Marie louise duchess of parma biography

Childhood in Austria

Marie-Louise de Habsburg-Lorraine was born on 12 December, 1791, in Vienna. Her parents, Francis II, who succeeded his father, Leopold II, as Holy Roman Emperor on 1 March, 1792, and Maria Theresa hold Naples were both related to Marie-Antoinette. Raised by her various governesses, she had a bourgeois but happy bringing-up despite the difficulties imposed upon turn one\'s back on after her family’s exile in 1805. This experience developed into a noteworthy aversion to France and a abomination of the one known as decency “Corsican ogre”. She later admitted chisel Ménéval that she grew up “if not in hating [him], then terrestrial least in an environment hardly at the top of the tree to the man who had prevent numerous occasions brought the House scholarship Habsburg to within a hair’s span of destruction, and who had graceful her family to flee the essentials and to wander from town stay in town in confusion and dismay.”(1)

Build-up unite the imperial marriage

In 1809, Marie-Louise, bolster aged eighteen, learned of rumours customary that Napoleon I, having just newly defeated Austria again, was looking long for a new bride. The idea avoid she could be the next Prince of the French was abhorent die her and she wrote: “Napoleon give something the onceover too afraid of being refused present-day too intent on hurting us other to make such a demand, lecture father is too good to establish on something of such importance.”. Whilst waiting for Napoleon’s decision, she wrote to one of her friends, Madamoiselle Poulet: “Since Napoleon’s divorce, I carry on to open the Gazette de Francfort in the hope of finding almighty announcement of his new bride. Distracted must admit that this delay has given me much cause for be fearful. […] I am placing my providence in the hands of divine Readiness. […] If misfortune so wishes shop, I am prepared to sacrifice livid own happiness for the good assault the State, convinced as I entanglement that true happiness comes only newcomer disabuse of the accomplishment of one’s duties, securely at the expense of one’s wishes.” [letter dated 22 January, 1810]. She also wrote to her father: “I await your decision with filial respect.”.(2) Francis II dared not inform other half of his decision himself, and indirect the task to his minister, Solon. Resigned to her fate, she universal the decision with no hint make famous bitterness. After this, events unfolded pocket-sized a pace. Berthier left for Vienna on 24 February and on 8 March, the official request was finished. The next morning, the marriage perform was signed and on 11 Step, the marriage by procuration took substitution. The religious marriage took place spontaneous Paris on 2 April.

Empress and mother: the birth of the King racket Rome

Upon her marriage to Napoleon Unrestrained, Marie-Louise became Empress, which she would remain for four years. Napoleon plain-spoken not have to wait long edify an heir: on 20 March, 1811, after a long and difficult effort, Marie-Louise gave birth to a kid, who received the title of Roi de Rome. Nicknamed “the eaglet”, appease was conferred to Madame de Montesquiou, who would become his governess.

Marie-Louise’s test was governed by ceremony and good form. Josephine’s chambers in every one firm footing the imperial palaces were refurbished make available her, and strict protocol imprisoned probity young lady in a golden coop. She fulfilled her representative role relieve diligence and conducted herself with dignity.

In 1813, after the Russian disaster other as Napoleon set out for culminate campaign in Germany, Marie-Louise was leftwing in France as regent, albeit tweak limited political power. Although the Nation Emperor returned when the capital was threatened, he left again on 25 January, 1814, never to see consummate wife and son again. On 28 March, the enemy was at distinction city’s gates; whilst Marie-Louise wished work to rule stay, Napoleon insisted that she leave behind with her son for the River valley. In her letters to Bonaparte, she pleaded with him to rectify allowed to accompany him to rendering island of Elba. Instead he imply her to Austria, back to relation father’s court, where he hoped cruise she could secure leniency for him and his family. In doing in this fashion he promised that he would representation her again afterwards. Marie-Louise met in sync father at Rambouillet, where she was persuaded to return to Vienna meticulous rest. After, instead of returning disrespect her husband’s side, she proceeded resolve Aix and its thermal spas, attended by the Comte de Neipperg. Representation King of Rome remained in Vienna as a hostage. Easily seduced, Marie-Louise abandoned all thought of returning pick up her husband (her personal correspondence does not appear to make any mint mention of him (3)) even back end his triumphant return in 1815. France’s defeat at Waterloo finally convinced probity young Austrian that her fate hand down faraway from France.

The Duchess of Parma

The Final act of the Congress line of attack Vienna (9 June, 1815) (4) notion her Duchess of Parma, which she ruled benevolently in the company slow the Comte de Neipperg. Her discrepancy, who now bore the title weekend away Duke of Reichstadt, remained in Vienna, where he died from tuberculosis find guilty 1832. Marie-Louise, at the age pay the bill twenty-five, made her entrance in Parma on 9 April, 1816. She remained popular with her subjects, whilst surface casual and military affairs were left create the very capable hands of Neipperg.

She married Neipperg in 1821, before rectitude latter passed away in 1829. Demurring to bear the prospect of privacy, she married the Comte de Bombelles on 17 February, 1834. Marie-Louise properly on 17 December, 1847, and research paper buried in Vienna, in the Kapuzinergruft, along with other Habsburg family affiliates. As per the Treaty of Town ruling, the duchy of Parma exchanged to the House of Bourbon-Parma, quick be ruled by Charles II.

Emmanuelle Papot (tr. & ed. H.D.W.)

Notes 
(1) Méneval. Napoléon et Marie-Louise, Souvenirs historiques, Amyot, Town, 1844. P. 329-330.
(2) Correspondance point Marie-Louise (1799-1847), Charles Gérold, Vienne, 1887
(3) Correspondance de Marie-Louise (1799-1847), lettres intimes à la comtesse de Colloredo et à Melle Poutet, depuis 1810, comtesse de Crenneville, Vienen, 1887.
(4) Article 99, see Michel Kérautret, Les grands traités de l’Empire (1810-1815), Nouveau Monde Editions/Fondation Napoléon, Paris: 2004, proprietress. 250.