| Maria Anna of Savoy | |||||
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 State portrait of Empress Maria Anna (byLeopold Kupelwieser,Schönbrunn Palace) | |||||
| Empress consort of Austria Queen consort of Hungary (more...) | |||||
| Tenure | 2 March 1835 – 2 December 1848 | ||||
| Coronation | 12 September 1836,Prague | ||||
| Born | (1803-09-19)19 September 1803 Palazzo Colonna,Rome,Papal States | ||||
| Died | 4 May 1884(1884-05-04) (aged 80) Prague Castle,Prague,Austria-Hungary | ||||
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| House | Savoy | ||||
| Father | Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia | ||||
| Mother | Maria Theresa of Austria-Este | ||||
Maria Anna of Savoy (Italian:Maria Anna Ricciarda Carolina Margherita Pia; 19 September 1803 – 4 May 1884) wasEmpress of Austria andQueen of Hungary (seeGrand title of the Empress of Austria)[1] by marriage to EmperorFerdinand I of Austria. Born into theHouse of Savoy, she was the penultimate child and daughter ofKingVictor Emmanuel I of Sardinia, and his wife,Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria-Este.
Maria Anna was born on 19 September 1803 inPalazzo Colonna inRome, the daughter of KingVictor Emmanuel I of Sardinia and his wife, ArchduchessMaria Teresa of Austria-Este. She had a twin sister,Maria Teresa. The two princesses were baptised byPope Pius VII.[citation needed] Their godparents were their maternal grandparents,Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Este and his wifeMaria Beatrice Ricciarda d'Este. In theMuseo di Roma can be seen a painting of the baptism.[2] She was known as "Pia" within the family.[citation needed]
On 12 February 1831, Maria Anna was married byprocuration inTurin to KingFerdinand V of Hungary, eldest son andheir apparent of EmperorFrancis I of Austria. On 27 February, the couple were married in person inVienna in the Hofburg chapel by thecardinal archbishop of Olmütz. Maria Anna was selected to marry the future emperor at the age of 27, which was very late for a princess to marry in this time period. However, her age was seen as a sign that she would be more settled, religious, and easier to manage.[3]
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Maria Anna and Ferdinand had no children.
Ferdinand succeeded as emperor of Austria on 2 March 1835; Maria Anna became empress. On 12 September 1836, she was crowned queen of Bohemia inPrague.
Maria Anna never learned to speak German during her tenure as empress but preferred to speak French. She enjoyed some popularity as empress, and a festival was celebrated on her name day, 26 July each year.[4] MinisterMetternich managed the Government during the reign of her spouse. Unlike her sister-in-lawSophie of Bavaria, Maria Anna had no influence on policy. She supported Emperor Ferdinand, who was unable to manage state affairs because of his health and was respected for her devotion. Maria Anna referred to herself as his "nurse" highlighting her caring role in his life.[5]
During the 1848 Revolution, Maria Anna retracted her support from the Metternich Policy with support from Sophie of Bavaria. However, she did voice her opinion that stronger measures should be taken against the revolution.
On 2 December 1848, Ferdinand abdicated. Maria Anna was popular in Prague, where she was engaged in a local charity.
Maria Anna died in Prague. She is buried next to her husband in tomb number 63, along with other members of the House of Habsburg in theImperial Crypt in Vienna.[6]
Austria-Hungary : Dame of theOrder of the Starry Cross[7]
Spain : Dame of theOrder of Queen Maria Luisa
Media related toMaria Anna of Sardinia at Wikimedia Commons
Maria Anna of Savoy Born: 19 September 1803 Died: 4 May 1884 | ||
| Austro-Hungarian royalty | ||
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| Preceded by | Empress consort of Austria Queen consort of Dalmatia Queen consort of Galicia and Lodomeria Queen consort of Illyria Queen consort of Lombardy-Venetia Queen consort of Hungary Queen consort of Croatia Queen consort of Slavonia Queen consort of Bohemia 1835–1848 | Vacant Title next held by Elisabeth in Bavaria |
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