Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy
Encyclopedia
Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy (Maria Gabriella Giuseppa Aldegonda Adelaide Ludovica Felicita Gennara; born 24 February 1940) is a Savoyard
princess and noted historian
of Italy. She is the middle daughter of Italy's last king, Umberto II
, and Marie José of Belgium, the "May Queen", and a sister of Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples
; Princess Maria Pia of Parma
; and Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy
.
, Italy in 1940. Her older siblings were Princess Maria Pia
and Prince Vittorio Emanuele
. Her parents, married since 1930, were unhappy together, as her mother confessed in an interview many years later (On n'a jamais été heureux, "We were never happy"), and separated after the Italian monarchy was abolished by plebiscite on 2 June 1946. Exiled, the family gathered briefly in Portugal, and she and her three siblings (including Princess Maria Beatrice
"Titti", born three years after her) soon went with their mother to Switzerland while their father remained in Portugal. Being devout Catholics, her parents never divorced.
Maria Gabriella was educated in languages and is a noted historian, especially on Italian issues. She has authored a number of books, including Jewellery of the House of Savoy (2007), written with Stefano Papi.
reportedly vetoed the suggestion. In an editorial about the rumors surrounding the marriage of "a Muslim sovereign and a Catholic princess", the Vatican
newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano
, considered the match "a grave danger," especially considering that under the 1917 Code of Canon Law
a Roman Catholic who attempted to contract a marriage with a divorced person could incur the penalty of excommunication
.
, Romania
) on 12 February 1969 in Saint-Mesme. The religious wedding was celebrated later on 21 June 1969 at Eze-sur-Mer
. The couple separated in 1976 and divorced in November 1990. They had one child:
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early 11th century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until the end of World War II, king of Croatia and King of Armenia...
princess and noted historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
of Italy. She is the middle daughter of Italy's last king, Umberto II
Umberto II of Italy
Umberto II, occasionally anglicized as Humbert II was the last King of Italy for slightly over a month, from 9 May 1946 to 12 June 1946. He was nicknamed the King of May -Biography:...
, and Marie José of Belgium, the "May Queen", and a sister of Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples
Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples
Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples, formerly Crown Prince of Italy is the only son of the Umberto II, the last King of Italy. He is commonly known in Italy as Vittorio Emanuele di Savoia...
; Princess Maria Pia of Parma
Princess Maria Pia of Bourbon-Parma
Princess Maria Pia of Bourbon-Parma is the eldest daughter of Umberto II of Italy and Marie-José of Belgium...
; and Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy
Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy
Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy is the youngest daughter of Italy's last king, Umberto II, and his queen, Marie José of Belgium.-Life:...
.
Life
Maria Gabriella Giuseppa Aldegonda Adelaide Ludovica Felicita Gennara di Savoia was the third child of the Prince and Princess of Piedmont, born in NaplesNaples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, Italy in 1940. Her older siblings were Princess Maria Pia
Princess Maria Pia of Bourbon-Parma
Princess Maria Pia of Bourbon-Parma is the eldest daughter of Umberto II of Italy and Marie-José of Belgium...
and Prince Vittorio Emanuele
Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples
Vittorio Emanuele, Prince of Naples, formerly Crown Prince of Italy is the only son of the Umberto II, the last King of Italy. He is commonly known in Italy as Vittorio Emanuele di Savoia...
. Her parents, married since 1930, were unhappy together, as her mother confessed in an interview many years later (On n'a jamais été heureux, "We were never happy"), and separated after the Italian monarchy was abolished by plebiscite on 2 June 1946. Exiled, the family gathered briefly in Portugal, and she and her three siblings (including Princess Maria Beatrice
Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy
Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy is the youngest daughter of Italy's last king, Umberto II, and his queen, Marie José of Belgium.-Life:...
"Titti", born three years after her) soon went with their mother to Switzerland while their father remained in Portugal. Being devout Catholics, her parents never divorced.
Maria Gabriella was educated in languages and is a noted historian, especially on Italian issues. She has authored a number of books, including Jewellery of the House of Savoy (2007), written with Stefano Papi.
Relationship with the Shah of Iran
In the 1950s, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, then divorced from his second wife, indicated his interest in marrying Princess Maria Gabriella. Pope John XXIIIPope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
reportedly vetoed the suggestion. In an editorial about the rumors surrounding the marriage of "a Muslim sovereign and a Catholic princess", the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano
L'Osservatore Romano
L'Osservatore Romano is the "semi-official" newspaper of the Holy See. It covers all the Pope's public activities, publishes editorials by important churchmen, and runs official documents after being released...
, considered the match "a grave danger," especially considering that under the 1917 Code of Canon Law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
a Roman Catholic who attempted to contract a marriage with a divorced person could incur the penalty of excommunication
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
.
Marriage and child
She married Robert Zellinger de Balkany (born 4 August 1931 in IchlodIclod, Cluj
Iclod is a commune in Cluj County, Romania. It is composed of five villages: Fundătura, Iclod, Iclozel, Livada and Orman.- Demographics :According to the census from 2002 there was a total population of 4,420 people living in this town...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
) on 12 February 1969 in Saint-Mesme. The religious wedding was celebrated later on 21 June 1969 at Eze-sur-Mer
Èze
Èze is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes département in southeastern France, not far from the city of Nice.-History:The area surrounding Èze was first populated around 2000 BC as a commune situated near Mount Bastide. The earliest occurrence of the name "Èze" can be found in the maritime books of...
. The couple separated in 1976 and divorced in November 1990. They had one child:
- Marie Elizabeth Zellinger de Balkany (born 2 March 1972), married Olivier Janssens on 31 October 2002 and has three children:
- Gabriella Luise Maria Janssens (born 7 March 2004);
- Tommaso Janssens (born 13 January 2005).
- Louis Janssens (born first half of 2009)