Maria Theresa of Austria (21 March 1801 – 12 January 1855) was born an Archduchess of Austria and Princess of Tuscany. She was a daughter of Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Luisa of Naples and Sicily. She was named after her double great grandmother Empress Maria Theresa. In 1817, she married Charles Albert of Sardinia and subsequently became the Queen of Sardinia upon her husband's accession to the throne in 1831.
Birth and childhood
Maria Theresia Franziska Josepha Johanna Benedikta (German) was a member of the Tuscan branch of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine and an Archduchess of Austria and Princess of Bohemia, Hungary, and Tuscany by birth. She was born in Vienna during the exile of her parents and their many children, due to Napoleon Bonaparte's invasion of Tuscany. Her father was Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and her mother was Princess Luisa of Naples and Sicily, who died giving birth to a stillborn son one year after Maria Theresa's birth.
After the Restoration of 1814, Ferdinando III was made Elector of the secularized archbishopric Salzburg and the family moved to Würzburg.
Marriage and children
Maria Theresa married in Florence on 30 September 1817 Charles Albert of Sardinia (Paris, 29 October 1798 - Porto, 28 July 1849), and a wedding mass was celebrated on 2 October in Florence Cathedral. In Italian, her name was Maria Teresa Francesca Giuseppa Giovanna Benedetta.[1]
In March 1820, an heir was born followed by two more children, the latter of which died in infancy. From her marriage, she was known as the princess of Carignano. In 1824, Charles Albert was recognised as heir to the throne by Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia. He and Maria Theresa became king and queen in 1831, when his predecessor Charles Felix of Sardinia died without issue.
End of life
After the death of her husband in 1849 in Oporto, the Queen mother Maria Theresa stopped appearing in public and even returned to Italy in 1851, where she died four years later, in Turin. She was buried in the Basilica of Superga in Turin.
A convinced Catholic and conservative, she had a great influence on her eldest son on the new Italian throne.
Issue
Genealogy
Even among the frequently tangled genealogies of European nobility, the ancestry of Maria Theresa of Tuscany was unusual. In fact, her parents had the same four grandparents, so they were double cousins when they spoused: this practice of alliances between cousins that was still common at that time, given that the families (and notably the parents and grandparents of Maria Theresa) had a lot of children, and this avoided to split too much the benefit of heirs though alliances and their descendance, and the multiplication of nobility titles to satisfy the various claims by descendants.
As a consequence, her grandparents consisted of two brother/sister pairs. Her paternal grandfather, Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor, was the brother of her maternal grandmother, Maria Carolina of Austria. Matching that combination, her paternal grandmother, Maria Luisa of Spain, was the sister of her maternal grandfather, Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies. As a consequence she only had four great-grandparents rather than the usual eight. (Although not so unusual, it may be worth pointing out that her grandmothers and great-grandmothers, as well as her mother or herself and her sister, or her daughter were all surnamed "Maria".)
Genealogy chart
Family of Maria Theresa of Austria (1801–1855) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor | | Maria Theresa, Archduchess of Austria | | Charles III, King of Spain | | Maria Amalia, Princess of Saxony | | | | |
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| | | | | | | | | | | | Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor | | Maria Louisa, Infanta of Spain | | Ferdinand I, King of the Two Sicilies | | Maria Carolina, Archduchess of Austria | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany | | | | | | Luisa, Princess of Naples and Sicily | | | | | | | | |
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Carolina Ferdinanda Teresa, Archduchess of Austria | | Francesco Leopoldo, Archduke of Austria | | Leopold II, Grand Duke of Austria | | Maria Luisa Giuseppa Cristina Rosa, Archduchess of Austria | | Charles Albert, King of Sardinia | | Maria Theresa, Archduchess of Austria | | Unnamed stillborn, Archduke of Austria | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Victor Emmanuel II, King of Italy | | Ferdinand, Duke of Genoa | | Maria Cristina, Princess of Savoy | | |
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Ancestry
Ancestors of Maria Theresa of Austria (1801–1855) |
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Titles and styles
- 21 March 1801 – 11 August 1804 Her Royal Highness Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria, Princess of Tuscany
- 11 August 1804 – 30 September 1817 Her Imperial & Royal Highness Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria, Princess of Tuscany
- 30 September 1817 – 27 April 1831 Her Imperial & Royal Highness The Princess of Carignano
- 27 April 1831 – 23 March 1849 Her Majesty The Queen of Sardinia
- 23 March 1849 – 12 January 1855 Her Majesty Queen Maria Theresa of Sardinia
References
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6th generation |
- Isabella Clara Eugenia, Co-sovereign of the Habsburg Hetherlands*
- Catherine Michelle, Duchess of Savoy*
- Archduchess Maria*
- Anna, Queen of Spain
- Elisabeth, Queen of France
- Archduchess Maria (1555–56)
- Archduchess Maria (1564)
- Archduchess Margaret (1567–1633)
- Archduchess Eleanor (1568-80)
- Archduchess Maria (1562-67)
- Archduchess Anna Eleanor
- Archduchess Maria (1584–1649)
- Anna, Holy Roman Empress
- Anna, Queen of Poland
- Maria Christina, Princess of Transilvania
- Archduchess Catherine Renata
- Archduchess Elisabeth (1577–86)
- Archduchess Gregoria Maximiliana
- Archduchess Eleanor (1582–1620)
- Margaret, Queen of Spain
- Constance, Queen of Poland
- Maria Maddalena, Grand Duchess of Tuscany
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13th generation |
- Archduchess Ludovika Elisabeth
- Marie Louise, Empress of the French
- Archduchess Carolina Ferdinande**
- Archduchess Maria Caroline
- Archduchess Caroline Ludovika
- Maria Leopoldina, Empress of Brazil
- Clementina, Princess of Salerno
- Archduchess Maria Luisa**
- Archduchess Alexandrine
- Maria Theresa, Queen of Sardinia**
- Marie Caroline, Crown Princess of Saxony
- Archduchess Maria Anna
- Archduchess Amalia Theresa
- Maria Theresa, Queen of the Two Sicilies
- Maria Theresa, Countess of Chambord***
- Archduchess Hermine
- Archduchess Franziska
- Archduchess Maria Caroline
- Adelaide, Queen of Sardinia
- Maria Beatrix, Countess of Montizón***
- Archduchess Maria Caroline
- Archduchess Elisabeth Franziska
- Marie Henriette, Queen of the Belgians
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15th generation |
- Archduchess Sophie
- Gisela, Princess Leopold of Bavaria
- Archduchess Marie Valerie
- Margarete Sophie, Duchess of Württemberg
- Archduchess Maria Annunziata
- Elisabeth, Princess Aloys of Liechtenstein
- Archduchess Maria Antonietta**
- Luise, Crown Princess of Saxony**
- Anna, Princess of Hohenlohe-Bartenstein**
- Archduchess Margareta**
- Archduchess Germana**
- Archduchess Agnes**
- Archduchess Maria Theresa**
- Karoline Marie, Princess Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha**
- Archduchess Maria Antonietta**
- Maria Immaculata, Duchess of Württemberg**
- Archduchess Henriette**
- Maria Christina, Princess Emmanuel of Salm-Salm
- Maria Anna, Princess Elias of Bourbon Parma
- Maria Henrietta, Princess of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst
- Archduchess Natalie
- Archduchess Stephanie
- Archduchess Gabrielle
- Isabella, Princess Georg of Bavaria
- Alice, Baroness Waldbott of Bassenheim
- Archduchess Eleonora, Mrs. Alfons von Kloss
- Renata, Princess Hieronymus Radziwill
- Mechthildis, Princess Olgierd Czartoryski
- Archduchess Gisele
- Archduchess Sophie
- Archduchess Magdalena
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16th generation |
- Elisabeth Marie, Princess of Windisch-Graetz
- Helena, Duchess Philipp of Württemberg**
- Rosa, Duchess of Württemberg**
- Archduchess Dolores**
- Maria Inmaculada, Nobile Inigo Neri Sereneri**
- Margarita, Marchioness Taliani di Marchio**
- Princess Maria Antonia, Mrs. Luis Pérez**
- Archduchess Assunta, Mrs. Joseph Hopfinger**
- Elisabeth, Countess of Waldburg-Zeil**
- Hedwig, Countess of Stolberg-Stolberg**
- Gertrud, Countess of Waldburg-Zeil-Trauchburg**
- Archduchess Maria Elisabeth**
- Archduchess Agnes**
- Archduchess Margarethe, Mrs. Alexander Cech
- Ilona, Duchess of Mecklenburg
- Archduchess Anna Theresia
- Archduchess Maria Kynga, Mrs. Joachim Krist
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17th generation |
- Descent of Charles I :
- Archduchess Adelheid
- Charlotte, Duchess of Mecklenburg
- Elisabeth, Princess Heinrich of Liechtenstein
Tuscany :
- Elisabeth, Edle Hubert von Braun**
- Alice, Baroness Vittorio Manno**
- Marie Antoinette, Baroness of Proff in Irnich**
- Archduchess Marie Christine**
- Archduchess Walburga, Mrs. Carlos Tasso**
- Archduchess Verena**
- Archduchess Katharina, Mrs. Roland Huber**
- Agnes, Baroness Peter of Fürstenberg**
- Maria Ileana, Countess Adam Kottulinski**
- Alexandra, Baroness Viktor of Baillou**
- Maria Magdalena, Baroness of Holzhausen**
- Archduchess Elisabeth, Mrs. Friedrich Sandhofer**
- Agnes, Princess Karl Alfred of Liechtenstein**
- Archduchess Maria Margaretha**
- Archduchess Ludovica**
- Archduchess Allix**
- Josepha, Countess Clemens of Waldstein-Wartenberg**
- Valerie, Margravine of Baden**
- Alberta, Baroness Alexander of Kottwitz-Erdödy**
- Theresa, Princess Rasso of Bavaria**
- Maria Inmakulata, Countess Reinhart of Hoensbroech**
Palatines :
- Archduchess Monika, Mrs. Charles de Rambures
- Archduchess Marie Christine, Mrs. Raymond van der Meide
- Archduchess Maria, Mrs. Wilhelm de Witt
- Margherita, Countess Benedikt of Piatti
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18th generation |
- Descent of Charles I :
- Andrea, Hereditary Countess of Neipperg
- Monika, Duchess of Maqueda
- Michaela, Countess Hubertus of Kageneck
- Archduchess Gabriela, Mrs. Christian Meister
- Walburga, Countess Archibald Douglas
- Maria Beatrix, Countess Riprand of Arco-Zinneberg***
- Isabella, Countess Andrea Czarnocki-Lucheschi***
- Maria del Pilar, Edle Vollrad-Joachim von Poschinger
- Kinga, Baroness Wolfgang of Erffa
- Archduchess Marie Adelheid, Mrs. Jaime Corcuerra
- Archduchess Viridis, Mrs. Karl Dunning-Gribble
- Archduchess Alexandra, Mrs. Héctor Riesle
- Maria Constanza, Princess of Auersperg-Trautson
- Maria Anna, Princess Peter Galitzine
- Catharina, Countess Maximiliano Secco d'Aragona
Descent of Maximilian :
- Archduchess Elisabeth, Mrs. James Litchfield
- Sophie, Princess of Windisch-Grätz
- Archduchess Marie Christine, Mrs. Clemens Guggenberg
Tuscany :
- Archduchess Marie Bernadette, Mrs. Rupert Wolff**
- Archduchess Katharina, Mrs. Niall Brooks**
- Archduchess Alicia**
- Archduchess Maria Christina**
- Archduchess Margaretha, Mrs. Andreas Baumgartner**
- Archduchess Marie Valerie, Mrs. Martin Josef Wagner**
- Archduchess Hedwig**
- Archduchess Veronika**
Palatines :
- Archduchess Johanna
- Archduchess Elisabeth
- Archduchess Celina
- Archduchess Maria Floriana
- Archduchess Sofía
- Archduchess Anna Carolina
- Archduchess Theresa
- Archduchess Sophie
- Archduchess Ladislaya
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- * also an infanta of Spain
- ** also a princess of Tuscany
- *** also a princess of Modena
- ° also a princess of Belgium
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12th generation |
- Helena, Duchess Philipp of Württemberg*
- Rosa, Duchess of Württemberg*
- Princess Dolores*
- Maria Immaculada, Nobile Inigo Neri Sereneri*
- Margarita, Marchioness Taliani di Marchio*
- Princess Maria Antonia, Mrs. Luis Pérez*
- Princess Assunta, Mrs. Joseph Hopfinger*
- Elisabeth, Countess of Waldburg-Zeil-Hohenems*
- Hedwig, Countess of Stolberg-Stolberg*
- Gertrud, Countess of Waldburg-Zeil-Trauchburg*
- Princess Maria Elisabeth*
- Princess Agnes*
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13th generation |
- Elisabeth, Edle Hubert von Braun*
- Alice, Baroness Vittorio Manno*
- Marie Antoinette, Freifrau von Proff zu Irnich*
- Princess Marie Christine*
- Princess Walburga, Mrs. Carlos Tasso*
- Princess Verena*
- Princess Katharina, Mrs. Roland Huber*
- Agnes, Freifrau Peter von Fürstenberg*
- Maria Ileana, Countess Adam Kottulinski*
- Alexandra, Freifrau Viktor von Baillou*
- Maria Magdalena, Freifrau von Holzhausen*
- Princess Elisabeth, Mrs. Friedrich Sandhofer*
- Agnes, Princess Karl Alfred of Liechtenstein*
- Princess Maria Margaretha*
- Princess Ludovica*
- Princess Allix*
- Josepha, Countess Clemens of Waldstein-Wartenberg*
- Valerie, Margravine of Baden*
- Alberta, Freifrau Alexander von Kottwitz-Erdödy*
- Theresa, Princess Rasso of Bavaria*
- Maria Inmakulata, Countess Reinhart of Hoensbroech*
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14th generation |
- Princess Marie Bernadette, Mrs. Rupert Wolff*
- Princess Katharina, Mrs. Niall Brooks*
- Princess Alicia*
- Princess Maria Christina*
- Princess Margaretha, Mrs. Andreas Baumgartner*
- Princess Marie Valerie, Mrs. Martin Josef Wagner*
- Princess Hedwig*
- Princess Veronika*
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15th generation |
- Princess Tatyana*
- Princess Anabella*
- Princess Tara*
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* also an archduchess of Austria ^did not have a royal or noble birth |
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6th generation | Princess Anne of Lorraine |
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* also a princess of Savoy by birth ** Princess of Savoy-Genoa *** Princess of Savoy-Aosta |