Maria Theresa of Austria (1801–1855) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maria Theresa of Austria |
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Portrait by Pietro Ayres
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| Queen consort of Sardinia | |||||
| Tenure | 27 April 1831 – 23 March 1849 | ||||
| Born | 21 March 1801 Vienna, Austrian Empire |
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| Died | 12 January 1855 (aged 53) Turin, Kingdom of Sardinia |
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| Burial | 16 January 1855 Royal Basilica of Superga, Italy |
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| Spouse | Charles Albert of Sardinia | ||||
| Issue Detail |
Victor Emmanuel II, King of Italy Ferdinand, Duke of Genoa |
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| House | Habsburg-Lorraine | ||||
| Father | Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany | ||||
| Mother | Luisa of Naples and Sicily | ||||
Maria Theresa of Austria (born March 21, 1801 – died January 12, 1855) was the Queen of Sardinia. She became queen by marrying King Charles Albert of Sardinia.
She was the daughter of Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Princess Luisa of Naples and Sicily. She was named after her famous great-grandmother, Empress Maria Theresa. In 1817, she married Charles Albert. She became the Queen of Sardinia when her husband became king in 1831.
Contents
Life as a Royal Princess and Queen
Early Years
Maria Theresa was born in Vienna, Austria. Her full German name was Maria Theresia Franziska Josepha Johanna Benedikta. She was a member of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, a very important royal family. This made her an Archduchess of Austria and a Princess of Bohemia, Hungary, and Tuscany.
Her family was living in exile when she was born. This was because Napoleon Bonaparte had invaded Tuscany, their home. Her mother, Princess Luisa, sadly died a year after Maria Theresa was born.
Marriage and Family
Maria Theresa married Charles Albert of Sardinia in Florence, Italy, on September 30, 1817. A big wedding ceremony took place on October 2 in Florence Cathedral. In Italian, her name was Maria Teresa Francesca Giuseppa Giovanna Benedetta. After her marriage, she was known as the Princess of Carignano.
People described her as innocent, shy, and not very worldly.
In March 1820, she gave birth to her first son, who would later become king. She had two more children after him, but one died as a baby. In 1824, Charles Albert was officially named the heir to the throne by King Charles Felix of Sardinia.
Becoming Queen of Sardinia
Maria Theresa became Queen of Sardinia in 1831. This happened when her husband, Charles Albert, became king after Charles Felix died without any children.
While she was queen, Maria Theresa did not get involved in politics. She focused on her family and her strong religious beliefs. She was known for being a very devoted Catholic. She was also described as a warm and loving person who cared deeply for her family.
She had a big influence on her oldest son, who would later become a very important king in Italy's history. She taught him about being a strong Catholic and also about new ideas of balancing royal power.
Later Life and Influence
After her husband died in 1849, Maria Theresa, now the Queen Mother, stopped appearing in public very often.
Even though she didn't get involved in politics as queen, she did play a role during her son's reign. In 1854, the government tried to make new laws that would reduce the special rights of the Church. Maria Theresa and her daughter-in-law worked together. They tried to convince her son, the king, to stop these reforms. They argued that these changes were against the Church and not right for a Christian ruler. However, their efforts were not successful.
Maria Theresa died in Turin, Italy. She is buried in the Basilica of Superga, a famous church in Italy.
Her Children
Maria Theresa and Charles Albert had three children:
- Victor Emmanuel II (born March 14, 1820 – died January 9, 1878). He married Adelaide of Austria and had children. He later became the first king of a united Italy.
- Ferdinand (born November 15, 1822 – died February 10, 1855). He married Princess Elisabeth of Saxony and had children. He became the Duke of Genoa.
- Maria Cristina (born July 4, 1826 – died July 25, 1827). She died when she was a baby.
Family Tree Notes
Maria Theresa's family tree was a bit unusual. Her parents were actually "double cousins." This means they shared the same four grandparents. This was sometimes done in royal families to keep wealth and titles within the family.
