Duchess Maria Anna Josepha of Bavaria
Encyclopedia
Maria Anna Josepha of Bavaria (Maria Anna Josepha Augusta; 7 August 1734 – 7 May 1776) was a Duchess of Bavaria
by birth and Margravine of Baden-Baden by marriage. She was nicknamed the savior of Bavaria. She is also known as Maria Josepha and is sometimes styled as a princess of Bavaria.
in 1734. She was the fifth child of Charles Albert, Elector of Bavaria
(later Holy Roman Emperor
) and his wife Maria Amalia of Austria
. She was baptised with the names Maria Anna Josepha Augusta. A member of the House of Wittelsbach, rulers of the Electorate of Bavaria, she was styled a Duchess of Bavaria.
She married Louis George of Baden-Baden
, the ruling Margrave
of Baden-Baden
and son of the late Louis William of Baden-Baden
and his wife Sibylle of Saxe-Lauenburg, the later was the regent of Baden-Baden for the infant Louis George. The couple were married at the Schloss Ettlingen
in Baden on 20 July 1755; the bride was aged 20, the groom 53. The couple remained childless however Louis George did have one surviving daughter from his previous marriage, his daughter Elisabeth was however useless to the succession.
Her husband had been married previously to Maria Anna of Schwarzenberg by whom he had four children but only one survived infancy. Maria Anna was the only daughter of Prince Adam Franz Karl of Schwarzenberg
and Eleonora of Lobkowicz.
Her husband died in 1761 and was succeeded by his brother Augustus George, Margrave of Baden-Baden
. As such, his wife the Belgian born Maria Victoire d'Arenberg became the most important female at the court of Baden-Baden.
Maria Anna developed a great passion for diplomacy. She forged links with Frederick II of Prussia
in order to protect the Bavarian throne as her brother, Maximilian III Joseph, was childless and feared for the succession.
As a widow, Maria Anna Josepha returned to her native Bavaria where she died at the Nymphenburg Palace in Munich
. She was buried at the Theatine Church, Munich, traditional burial place of Bavarian royalty.
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
by birth and Margravine of Baden-Baden by marriage. She was nicknamed the savior of Bavaria. She is also known as Maria Josepha and is sometimes styled as a princess of Bavaria.
Biography
Maria Anna Josepha was born at the Nymphenburg PalaceNymphenburg Palace
The Nymphenburg Palace , i.e. "Nymph's Castle", is a Baroque palace in Munich, Bavaria, southern Germany. The palace was the main summer residence of the rulers of Bavaria.-History:...
in 1734. She was the fifth child of Charles Albert, Elector of Bavaria
Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VII Albert a member of the Wittelsbach family, was Prince-elector of Bavaria from 1726 and Holy Roman Emperor from 24 January 1742 until his death in 1745...
(later Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
) and his wife Maria Amalia of Austria
Maria Amalia of Austria
Maria Amalia of Austria was the younger daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Joseph I and Wilhelmine Amalia of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
. She was baptised with the names Maria Anna Josepha Augusta. A member of the House of Wittelsbach, rulers of the Electorate of Bavaria, she was styled a Duchess of Bavaria.
She married Louis George of Baden-Baden
Louis George, Margrave of Baden-Baden
Louis George of Baden-Baden was the Margrave of Baden-Baden from 1707 till his death in 1761. From 1707 till 1727 his mother Sibylle of Saxe-Lauenburg was the regent of Baden-Baden. He was succeeded by his younger brother August Georg Simpert...
, the ruling Margrave
Margrave
A margrave or margravine was a medieval hereditary nobleman with military responsibilities in a border province of a kingdom. Border provinces usually had more exposure to military incursions from the outside, compared to interior provinces, and thus a margrave usually had larger and more active...
of Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden is a spa town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on the western foothills of the Black Forest, on the banks of the Oos River, in the region of Karlsruhe...
and son of the late Louis William of Baden-Baden
Louis William, Margrave of Baden-Baden
Louis William, Margrave of Baden was the ruler of Baden in Germany and chief commander of the Imperial army. He was also known as Türkenlouis...
and his wife Sibylle of Saxe-Lauenburg, the later was the regent of Baden-Baden for the infant Louis George. The couple were married at the Schloss Ettlingen
Schloss
Schloss is a German word for a building similar to a château, palace or manor house; or what in the British Isles would be known as a stately home...
in Baden on 20 July 1755; the bride was aged 20, the groom 53. The couple remained childless however Louis George did have one surviving daughter from his previous marriage, his daughter Elisabeth was however useless to the succession.
Her husband had been married previously to Maria Anna of Schwarzenberg by whom he had four children but only one survived infancy. Maria Anna was the only daughter of Prince Adam Franz Karl of Schwarzenberg
Schwarzenberg
- People :* House of Schwarzenberg, Frankish and Bohemian aristocratic family which was first mentioned in 1172** Karl Philipp, Prince of Schwarzenberg , Field Marshal in Austrian service during the Napoleonic Wars...
and Eleonora of Lobkowicz.
Her husband died in 1761 and was succeeded by his brother Augustus George, Margrave of Baden-Baden
Augustus George, Margrave of Baden-Baden
Augustus George of Baden-Baden was the ruling Margrave of Baden-Baden from 1761 till his death in 1771. He succeeded his brother Louis George and was the brother of the Duchess of Orléans...
. As such, his wife the Belgian born Maria Victoire d'Arenberg became the most important female at the court of Baden-Baden.
Maria Anna developed a great passion for diplomacy. She forged links with Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick II of Prussia
Frederick II was a King in Prussia and a King of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynasty. In his role as a prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire, he was also Elector of Brandenburg. He was in personal union the sovereign prince of the Principality of Neuchâtel...
in order to protect the Bavarian throne as her brother, Maximilian III Joseph, was childless and feared for the succession.
As a widow, Maria Anna Josepha returned to her native Bavaria where she died at the Nymphenburg Palace in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. She was buried at the Theatine Church, Munich, traditional burial place of Bavarian royalty.
Ancestors
Titles and styles
- 7 August 1734 – 20 July 1755 Her Serene Highness Maria Anna Josepha, Princess of Bavaria, Duchess of Bavaria
- 20 July 1755 – 22 October 1761 Her Serene Highness The Margravine of Baden-Baden
- 22 October 1761 – 7 May 1776 Her Serene Highness The Dowager Margravine of Baden-Baden