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Principessa Maria Beatrice of Sardinia
(1792–1840)


Other names: Maria Beatrice Vittoria Giuseppina

Biographical

Maria Beatrice first met her future husband, and uncle, Francesco (IV) of Austria-Este, when she was eighteen years of age in 1810, during his visit to Sardinia when he stayed with his sister, Queen Maria Therese, and the rest of the royal family. He was fourteen years older, and still bitter over the anti-Este family Metternich denying him the hand in marriage of Maria Louisa, Archduchess of Austria, who married Napoleon instead. Although he desired to marry Maria Beatrice, she was said to be unwilling, but his mother, Duchess Maria Beatrice d'Este, strongly favoured the union which would have broken down all opposition, including that of Maria Beatrice's parents. The only obstacle was obtaining papal dispensation from the Pope, who was, at the time, a prisoner of Napoleon. The dispensation finally arrived in May 1812, and the wedding took place in June that year with great pomp. Maria Beatrice was said to have been finally happy to marry her uncle. She was described as charming, pious, and accomplished, and husband and wife were initially devoted to each other. They shared the same tastes, including riding. Maria Beatrice was an accomplished horsewoman, and it was a familiar sight to see her galloping her Sardinian courser in Modena, around the neighbouring country. But some five years after their marriage, she regarded her husband as nothing more than a kind uncle. In 1813 letters came to Francesco (he was till in Sardinia) from his brothers in Vienna: his country was in danger and needed his presence and his services. Maria Beatrice was very attached to her parents, but she also had a strong sense of duty, and saw at once that Francesco must return to his troubled country. She bravely resolved to share with him the long, dangerous journey through seas and countries distracted by a doubtful and desperate war. The king and queen, whom they consulted, were of the same mind, and praised the courage and resolution that outweighed affection and sorrow. In July, Maria Beatrice parted from her mother and embarked with her husband on board the English man-of-war, Tremendous. An illustrious suite attended her. Their voyage was long and perilous. Initially intending to land at Malta, but the plague was raging there, so they journeyed to the island of Zante instead, where they were entertained by Queen Caroline of Naples. They bided their time there pleasantly, hospitably entertained by English and Greek natives, prolonged because their next destinations of Fiume and Trieste were still in French hands. The couple finally left for Trieste from Lissa in October and was received there with much celebration. They remained there and then at Vienna for some time, until finally, they made their state entry into Modena in July 1814, and Francesco ascended the throne in succession to his grandfather, Ercole III d'Este. After Napoleon's escape from Elba in 1815, Modena was once again occupied. Maria Beatrice left for Mantua in March that year as her husband defended his country. She then went to Genoa to stay with her father, who was providing refuge to Pope Pius VII after he had fled the advancing forces of Murat, and they were joined briefly by her husband, Francesco. In May, Maria Beatrice returned to Modena to find the people rejoicing as the country was now freed, and her husband finally settled in the capital. In 1820 Maria Beatrice finally gave birth to an heir, Francesco (V). After her father's abdication in 1821, Maria Beatrice's parents settled at Modena, much to her joy. After Charles X of France was banished following the revolution of 1830, Francesco IV of Modena refused to recognise the new regime. His enemies now accused him of employing the services of the Carbonari and other secret societies, admitting to his friendship their leaders, Ciro Menotti and Enrico Mislei, to further his ambition to become king of United Italy. The success of the revolution of July had given alarming impetus. Discovery was made of a conspiracy against the state of Modena under Ciro Menotti, whom Francis had honoured with his friendship and confidence. Thirty of the chief conspirators were arrested and imprisoned, and a few of them executed, including Menotti himself who became a martyr. The attempted revolution was suppressed, and overall, Francesco showed himself to be more lenient than his safety and the states demanded, but his wife insisted that her voice should be heard. Maria Beatrice notably published her sentiments in the Voce delta Verità where she expressed that her husband's leniency would give his enemies the impression of a spirit weakened by troubles. As one who on every opportunity made known her horror of sects and subversive principles, she was not afraid to proclaim her hatred of the enemies of religion, monarchy, and social order. A subsequent plot against the ducal family was prevented by pure accident. As was the custom of the family to attend the Benedictine church of St Peter on St Benedict's Day, the event slipped the duchess's mind, and instead, she took her children to open a spring festival. She perhaps saved her life, or at least, her liberty, and that of her family, because the conspirators had planned to seize the duke and duchess on their way to the Benedictine church. In early 1840 Maria Beatrice fell seriously ill, and in September, she received the last sacraments, refusing to the last to forgive her political enemies. The Jacobite claim to the thrones of England, Scotland, and Wales had passed to Maria Beatrice at the death of her father in 1824, and she was styled 'Mary II,' but she never pursued the claim. Because she married her uncle, a marriage considered illegal in England, the Jacobite claim of her offspring was questioned, though it was generally accepted.

Place of birth: Turin
Place of marriage: Cagliari
Place of death: Cattajo
Place of burial: Modena

Daughter of King Vittorio Amedeo I of Sardinia and Maria Therese of Austria-Este (Habsburg). She married her uncle, Duke Francesco IV of Modena (Habsburg) in 1812, and had issue.




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