Maria Vittoria del Pozzo della Cisterna
Encyclopedia
Maria Vittoria dal Pozzo (Maria Vittoria Carlotta Enrichetta; 9 August 1847 – 8 November 1876) was an Italian noblewoman and was the Princess della Cisterna in her own right. Married to the Duke of Aosta
, a son of Victor Emmanuel II of Italy
she was later the queen of Spain from 1870 until her husband's abdication in 1873. She is an ancestress of the present Duke of Apulia, a claimant
to the throne of Italy.
de Merode
. At the death of her father in 1864 she became the Princess della Cisterna
, di Belriguardo, Marchesa di Voghera
and Countess di Ponderano
in her own right. She died in Sanremo
.
, she married Prince Amadeo of Savoy
, Duke of Aosta
, a younger son of King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy
. An urban legend circulates claiming that numerous tragedies befell Cisterna and Amadeo during their wedding. http://www.snopes.com/weddings/horrors/badomen.asp
She became Queen Consort
of Spain when her husband was elected king on 16 November 1870. She lived a discreet life as queen, only involving herself in charity. Amadeo abdicated
from the Spanish throne on 11 February 1873. Maria Vittoria then returned to Italy. Her health damaged by the trip and childbirth, she died later the same year.
Amadeo I of Spain
Amadeo I was the only King of Spain from the House of Savoy...
, a son of Victor Emmanuel II of Italy
Victor Emmanuel II of Italy
Victor Emanuel II was king of Sardinia from 1849 and, on 17 March 1861, he assumed the title King of Italy to become the first king of a united Italy since the 6th century, a title he held until his death in 1878...
she was later the queen of Spain from 1870 until her husband's abdication in 1873. She is an ancestress of the present Duke of Apulia, a claimant
Pretender
A pretender is one who claims entitlement to an unavailable position of honour or rank. Most often it refers to a former monarch, or descendant thereof, whose throne is occupied or claimed by a rival, or has been abolished....
to the throne of Italy.
Biography
The only surviving child of Carlo Emanuele dal Pozzo, Prince della Cisterna and his wife Countess LouiseLouise de Mérode
Louise de Mérode was a member of the house of Mérode and Princess della Cisterna by marriage. She was the mother of Maria Vittoria dal Pozzo, Queen of Spain.-Biography:...
de Merode
House of Merode
The princely house of Merode is one of the most important houses of the Belgian nobility.The surname of the family and the name of the House is mostly written de Mérode in but was originally von Merode due to the German descent of the House...
. At the death of her father in 1864 she became the Princess della Cisterna
Cisterna d'Asti
Cisterna d'Asti is a comune in the Province of Asti in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 35 km southeast of Turin and about 15 km southwest of Asti. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,257 and an area of 10.7 km².Cisterna d'Asti borders the following...
, di Belriguardo, Marchesa di Voghera
Voghera
thumb|250px|The Castle of Voghera in a 19th century etching.Voghera is a town and comune of Lombardy, Italy, in the province of Pavia...
and Countess di Ponderano
Ponderano
Ponderano is a municipality with 3833 inhabitants in the Italian province of Biella, in the region of Piemont. Neighbouring communes include Borriana, Gaglianico, Mongrando, Occhieppo Inferiore and Sandigliano....
in her own right. She died in Sanremo
Sanremo
Sanremo or San Remo is a city with about 57,000 inhabitants on the Mediterranean coast of western Liguria in north-western Italy. Founded in Roman times, the city is best known as a tourist destination on the Italian Riviera. It hosts numerous cultural events, such as the Sanremo Music Festival...
.
Marriage
On 30 May 1863, in TurinTurin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, she married Prince Amadeo of Savoy
Amadeo I of Spain
Amadeo I was the only King of Spain from the House of Savoy...
, Duke of Aosta
Duke of Aosta
In the mid-13th century the Hohenstaufen Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II made the County of Aosta a duchy; its arms were carried in the Savoyard coat-of-arms until the unification of Italy in 1870. The region remained part of Savoy lands, with the exception of a French occupation, 1539—1563...
, a younger son of King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy
Victor Emmanuel II of Italy
Victor Emanuel II was king of Sardinia from 1849 and, on 17 March 1861, he assumed the title King of Italy to become the first king of a united Italy since the 6th century, a title he held until his death in 1878...
. An urban legend circulates claiming that numerous tragedies befell Cisterna and Amadeo during their wedding. http://www.snopes.com/weddings/horrors/badomen.asp
She became Queen Consort
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
of Spain when her husband was elected king on 16 November 1870. She lived a discreet life as queen, only involving herself in charity. Amadeo abdicated
Abdication
Abdication occurs when a monarch, such as a king or emperor, renounces his office.-Terminology:The word abdication comes derives from the Latin abdicatio. meaning to disown or renounce...
from the Spanish throne on 11 February 1873. Maria Vittoria then returned to Italy. Her health damaged by the trip and childbirth, she died later the same year.
Issue
- Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, Duke of Aosta (13 January 1869 – 4 July 1931) Marshal of ItalyMarshal of ItalyMarshal of Italy was a rank in the Italian Royal Army . Originally created in 1924 by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini for the purpose of honoring Generals Luigi Cadorna and Armando Diaz, the rank was granted to several other general officers from 1926 to 1943...
married to Princess Hélène of Orléans and had issue. - Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy, Count of Turin (24 November 1870 – 10 October 1946) died unmarried.
- Prince Luigi Amedeo of Savoy, Duke of the Abruzzi (29 January 1873 – 18 March 1933) Vice AdmiralVice AdmiralVice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
in the Italian Royal NavyRegia MarinaThe Regia Marina dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification...
died unmarried.
Titles and styles
- 9 August 1847 – 30 May 1863 Donna Maria Vittoria dal Pozzo della Cisterna
- 30 May 1863 – 16 November 1870 Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Aosta
- 16 November 1870 – 11 February 1873 Her Majesty the Queen of Spain
- 11 February 1873 – 8 November 1876 Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Aosta