Maria Amalia of Austria
Encyclopedia
Maria Amalia of Austria (Maria Amalie Josefa Anna; 22 October 1701 – 11 December 1756) was the younger daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Joseph I
and Wilhelmine Amalia of Brunswick-Lüneburg
. She married Charles Albert of Bavaria
, Prince-Elector and Duke of Bavaria (1726–1745), King of Bohemia (1741–1743), and Holy Roman Emperor
(1742–1745).
Her son became Maximilian III, Elector of Bavaria
. Her daughter Maria Josepha
married the eldest son and heir of Maria Theresa, Emperor Joseph II
, but died, childless, of smallpox
after two years. Another daughter, Maria Antonia
, married her first cousin, Frederick Christian
, who was Prince-elector
of Saxony
for less than three months in 1763. Her middle surviving daughter Maria Anna Josepha Augusta became Margravine of Baden-Baden.
about eleven weeks after the death of her infant brother Leopold Joseph, her parents' only son. Her mother was unable to conceive more children after Maria Amalia, supposedly because her father had contracted syphilis
from one of his mistresses
and passed the disease to his wife, rendering the Empress infertile. Maria Amalia's father had a long line of mistresses, both servants and nobles, and several illegitimate children. Her mother Wilhelmine Amalia of Brunswick-Lüneburg
was the sister of the Duchess of Modena and a very pious woman.
When Maria Amalia was nine years old, her father died of smallpox and was succeeded as Holy Roman Emperor by his brother Charles VI
. Charles ignored a decree signed during the reign of their grandfather Leopold I
that gave her and her sister precedence in succession as the daughters of Leopold's eldest son. Instead, he promulgated the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713
, which replaced Maria Amalia and her sister Maria Josepha
with his own daughter Maria Theresa
in the line of succession. The displaced archduchesses were not allowed to marry until they renounced their rights to the Austrian succession.
Maria Amalia was proposed as a bride for the Italian Victor Amadeus, Prince of Piedmont
, heir to the Kingdom of Sicily
and Duchy of Savoy
. The union was supposed to create better relations between Savoy and Austria, but the plan was ignored by the reigning Duke of Savoy, Victor Amadeus II. The younger Victor Amadeus subsequently died of smallpox, unmarried, in 1715.
Having agreed to recognise the Pragmatic Sanction, Maria Amalia married Prince-Elector
Charles of Bavaria
on 5 October 1722 in Munich
. The opera I veri amici ("The True Friends") by Tomaso Albinoni
was performed at the wedding. They lived at Nymphenburg Palace
in Munich and had seven children (her husband also had six illegitimate children).
Maria Amalia's husband died on 20 January 1745 and was buried at the Theatine Church in Munich. On his death, she persuaded her son Maximilian
to make peace with her cousin Maria Theresa
. She died twelve years later in Munich
at the Nymphenburg Palace
.
The following anecdote is from the fifth volume of Casanova's History of My Life:
Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph I , Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia, King of Hungary, King of the Romans was the elder son of Emperor Leopold I and his third wife, Eleonor Magdalene of Neuburg....
and Wilhelmine Amalia of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Wilhelmine Amalia of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Wilhelmine Amalia of Brunswick-Lüneburg was a Holy Roman Empress as the wife of Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor.-Family and early life:...
. She married Charles Albert 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...
, Prince-Elector and Duke of Bavaria (1726–1745), King of Bohemia (1741–1743), and 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...
(1742–1745).
Her son became Maximilian III, Elector of Bavaria
Maximilian III, Elector of Bavaria
Maximilian III Joseph was Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire and Duke of Bavaria from 1745 to 1777.-Biography:...
. Her daughter Maria Josepha
Maria Josepha of Bavaria
Maria Josepha , Empress of the Holy Roman Empire, Princess of Bavaria, was the daughter of Charles Albert, Elector of Bavaria and Maria Amalia of Austria and the second wife of Emperor Joseph II...
married the eldest son and heir of Maria Theresa, Emperor Joseph II
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I...
, but died, childless, of smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
after two years. Another daughter, Maria Antonia
Maria Antonia Walpurgis of Bavaria
Maria Antonia, Princess of Bavaria , Electress of Saxony, was a German composer, singer, harpsichordist and patron, known particularly for her operas Il trionfo della fedeltà and Talestri, regina delle amazoni . She was also the Regent of Saxony in 1763-1768...
, married her first cousin, Frederick Christian
Frederick Christian, Elector of Saxony
Frederick Christian, Elector of Saxony was the Prince-Elector of Saxony for less than three months in 1763...
, who was Prince-elector
Prince-elector
The Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Roman king or, from the middle of the 16th century onwards, directly the Holy Roman Emperor.The heir-apparent to a prince-elector was known as an...
of Saxony
Electorate of Saxony
The Electorate of Saxony , sometimes referred to as Upper Saxony, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire. It was established when Emperor Charles IV raised the Ascanian duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg to the status of an Electorate by the Golden Bull of 1356...
for less than three months in 1763. Her middle surviving daughter Maria Anna Josepha Augusta became Margravine of Baden-Baden.
Biography
Maria Amalia was born at the Hofburg Palace in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
about eleven weeks after the death of her infant brother Leopold Joseph, her parents' only son. Her mother was unable to conceive more children after Maria Amalia, supposedly because her father had contracted syphilis
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
from one of his mistresses
Mistress (lover)
A mistress is a long-term female lover and companion who is not married to her partner; the term is used especially when her partner is married. The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually,...
and passed the disease to his wife, rendering the Empress infertile. Maria Amalia's father had a long line of mistresses, both servants and nobles, and several illegitimate children. Her mother Wilhelmine Amalia of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Wilhelmine Amalia of Brunswick-Lüneburg
Wilhelmine Amalia of Brunswick-Lüneburg was a Holy Roman Empress as the wife of Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor.-Family and early life:...
was the sister of the Duchess of Modena and a very pious woman.
When Maria Amalia was nine years old, her father died of smallpox and was succeeded as Holy Roman Emperor by his brother Charles VI
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VI was the penultimate Habsburg sovereign of the Habsburg Empire. He succeeded his elder brother, Joseph I, as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia , Hungary and Croatia , Archduke of Austria, etc., in 1711...
. Charles ignored a decree signed during the reign of their grandfather Leopold I
Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
| style="float:right;" | Leopold I was a Holy Roman Emperor, King of Hungary and King of Bohemia. A member of the Habsburg family, he was the second son of Emperor Ferdinand III and his first wife, Maria Anna of Spain. His maternal grandparents were Philip III of Spain and Margaret of Austria...
that gave her and her sister precedence in succession as the daughters of Leopold's eldest son. Instead, he promulgated the Pragmatic Sanction of 1713
Pragmatic Sanction of 1713
The Pragmatic Sanction of 1713 was an edict issued by Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI to ensure that the throne of the Archduchy of Austria could be inherited by a daughter....
, which replaced Maria Amalia and her sister Maria Josepha
Maria Josepha of Austria
Maria Josepha of Austria was born an Archduchess of Austria, and from 1711 to 1713 was heiress presumptive to the Habsburg Empire...
with his own daughter Maria Theresa
Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma...
in the line of succession. The displaced archduchesses were not allowed to marry until they renounced their rights to the Austrian succession.
Maria Amalia was proposed as a bride for the Italian Victor Amadeus, Prince of Piedmont
Victor Amadeus, Prince of Piedmont
Victor Amadeus of Savoy was the eldest son of Victor Amadeus II, Duke of Savoy and his French wife Anne Marie d'Orléans. He was the Heir apparent of Savoy from his birth and as such was styled as the Prince of Piedmont. He acted as Regent of Savoy from September 1713 till September 1714 in the...
, heir to the Kingdom of Sicily
Kingdom of Sicily
The Kingdom of Sicily was a state that existed in the south of Italy from its founding by Roger II in 1130 until 1816. It was a successor state of the County of Sicily, which had been founded in 1071 during the Norman conquest of southern Italy...
and Duchy of Savoy
Duchy of Savoy
From 1416 to 1847, the House of Savoy ruled the eponymous Duchy of Savoy . The Duchy was a state in the northern part of the Italian Peninsula, with some territories that are now in France. It was a continuation of the County of Savoy...
. The union was supposed to create better relations between Savoy and Austria, but the plan was ignored by the reigning Duke of Savoy, Victor Amadeus II. The younger Victor Amadeus subsequently died of smallpox, unmarried, in 1715.
Having agreed to recognise the Pragmatic Sanction, Maria Amalia married Prince-Elector
Prince-elector
The Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Roman king or, from the middle of the 16th century onwards, directly the Holy Roman Emperor.The heir-apparent to a prince-elector was known as an...
Charles 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...
on 5 October 1722 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...
. The opera I veri amici ("The True Friends") by Tomaso Albinoni
Tomaso Albinoni
Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni was an Italian Baroque composer. While famous in his day as an opera composer, he is mainly remembered today for his instrumental music, such as the concertos, some of which are regularly recorded.-Biography:Born in Venice, Republic of Venice, to Antonio Albinoni, a...
was performed at the wedding. They lived at Nymphenburg Palace
Nymphenburg 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 Munich and had seven children (her husband also had six illegitimate children).
Maria Amalia's husband died on 20 January 1745 and was buried at the Theatine Church in Munich. On his death, she persuaded her son Maximilian
Maximilian III, Elector of Bavaria
Maximilian III Joseph was Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire and Duke of Bavaria from 1745 to 1777.-Biography:...
to make peace with her cousin Maria Theresa
Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma...
. She died twelve years later 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...
at the Nymphenburg Palace
Nymphenburg 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:...
.
The following anecdote is from the fifth volume of Casanova's History of My Life:
-
- The confessor, who was a Jesuit, received me as badly as possible. He said in passing that my reputation was well known in Munich. I asked him firmly if he was telling me this as good news or bad, and he did not answer. He simply walked away, and a priest told me that he had gone to verify a miracle of which all Munich was talking. "The Empress," he said, "the widow of Charles VII, whose body is still exposed to public view, has warm feet though she is dead." He said that I could go and see the wonder for myself. Most eager to be able to boast at last that I had witnessed a miracle, and one which was of the greatest interest to me since my feet were always icy, I go to see the illustrious corpse, which did indeed have warm feet, but it was because of a hot stove which stood very near her defunct Imperial Majesty.
Issue
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximiliane | 1723 | Died in infancy | ||
| Maria Antonia Walpurgis Maria Antonia Walpurgis of Bavaria Maria Antonia, Princess of Bavaria , Electress of Saxony, was a German composer, singer, harpsichordist and patron, known particularly for her operas Il trionfo della fedeltà and Talestri, regina delle amazoni . She was also the Regent of Saxony in 1763-1768... Electress of Saxony |
18 July 1724 | 23 April 1780 | Married in 1747 Frederick Christian of Saxony Frederick Christian, Elector of Saxony Frederick Christian, Elector of Saxony was the Prince-Elector of Saxony for less than three months in 1763... , had issue |
|
| Theresa Benedicta | 6 December 1725 | 29 March 1743 | ||
| Maximilian III Joseph Elector of Bavaria |
28 March 1727 | 30 December 1777 | Married in 1747 Maria Anna Sophia of Saxony Maria Anna Sophia of Saxony Maria Anna Sophia of Saxony was a daughter of King Augustus III of Poland and his wife Maria Josepha of Austria who became Electress of Bavaria.-Biography:... , no issue |
|
| Joseph Ludvig Leo | 25 August 1728 | 2 December 1733 | Died in infancy | |
| Maria Anna Josepha Duchess Maria Anna Josepha of Bavaria Maria Anna Josepha of Bavaria 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.-Biography:Maria Anna Josepha was born at the Nymphenburg Palace... Margravine of Baden-Baden |
7 August 1734 | 7 May 1776 | Married in 1755 Louis George, Margrave 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... , no issue |
|
| Maria Josepha of Bavaria Maria Josepha of Bavaria Maria Josepha , Empress of the Holy Roman Empire, Princess of Bavaria, was the daughter of Charles Albert, Elector of Bavaria and Maria Amalia of Austria and the second wife of Emperor Joseph II... Holy Roman Empress |
 |
30 March 1739 | 28 May 1767 | Married in 1765 the Joseph, King of the Romans Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I... , no issue |