- Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily
-
Maria Theresa Maria Theresa in 1790 Holy Roman Empress;
Queen consort of the RomansTenure 1 March 1792 – 2 March 1807 Spouse Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor Issue Marie Louise, Empress of the French
Ferdinand I of Austria
Maria Leopoldina, Empress of Brazil
Clementina, Princess of Salerno
Archduke Joseph Franz Leopold
Marie Caroline, Crown Princess of Saxony
Archduke Franz Karl
Archduchess Maria Anna
Archduke Johann NepomukFull name Italian: Maria Teresa Carolina Giuseppina House House of Bourbon Two Sicilies
House of Habsburg-LorraineFather Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies Mother Maria Carolina of Austria Born 6 June 1772
Naples, Kingdom of Naples and SicilyDied 13 April 1807 (aged 34)
Hofburg Palace, Vienna, AustriaBurial Imperial Crypt, Vienna, Austria Religion Roman Catholic Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily (6 June 1772 – 13 April 1807) was the eldest daughter of Ferdinand IV & III of Naples and Sicily (later Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies) (1751–1825) and his wife, Marie Caroline of Austria (1752–1814). She was the last Holy Roman Empress and the first Empress of Austria.
Contents
Biography
Born Maria Teresa, and named after her maternal grandmother Maria Theresa of Austria, she was the eldest of 17 children born to her parents, the King and Queen of Naples and Sicily. Her father was a son of Charles III of Spain and Princess Maria Amalia of Saxony. Through her mother she was a niece of Marie Antoinette; through her father she was a niece of Maria Luisa of Spain, Empress of Austria and Charles IV of Spain. She was her mother's favourite child from birth until she left the Neapolitan court to marry.
Her brothers included the future King Francis and Leopold, Prince of Salerno. Another, Carlo, Duke of Calabria died in 1778 aged 3 of smallpox.
Her sisters included Grand Duchess of Tuscany. Her younger sister Princess Maria Cristina, was the wife of the future Charles Felix of Sardinia as Queen of Sardinia. Maria Cristina's twin Princess Maria Cristina Amelia died in 1783 of smallpox. Another sister was the Queen of the French and the youngest was the future Princess of Asturias.
On 15 September 1790 she married her double first cousin Archduke Francis of Austria, who would later become Holy Roman Emperor Francis II, and then Emperor Francis I of Austria. The marriage is described as a happy one, despite differences in personality.
Maria Theresa was described as easy-going with a sensuous appearance. She loved masquerades and carnivals, and participated in every ball even while she was pregnant.
Hedwig Elizabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp described the view of Maria Theresa and the relationship between the couple in her famous diary during her visit to Vienna in 1798–99:
The Empress is reputed to be so jealous that she does not allow him to take part in social life or meet other women. Vicious tongues accuse her of being so passionate that she exhausts her consort and never leaves him alone even for a moment. Although the people of Vienna cannot deny that she is gifted, charitable and carries herself beautifully, she is disliked for her intolerance and for forcing the Emperor to live isolated from everyone. She is also accused of interesting herself in unimportant matters and socializing exclusively with her lady-companions. With them she spends her evenings singing, acting out comedies and being applauded.
[1] I February 1799, her seeming indifference to the revolution against her parents in Naples attracted some disfavour in Vienna.[2] Hedwig Elisabeth Charlotte also recounts a scene described to her by a foreigner, who bribed his way into the private park at Laxenburg and came to witness a scene between the couple:
"He saw the Emperor sitting on a bench, alone in his thoughts. Immediately, the Empress came to fetch him, and he exlaimed: "Can't you ever leave me alone, so that I may breathe for one moment? For God's sake, don't follow me around all the time."
.[3]
She did have some political influence, as she was interested in politics. She gave her husband advice and is believed to have been partially responsible for the dismissal of Johann Baptist Freiherr von Schloissnigg and Graf Franz Colloredo; she was also critical of Napoleon and encouraged her husband in the wars against him.
An important patron of Viennese music, she commissioned many compositions for official and private use. Joseph Haydn wrote his Te Deum for chorus and orchestra at her request. He also composed numerous masses to celebrate her reign. Her favourite composers included Paul Wranitzky and Joseph Leopold Eybler, a composer of sacred music).
Issue
Issue Name Portrait Lifespan Notes Archduchess Marie Louise
Empress of the French
Duchess of Parma1791–
1847married first Napoleon Bonaparte, had issue,
Married second Adam Albert von Neipperg, had issue,
married third to Charles, Count of Bombelles, no issueFerdinand I of Austria
Emperor of Austria1793–
1875Married Maria Anna of Savoy, no issue Archduchess Marie Caroline 1794–
1795Died in childhood Archduchess Caroline Ludovika 1795–
1797Died in childhood Archduchess Maria Leopoldina
Empress of Brazil1797–
1826Married Pedro I of Brazil and had issue Archduchess Clementina
Princess of Salerno1798–
1881Married her maternal uncle Leopold, Prince of Salerno, had issue Archduke Joseph Franz 1799–
1807Died some weeks after his mother in childhood Archduchess Marie Caroline 1801–
1832Married Crown Prince (later King) Frederick Augustus II of Saxony, no issue Archduke Franz Karl 1802–
1878Married Princess Sophie of Bavaria, had issue Archduchess Maria Anna 1804–
1858Died unmarried Archduke Johann Nepomuk 1805–
1809Died in childhood Archduchess Amalie Theresa 1807–
1807Died in childhood Ancestry
Titles, styles, honours and arms
Titles and styles
- 6 June 1772 – 15 September 1790 Her Royal Highness Princess Maria Teresa of Naples and Sicily, Infanta of Spain
- 15 September 1790 – 1 March 1792 Her Royal Highness Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria
- 1 March 1792 – 11 August 1806 Her Imperial and Royal Majesty the Holy Roman Empress
- 11 August 1804 – 13 April 1807 Her Imperial and Royal Majesty the Empress of Austria
References
- ^ Cecilia af Klercker (1927). Hedvig Elisabeth Charlottas dagbok VI 1797-1799 (The diaries of Hedvig Elizabeth Charlotte VI 1797-1799). P.A. Norstedt & Söners förlag Stockholm. pp. 160–61. ISBN 270693.
- ^ Cecilia af Klercker (1927). Hedvig Elisabeth Charlottas dagbok VI 1797-1799 (The diaries of Hedvig Elizabeth Charlotte VI 1797-1799). P.A. Norstedt & Söners förlag Stockholm. pp. 171–72. ISBN 270693.
- ^ Cecilia af Klercker (1927). Hedvig Elisabeth Charlottas dagbok VI 1797-1799 (The diaries of Hedvig Elizabeth Charlotte VI 1797-1799). P.A. Norstedt & Söners förlag Stockholm. pp. 171–72. ISBN 270693.
- This article is based on its equivalent on German Wikipedia
Literature
- Richard Reifenscheid, Die Habsburger in Lebensbildern, Piper 2006
- John A. Rice, Empress Marie Therese and Music at the Viennese Court, 1792–1807, Cambridge 2003
External links
Maria Theresa of Naples and SicilyBorn: 6 June 1772 Died: 13 April 1807German royalty Preceded by
Maria Luisa of SpainHoly Roman Empress
1792–1806Holy Roman Empire
dissolvedGerman Queen
1792–1806Vacant Title next held byAugusta of Saxe-Weimar
as German EmpressArchduchess consort of Austria
1792–1807Succeeded by
Maria Ludovika of Austria-EsteQueen consort of Hungary and Bohemia
1792–1807New title
Empress consort of Austria
1804–1807The Bourbons of Naples and Sicily Charles VII Spouse(s)ChildrenPrincess María Isabel • Princess María Josefa • Princess María Isabel • Princess María Josefa • Maria Luisa, Holy Roman Empress • Prince Felipe, Duke of Calabria • Charles IV of Spain • Princess María Teresa • Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies • Prince Gabriel • Princess Ana María • Prince Antonio Pascual • Prince Francisco JavierFerdinand IV Spouse(s)ChildrenMaria Teresa, Holy Roman Empress • Luisa, Grand Duchess of Tuscany • Carlo, Duke of Calabria • Princess Maria Ana • Francis I of the Two Sicilies • Maria Christina, Queen of Sardinia • Princess Maria Cristina Amelia • Prince Gennaro • Prince Giuseppe • Maria Amalia, Queen of the French • Princess Maria Cristina • Maria Antonia, Princess of Asturias • Princess Maria Clothilde • Princess Maria Enrichetta • Prince Carlo* • Prince Leopold, Prince of Salerno • Prince Alberto • Princess Maria IsabellaSee also: Princes and Princesses of the Two Sicilies1st Generation Maria Theresa, Holy Roman Empress · Luisa, Grand Duchess of Tuscany · Maria Cristina, Queen of Sardinia · Maria Amalia, Queen of the French · Maria Antonia, Princess of Asturias
2nd Generation Caroline, Duchess of Berry · Luisa Carlotta, Infanta Francisco de Paula of Spain · Maria Christina, Queen of Spain · Maria Antonia, Grand Duchess of Tuscany · Maria Amalia, Infanta Sebastian of Portugal and Spain · Maria Carolina, Countess of Montemolín · Theresa Christina, Empress of Brazil · Maria Carolina, Duchess of Aumale3rd Generation Maria Annunciata, Archduchess Charles Louis of Austria · Maria Immaculata, Archduchess Karl Salvator of Austria-Tuscany · Maria Pia, Duchess of Parma · Maria Immacolata, Countess of Bardi · Princess Maria Isabella · Maria Antonietta, Countess of Caserta · Princess Maria Theresa · Maria Carolina, Countess Andrzej Zamoyski · Princess Maria Annuziata4th Generation Princess Cristina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies · Maria Teresa, Princess of Hohenzollern · Maria Immaculata, Princess Johann Georg of Saxony · Maria Cristina, Archduchess Peter Ferdinand of Austria-Tuscany · Maria di Grazia, Princess Imperial of Brazil · Princess Maria Giuseppina
5th Generation Princess Maria Antonietta · Princess Maria Cristina, Mrs. Manuel Sotomayor-Luna · Barbara, Countess Franz Xavier of Stolberg-Wernigerode · Lucia, Duchess of Genoa · Princess Urraca · Isabel Alfonsa, Countess Jan Kanty Zamoyski · Dolores, Princess Augustyn Józef Czartoryski · Mercedes, Countess of Barcelona · Esperanza, Princess Pedro Gastão of Orléans-Braganza · Princess Maria del Carmen · Princess Maria Margarita, Mrs. Luis Gonzaga Maldonado · Princess Maria Immaculata, Mrs. Miguel García de Sáez6th Generation Teresa, Machioness of Laula · Princess Inés, Mrs. Luis Morales · Beatrice, Princess Napoléon · Ana Maria, Baroness Cochin · Princess Maria Carolina, Mrs. Andreas Baumbach · Maria Annunziata, Countess Karl Friedik of Creutz · Anna Cecilia, Countess Rodolphe of Causans · Princess Elena7th Generation Princess Cristina, Mrs. Pedro López-Quesada · María, Archduchess Simeon of Austria · Inés, Nobile Michele Carrelli Palombi · Princess Victoria, Mrs. Markos Nomikos · Princess Maria Carolina · Princess Maria Chiara · Princess Dorothée · Princess Anna Sophia1st generation 2nd generation 3rd generation Infanta Isabella of Portugal · Anne of Bohemia and Hungary4th generation 5th generation Archduchess Anna of Austria^ · Isabella Clara Eugenia^ · Duchess Maria Anna of Bavaria · Eleonora Gonzaga · Claudia de' Medici6th generation Princess Elisabeth of France* · Archduchess Maria Ana of Spain^ · Archduchess Maria Leopoldine of Austria^ · Eleonora Gonzaga · Anna de' Medici · Countess Maria Hedwig of Sulzbach7th generation Archduchess Margaret Theresa of Austria^ · Archduchess Claudia Felicitas of Austria^ · Countess Palatine Eleonor Magdalene of Neuburg8th generation Princess Wilhelmina Amalia of Brunswick-Lüneburg · Princess Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel9th generation none10th generation Princess Isabella of Parma** · Princess Maria Josepha of Bavaria** · Infanta Maria Luisa of Spain** · Maria Beatrice d'Este, Duchess of Massa**11th generation Duchess Elisabeth of Württemberg** · Princess Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily** · Princess Luisa of Naples and Sicily** · Princess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg** · Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia** · Princess Hermine of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym** · Duchess Maria Dorothea of Württemberg** · Princess Elisabeth of Savoy** · Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy***12th generation Princess Sophie of Bavaria · Princess Maria Anna of Saxony** · Princess Hildegard of Bavaria · Archduchess Elisabeth Franziska of Austria^ · Princess Clotilde of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha · Princess Adelgunde of Bavaria***13th generation Princess Charlotte of Belgium · Princess Margaretha of Saxony · Princess Maria Annunciata of the Two Sicilies · Infanta Maria Theresa of Portugal · Princess Anna of Saxony** · Princess Alice of Parma** · Princess Maria Immaculata of the Two Sicilies** · Princess Isabella of Croÿ · Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria^ · Princess Auguste Maria of Bavaria14th generation Princess Stéphanie of Belgium · Princess Maria Josepha of Saxony · Princess Maria Cristina of the Two Sicilies** · Princess Blanca of Bourbon** · Archduchess Marie Valerie of Austria^** · Princess Anna of Saxony15th generation Princess Zita of Parma · Princess Franziska of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst · Princess Dorothea of Bavaria** · Countess Marie Valerie of Waldburg-Zeil-Hohenems** · Princess Ileana of Romania** · Princess Rosemary of Salm-Salm** · Countess Maria Theresa of Waldburg-Zeil** · Princess Maria of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg · Princess Christina of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg16th generation Princess Regina of Saxe-Meiningen · Princess Margherita of Savoy · Princess Anne Eugénie of Arenberg · Princess Yolande of Ligne · Countess Xenia Czernicheva-Besobrasova · Princess Anna Gabriele of Wrede · Countess Helena of Toerring-Jettenbach · Countess Ludmilla of Gallen · Princess Laetitia of Arenberg** · Countess Margaret Kálnoky von Köröspatak** · Maria Espinosa de los Monteros^^** · Countess Valerie of Podstatzky-Lichtenstein** · Freiin Eva Antonia von Hofmann** · Princess Anna Amelie of Schönburg-Waldenburg** · Countess Hedwig of Lichem-Löwenburg** · Freiin Edith von Sternbach** · Princess Margaret of Hohenberg · Countess Marie Christine of Hatzfeldt-Dönhoff · Eugenia de Calonge^^ · Freiin Maria Theresia von Gudenus17th generation Freiin Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza de Kászon et Impérfalva · Duchess Eilika of Oldenburg · Princess Astrid of Belgium*** · Princess Katharina of Isenburg-Birstein*** · Bettine Götz^^ · Paola de Temesváry^^ · Baroness Marie Hélène de Villenfagne de Vogelsanck · Princess Marie Astrid of Luxembourg · Princess Alexandra of Wrede · Princess María of the Two Sicilies · Sara Maya Al-Askari^^ · Mayasuni Heath^^ · Countess Katharina of Hardenberg · Ashmita Goswami^^ · Elyssa Edmonstone^^** · Countess Marie Gabrielle of Waldstein**18th generation Estelle de Saint-Romain^^*also an infanta of Spain by marriage
**also a princess of Tuscany by marriage
***also a princess of Modena by marriage
^also an archduchess of Austria in her own right
^^did not have a royal or noble title by birth2nd Generation 3rd Generation none4th Generation Marguerite Louise d'Orléans · Eleonora Luisa Gonzaga5th Generation Duchess Violante Beatrice of Bavaria · Duchess Anna Maria Franziska of Saxe-Lauenburg6th Generation none7th Generation Princess Isabella of Parma* · Princess Maria Josepha of Bavaria* · Infanta Maria Luisa of Spain* · Maria Beatrice d'Este, Duchess of Massa*8th Generation Duchess Elisabeth of Württemberg* · Princess Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily* · Princess Luisa of Naples and Sicily* · Princess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg* · Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia* · Princess Hermine of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym* · Duchess Maria Dorothea of Württemberg* · Princess Elisabeth of Savoy*9th Generation Princess Maria Anna of Saxony*10th Generation Princess Anna of Saxony* · Princess Maria Immaculata of the Two Sicilies*11th Generation Princess Maria Cristina of the Two Sicilies* · Infanta Blanca of Spain* · Archduchess Marie Valerie of Austria*12th Generation Princess Dorothea of Bavaria* · Countess Marie Valerie of Waldburg-Zeil-Hohenems* · Princess Ileana of Romania* · Princess Rosemary of Salm-Salm* · Countess Maria Theresa of Waldburg-Zeil*13th Generation Princess Laetitia of Arenberg* · Countess Margaret Kálnoky von Köröspatak* · Maria Espinosa de los Monteros^* · Countess Valerie of Podstatzky-Lichtenstein* · Freiin Eva Antonia von Hofmann* · Princess Anna Amelie of Schönburg-Waldenburg* · Countess Hedwig of Lichem-Löwenburg* · Freiin Edith von Sternbach*14th Generation Elyssa Edmonstone^* · Countess Marie Gabrielle of Waldstein*^did not have a royal or noble title by birth
* also an archduchess of Austria by marriageEmpresses of Austria Princess Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily (1804-1807) · Archduchess Maria Ludovika of Austria-Este (1808–1816) · Princess Caroline Augusta of Bavaria (1816-1835) · Princess Maria Anna of Savoy (1830-1848) · Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria (1854–1898) · Princess Zita of Parma (1916-1918)Categories:- Holy Roman Empresses
- Austrian empresses
- German queens consort
- Hungarian queens consort
- Bohemian queens consort
- Duchesses of Brabant
- Duchesses of Limburg
- Duchesses of Luxembourg
- Countesses of Flanders
- Countesses of Hainaut
- Duchesses of Milan
- House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
- House of Habsburg-Lorraine
- People from Naples
- 1772 births
- 1807 deaths
- Neapolitan princesses
- Sicilian princesses
- Italian Roman Catholics
- Archduchesses of Austria
- Hungarian princesses
- Bohemian princesses
- Tuscan princesses
- Burials at the Imperial Crypt
- Grand Mistresses of the Order of the Starry Cross
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