Princess Maria Ferdinanda of Saxony facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maria Ferdinanda of Saxony |
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Maria Ferdinanda in 1851. Portrait by Friedrich Kaulbach.
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| Grand Duchess consort of Tuscany | |||||
| Tenure | 6 May 1821 – 18 June 1824 | ||||
| Born | 27 April 1796 Dresden |
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| Died | 3 January 1865 (aged 68) Brandýs nad Labem-Stará Boleslav |
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| Burial | Imperial Crypt | ||||
| Spouse |
Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany
(m. 1821; died 1824) |
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| House | Wettin | ||||
| Father | Maximilian, Crown Prince of Saxony | ||||
| Mother | Princess Carolina of Parma | ||||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism | ||||
Princess Maria Ferdinanda of Saxony was a royal princess born on April 27, 1796, in Dresden. She was a daughter of Maximilian, Crown Prince of Saxony, who was next in line to become king, and his first wife, Princess Carolina of Parma. Maria Ferdinanda became the Grand Duchess consort of Tuscany when she married Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany, ruling alongside him from 1821 to 1824. She lived a long life, passing away on January 3, 1865.
Contents
Growing Up in a Royal Family
Maria Ferdinanda was born into a large and important family. Her father, Maximilian, was the Crown Prince of Saxony. This meant he was expected to become the next ruler of Saxony. Sadly, her mother, Princess Carolina, passed away in 1804 when Maria Ferdinanda was still young.
Her Siblings and Their Futures
Maria Ferdinanda had seven brothers and sisters. Many of them went on to marry into other royal families or became rulers themselves.
- Her older sister, Princess Amalie, was a talented composer.
- Her younger brother, Frederick Augustus II of Saxony, became the King of Saxony in 1836.
- Another brother, Prince Klemens, died at a young age.
- Three of her other siblings also became very important:
- Maria Anna became a Grand Duchess of Tuscany.
- John became the King of Saxony.
- Maria Josepha Amalia became the Queen of Spain.
A Journey to Florence
In 1817, Maria Ferdinanda traveled to Florence with her younger sister, Maria Anna. Maria Anna was going to marry Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany, who would later become the Grand Duke. The two sisters were very close, and Maria Anna felt she couldn't make the journey without Maria Ferdinanda by her side. During this trip, something unexpected happened: Leopold's father, Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany, noticed Maria Ferdinanda.
Marriage to the Grand Duke
On May 6, 1821, Maria Ferdinanda married Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany, in Florence. She was his second wife. Ferdinand was 27 years older than her. They were also distant cousins. Ferdinand might have wanted to marry again because his only son, Leopold (who was married to Maria Ferdinanda's sister, Maria Anna), was often sick. This made the future of the royal family uncertain. Maria Ferdinanda and Ferdinand did not have any children together.
A Unique Family Connection
Because Maria Ferdinanda's younger sister, Maria Anna, was married to Ferdinand's son, Leopold, Maria Ferdinanda ended up in a very interesting family role. She became her own sister's step-mother-in-law!
Sadly, Ferdinand passed away in 1824 in Florence. After his death, his son Leopold and Leopold's wife, Maria Anna, became the new Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Tuscany.
Life After Her Husband's Death
Maria Ferdinanda remained a widow for 41 years after Ferdinand's death.
Changes in Tuscany
In 1859, the royal family of Tuscany lost their power during a period called the Italian Unification. This was when different parts of Italy joined together to form one country. The royal family had to leave their home, the Palazzo Pitti in Florence. They moved to the Austrian court in Vienna, where Emperor Francis Joseph and Empress Elisabeth lived.
Later Years and Legacy
Maria Ferdinanda mostly lived in Schlackenwerth after leaving Florence. However, she often visited her brother, King John of Saxony, in Dresden. She also had a very close bond with her sister, Amalie. Maria Ferdinanda was honored with the royal Order of the Noble Ladies of Maria Luisa, a special award created by Queen Maria Louisa of Spain.
Maria Ferdinanda passed away on January 3, 1865. She was buried in the Imperial Crypt, Vienna, a special burial place for royalty.
Sources
- This article uses information from the German Wikipedia as it was on February 3, 2010.
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Princess Maria Ferdinanda of Saxony
Born: 27 April 1796 Died: 3 January 1865 |
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| Italian royalty | ||
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| Vacant
Title last held by
Luisa of Naples and Sicily |
Grand Duchess consort of Tuscany 1821–1824 |
Succeeded by Maria Anna of Saxony |
See also
In Spanish: María Fernanda de Sajonia para niños
