María Manuela Kirkpatrick y Grivegnée 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 Kirkpatrick, Countess of Montijo (born February 24, 1794 – died November 22, 1879) was an important noblewoman from Spain. She was known for being the mother of Eugénie, who became the Empress of France. María Manuela also worked as a special assistant to Queen Isabella II of Spain from 1847 to 1848.
Her Life Story
Early Years and Family
María Manuela was born in Málaga, Spain. Her father, William Kirkpatrick, was from Scotland and worked as a wine merchant. He was also the consul for the United States in Spain. A consul is like an official representative for their country in another land. Her mother, Marie Françoise de Grevignée, was from a place called Liège. People described María Manuela as very smart, lively, and talented.
In 1817, she married Don Cipriano de Palafox y Portocarrero. He was a very high-ranking noble in Spain, known as a grandee. This meant he belonged to one of the most important noble families. Cipriano had fought in the Napoleonic Wars, which were a series of big wars in Europe.
María Manuela and Cipriano had two daughters and one son. Their son, Francisco, sadly died when he was young. Their daughters were María Francisca de Sales (called "Paca") and María Eugenia. María Eugenia was born one year after Paca.
Life in Paris
In the 1830s, María Manuela moved to Paris, France, with her daughters. They went there so the girls could get a good education. While in Paris, María Manuela became good friends with a French writer named Prosper Mérimée. He was very interested in helping her daughters with their studies. María Manuela also shared many stories with Mérimée, and some of these stories helped inspire his famous book, Carmen.
In 1837, María Manuela briefly moved to England to continue her daughters' education. However, she soon returned to Paris. After her husband passed away, María Manuela became very active in social life. She worked hard to find good husbands for her daughters.
Royal Connections
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 other daughter, Eugénie, did even better. With her mother's guidance, Eugénie married Napoleon III, who was the Emperor of France. This made Eugénie the Empress of the French!
Later Life
María Manuela lived long enough to see the rise and fall of the Second French Empire. This was a period when France was ruled by an emperor. She passed away in Carabanchel, Spain, in 1879. This was just a few months after her grandson, the Prince Imperial, died.
Her great-great-granddaughter, Cayetana Fitz-James Stuart, became known as the noble with the most titles in the world.
See also
In Spanish: María Manuela Kirkpatrick para niños
