Maria Amalia of the Two Sicilies

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Maria Amalia Teresa of the Two Sicilies (26 April 1782-24 March 1866) was Queen of the French from 1830-1848, consort to King Louis-Philippe.

She was born at Caserta, the daughter of Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies (1751-1825) and his wife, Marie Caroline of Austria (1752-1814), who was the favorite sister of Marie Antoinette.

She received a careful education which developed the naturally pious and honorable disposition that earned for her in the family circle the nickname of La Santa. Driven from Naples in 1798, the Neapolitan royal family fled to Palermo, and the years from 1800 to 1802 were spent by Marie Amélie with her mother at the Austrian court. In 1806 they were again in flight before the armies of general Masséna, and it was during the second residence of her father's court at Palermo that she met the exiled Louis-Philippe, then Duke of Orléans, eldest son of the previous duke, also named Louis-Philippe (also known as Philippe Égalité). On 25 November 1809 she married Louis-Philippe, at Palermo in Italy.

Returning to France in 1814, the Duke and Duchess of Orléans had barely established themselves in the Palais Royal in Paris when the Hundred Days drove them into exile. Marie Amélie took refuge with her four children in England, where she spent two years at Orleans House, Twickenham. Again in France in 1817, her life at Neuilly until 1828 was the happiest period of her existence. Neither then nor at any other time did she take any active share in politics; but she was not without indirect influence on affairs, because her ultra-royalist and legitimist traditions prevented the court from including her in the suspicion with which her husband's liberal views were regarded. Her attention was absorbed by the care and education of her numerous family, even after the revolution of 1830 had made her queen of the French. During her second exile, from 1848 to the end of her life, she lived at Claremont, where her charity and piety endeared her to the many English friends of the Orleans family. Marie Amélie died in exile, at Claremont in Surrey in England.

Monarchical Styles of Queen Marie Amélie of The French

Reference style Her Majesty Spoken style Your Majesty Alternative style Ma'am

Her children included:

1. Prince Ferdinand Philippe, Duke of Orléans (3 September 1810-1842) married Duchess Helene Louise Elizabeth of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (b.1814-d.1858)
2. Princess Louise Marie (3 April 1812-1850) later Queen consort of Léopold I of Belgium. Children included Leopold II and Carlota of Mexico.
3. Princess Marie (12 April 1813-1839) married Duke Alexander of Württemberg (b.1804-d.1881).
4. Prince Louis, Duke of Nemours (25 October 1814-1896) married Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Kohary.
5. Princess Françoise (28 March 1816-1818)
6. Princess Clémentine (3 June 1817-1907) married August of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, 5th Prince of Kohary.
7. Prince François, Prince of Joinville (14 August 1818-1900) married Princess Francisca of Brazil.
8. Prince Charles, Duke of Penthièvre (1 January 1820-1828)
9. Prince Henri, Duke of Aumale (16 June 1822-1897) married Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (b.1822-d.1869), daughter of Leopoldo, Prince of Salerno.
10. Prince Antoine, Duke of Montpensier (31 July 1824-1890) became a prince of Spain after marrying Infanta Luisa Fernanda of Spain (b.1832-d.1897), daughter of Ferdinand VII of Spain and sister of Isabella II of Spain.

Maria Amalia of the Two Sicilies House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies Cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty Born: 26 April 1782 Died: 24 March 1866
French royalty
Vacant Title last held by Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte of France as Queen of France and of Navarre	Queen of the French 9 August 1830–24 February 1848	Vacant Title next held by Eugénie de Montijo as Empress of the French
Titles in pretence
Vacant Title last held by Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte of France as Queen of France and of Navarre	— TITULAR — Queen of the French 24 February 1848–26 August 1850	Vacant Title next held by Marie Isabelle of Orléans
Preceded by Marie Thérèse of Austria-Este as consort of the disputed king, also titular queen until 1883		Vacant Title next held by Marie Beatrice of Austria-Este as Queen of France and Navarre

[edit] References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.