
Princess Beatrice January 9, 1879 March 11, 1946 Married Pietro Count Lucchesi Palli and had issue.
Prince Elias, Duke of Parma July 23, 1880 June 27, 1959 Head of the Ducal Family of Parma (1950-1959) ("Duke Elias of Parma"). Married Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria and had issue.
Princess Maria Anastasia August 25 1881 September 7, 1881 Died in childhood.
Prince Augusto (or Princess Augusta)[1][2][3] September 22, 1882 September 22, 1882 stillborn). Maria Pia died giving birth to this child.

Maria Pia is buried at the Villa Borbone near Viareggio.

After Maria Pia's death in childbirth, Robert I remarried in 1884 to Maria Antonia of Portugal, daughter of the deposed Miguel I of Portugal and Adelaide of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg; she bore him another twelve children.