Caroline Augusta of Bavaria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Caroline Augusta of Bavaria |
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| Crown Princess of Württemberg | |
Portrait by Franz Schrotzberg, 1864
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| Empress consort of Austria Queen consort of Hungary (more...) |
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| Tenure | 29 October 1816 – 2 March 1835 |
| Coronation | 25 September 1825, St. Martin's Cathedral |
| Born | 8 February 1792 Mannheim, Electoral Palatinate |
| Died | 9 February 1873 (aged 81) Vienna, Austria-Hungary |
| Spouse |
William, Crown Prince of Württemberg
(m. 1808; div. 1814) |
| House | Wittelsbach |
| Father | Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria |
| Mother | Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Caroline Augusta of Bavaria (born February 8, 1792 – died February 9, 1873) became the Empress of Austria. She married Francis I of Austria. Caroline Augusta was the daughter of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria. Her mother was Princess Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt. She first married Crown Prince William of Württemberg in 1808. They later divorced in 1814.
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Early Life of Caroline Augusta
Caroline Augusta was born on February 8, 1792. Her birthplace was Mannheim, in a region called Electoral Palatinate. She was the fourth child of Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria. Her mother was Princess Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt. When she was two years old, Caroline Augusta got smallpox. She survived the illness, but it left scars on her face.
First Marriage and Divorce
On June 8, 1808, Caroline Augusta married Crown Prince William. The wedding took place in Munich. After this marriage, she became the Crown Princess of Württemberg. They did not have any children together. Their marriage ended in divorce on August 31, 1814.
This first marriage was arranged to avoid a political marriage planned by Napoleon. Her husband told her they were "victims to politics." Caroline Augusta spent her time writing letters to her brother, Louis. She also learned Italian and English. The couple never became close. Their marriage was later cancelled by Pope Pius VII. This allowed both of them to marry again in a way that was valid in the Catholic Church. They said they had lived separately in the palace. They also stated that the marriage was not fully completed.
Empress of Austria
After her first marriage was cancelled, Caroline Augusta was considered as a bride for Emperor Francis II. She was also considered for his younger brother, Ferdinand. Later, Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany decided not to propose. So, Caroline Augusta became the Emperor's bride.
On October 29, 1816, Caroline Augusta married Francis II. He was the Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary and Bohemia. She became his fourth wife. The Emperor was 24 years older than her. He had many children from his previous wives.
The English diplomat Frederick Lamb described the new empress. He called her "ugly, clever and amiable." Her husband, the Emperor, said she was strong. The wedding and their life together were very simple. This was because the Emperor liked to save money. Before this marriage, Caroline Augusta was known as Charlotte. But after marrying the Emperor, she started using the name Caroline.
This marriage lasted for almost 20 years. It was a happy marriage, but they did not have children. Caroline Augusta became well-liked in Austria. She was very active in helping others. She started several hospitals and homes for people in need. After her husband died in 1835, she moved to Salzburg. She lived there peacefully for nearly 40 more years. The former empress passed away in February 1873. This was one day after her 81st birthday.
Family Connections
Emperor Francis II loved his family very much. He told his son to "Preserve unity in the family." Caroline Augusta also stayed close to her relatives. She was especially close to her sister and niece. They also married into the imperial family. She was also close to her stepdaughter's son, Napoleon II.
She was good friends with her half-sister, Archduchess Sophie. Sophie married Caroline's step-son Archduke Franz Karl of Austria in 1824. Sophie later became the mother of two emperors. These were Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary and Maximilian of Mexico. Caroline Augusta was also close to her half-niece, Empress Elisabeth. Elisabeth was Sophie's niece and daughter-in-law.
A pearl brooch that once belonged to Caroline Augusta was sold at an auction in 2012.
See also
In Spanish: Carolina Augusta de Baviera para niños
