Maria Clementina Sobieska facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maria Clementina Sobieska |
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Martin van Meytens (after), Maria Clementina Sobieska, 1727/28, Scottish National Gallery
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| Consort of the Jacobite pretender | |||||
| Pretence | 3 September 1719 – 18 January 1735 | ||||
| Born | 18 July 1702 Ohlau, Silesia (now Oława, Poland) |
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| Died | 18 January 1735 (aged 32) Palazzo Muti, Rome, Papal States |
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| Burial | St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, Italy | ||||
| Spouse | |||||
| Issue | Charles Edward Stuart Henry Benedict Stuart |
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| House | Sobieski | ||||
| Father | Jakub Ludwik Sobieski | ||||
| Mother | Hedwig Elisabeth of Neuburg | ||||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism | ||||
 Coat of arms of Maria Clementina Sobieska |
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Maria Clementina Sobieska (Polish: Maria Klementyna Sobieska; 18 July 1702 – 18 January 1735) was a princess who was called the "Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland." This was because she married James Francis Edward Stuart. He was a Jacobite claimant to the British throne. This means he believed he was the rightful king. Maria Clementina was the granddaughter of a famous Polish king, John III Sobieski. She was also the mother of Charles Edward Stuart, known as "Bonnie Prince Charlie." Her other son was Henry Benedict Stuart, who became a cardinal.
Contents
Her Early Life
Maria Clementina Sobieska was born on July 18, 1702. Her birthplace was Oława (Ohlau) in Silesia, which is now part of Poland. Her father was Prince Jakub Ludwik Sobieski. He was the oldest son of the Polish King Jan III Sobieski. Her mother was Countess Palatine Hedwig Elisabeth of Neuburg.
Her grandfather, King Jan III Sobieski, was very famous. He won an important battle against the Ottoman Turks in 1683. Maria Clementina also had an older sister named Maria Karolina Sobieska. She was known as Charlotte.
Her Royal Marriage
Maria Clementina was one of the richest young women in Europe. She inherited a lot of land in Poland from her grandfather. She was betrothed (promised in marriage) to James Francis Edward Stuart.
King George I of Great Britain did not want them to marry. He was afraid they might have children who would try to claim his throne. To stop the marriage, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, had Maria Clementina arrested. This happened while she was traveling to Italy to meet James. She was held in Innsbruck Castle.
However, Maria Clementina managed to escape. With help from Charles Wogan, she tricked her guards. She then fled to Bologna, Italy. For safety, she was married by proxy there. This means someone stood in for James, who was in Spain at the time. Maria Clementina's father approved of her escape. He said she should follow James's path.
Maria Clementina and James Francis Edward officially married on September 3, 1719. Their wedding was in Montefiascone, Italy. After their marriage, Pope Clement XI invited them to live in Rome. The Pope recognized them as the king and queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Life as a Pretender Queen
The Pope gave them a special guard of soldiers. He also gave them a palace in Rome called the Palazzo Muti to live in. They also had a country home near Albano. The Catholic Church also gave them money each year. Popes Clement XI and Innocent XIII believed James and Maria Clementina were the true rulers.
Their married life was not always happy. James was said to like her beauty at first. But Maria Clementina reportedly did not like his looks or his quiet personality. She became good friends with her son's governess, Mrs. Sheldon. Mrs. Sheldon became her trusted friend.
In 1725, after their second child was born, James fired Mrs. Sheldon. He also appointed James Murray to look after their sons. Maria Clementina did not agree with this. She left James and went to live in a convent in Rome. She took Mrs. Sheldon and her other staff with her.
Maria Clementina claimed that James wanted to give their son a Protestant education. This claim helped her get support from the Pope and Spain. It also made the public feel sorry for her. She demanded that James remove certain people from his court and bring Mrs. Sheldon back. In April 1726, James allowed their sons to visit her. This whole situation was a big scandal in Europe.
In May 1727, James removed the people Maria Clementina disliked from his court. In January 1728, Maria Clementina and James made up in Bologna. However, they mostly lived apart after that. James preferred to live in Albano, while Maria Clementina stayed in the Palazzo Muti in Rome.
Maria Clementina often felt sad. She spent a lot of time praying and following strict religious practices. These practices may have affected her health. She still performed her duties as the Jacobite queen. For example, she met with the writer Montesquieu in 1729. Mrs. Sheldon did not live at the court, but Maria Clementina kept her close as a friend. Maria Clementina was not very close to her younger son. But she was very close to her older son, Charles. When Charles was sick in 1732, Maria Clementina took care of him.
Her Later Years and Passing
Maria Clementina's health became weaker because of her strict lifestyle. She died at the young age of 32 on January 18, 1735. Her doctor said she died from 'scorbutic disease,' which is also known as scurvy.
She was buried with full royal honors in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Pope Clement XII ordered a state burial for her. Later, Pope Benedict XIV asked an architect named Filippo Barigioni to design a monument for her. Pietro Bracci created a statue for it. The monument was put up in the Basilica in 1742.
Her Children
Maria Clementina and James Francis Edward had two sons:
- Charles Edward Louis Philip John Casimir Stuart (born December 31, 1720 – died January 31, 1788). He was also known as "Bonnie Prince Charlie." He married Louise of Stolberg-Gedern but had no children with her. He did have children with other women.
- Henry Benedict Maria Clement Thomas Francis Xavier Stuart (born March 11, 1725 – died July 13, 1807). He later became known as the Cardinal Duke of York. He never married.
Gallery
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Maria Clementina by Pierre Imbert Drevet.
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"Pompe funebre" for Maria Clementina at Rome.
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Maria Clementina's Tomb by Barigioni and Bracci in St Peter's Basilica, Rome.
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Medal commemorating Maria Clementina from 1719
