María Manuela Kirkpatrick de Grevignée facts for kids
Quick facts for kids María Manuela Kirkpatrick |
|
|---|---|
| Countess of Montijo | |
 |
|
| Spouse(s) | |
| Issue | |
| María Francisca, Duchess of Alba Eugénie, Empress of the French |
|
| Father | William Kirkpatrick |
| Mother | Marie Françoise de Grevignée |
| Born | 24 February 1794 Málaga, Spain |
| Died | 22 November 1879 (aged 85) |
María Manuela Enriqueta Kirkpatrick de Grevignée, also known as the Countess of Montijo, was an important Spanish noblewoman. She was the mother of Eugénie, Empress of the French, who became the wife of Emperor Napoleon III. María Manuela also worked as a high-ranking lady-in-waiting for Queen Isabella II of Spain from 1847 to 1848.
Contents
Early Life and Family
María Manuela was born in Málaga, Spain, on February 24, 1794. Her father was William Kirkpatrick, a Scotsman who lived in Spain. He was a wine merchant and also served as the consul for the United States. Her mother was Marie Françoise de Grevignée, who was from Liège. María Manuela was known for being very smart, lively, and talented.
In 1817, she married Don Cipriano de Palafox y Portocarrero. He was a Spanish nobleman who had fought in the Napoleonic Wars. He later became the Count of Montijo and held many other important titles.
María Manuela and Cipriano had two daughters and one son. Their son, Francisco, sadly passed away when he was young. Their daughters were María Francisca de Sales (born 1825), often called "Paca," and María Eugenia (born 1826).
Life in Paris and Daughters' Education
In the 1830s, María Manuela moved to Paris with her daughters. She wanted them to receive a good education there. In Paris, she reconnected with George William Frederick Villiers, who later became the Earl of Clarendon. She also continued her friendship with the French writer Prosper Mérimée. Mérimée was very interested in the girls' education. He even got the idea for his famous story Carmen from María Manuela.
In 1837, María Manuela briefly moved to England to help her daughters continue their studies. However, she soon returned to Paris.
Finding Good Marriages
After her husband passed away, María Manuela became very active in society. She worked hard to find good husbands for her daughters.
In 1844, her daughter Paca married Jacobo Luis Fitz-James Stuart y Ventimiglia. He was one of the wealthiest men in Europe and held many important titles, including the Duke of Alba.
Her younger daughter, Eugénie, did even better. With her mother's guidance, Eugénie married Napoleon III, who became the Emperor of the French. This made Eugénie the Empress of the French.
Later Life and Legacy
María Manuela lived to see her daughter Eugénie become Empress and then later saw the end of the Second French Empire. She passed away in Carabanchel, Spain, on November 22, 1879. This was several months after her grandson, Napoléon, Prince Imperial, died.
Her great-great-granddaughter, Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, later became known as the most titled noble in the world.
See also
In Spanish: María Manuela Kirkpatrick para niños
