Death of Maria Anna of Savoy
Maria Anna of Savoy was born on 19th September 1803.
She was Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary by marriage to Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria.
Born a Princess of Savoy, she had a twin sister, Maria Teresa.
Their father was King Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia and their mother was Maria Theresa of Austria-Este.
When Maria Anna was selected to marry the future Emperor Ferdinand at the age of 27, it was very late for a princess to marry in this time period.
However, her age was seen as a sign that she would be more settled, religious and easier to manage.
The couple were married on 27th February 1831, in Vienna.
This began a union that would last over four decades.
Ferdinand succeeded as emperor of Austria on 2nd March 1835, and Maria Anna became empress.
On 12th September 1836, she was crowned queen of Bohemia in Prague.
Maria Anna enjoyed popularity as empress, and a festival was celebrated on her name day of 26th July each year.
Maria Anna dedicated herself to supporting Emperor Ferdinand, who was unable to manage state affairs because of his health.
She often referred to herself as his nurse.
Ferdinand suffered from a variety of neurological problems, that led his physician to pronounce that he would not be able to consummate the marriage.
Though the couple were to remain childless, they were happy together.
It was not necessarily passion at first sight but as the years rolled on, the couple did indeed come to love one another deeply, swiftly discovering that they were an ideal match.
On 2nd December 1848 Ferdinand abdicated, but he and Maria Anna retained their imperial rank.
They lived in retirement together, spending the winters at Prague Castle and the summers at Reichstad.
Maria Anna died in Prague, on 4th May 1884, aged 80.
She is buried next to her husband in tomb number 63 in the Imperial Crypt in Vienna.
🥀 Portrait of Maria Anna of Savoy.
Late 1820s or 1830s
By Johann Ender
