Marie-Amélie of Habsbourg-Lorraine

Marie-Amélie of Habsbourg-Lorraine (Vienna, February 26th 1746 - Prague, June 18th 1804). In 1769, it marries Ferdinand Ier of Parma, duke of Parma. With its birth, it is Archiduchesse of Austria and Princesse of Hungary; following its marriage, it becomes Duchesse of Parma, Plaisance and Guastalla.

Archduchess of Austria

It is the eighth child of the emperor of the Holy roman Empire François Ier and Marie-Therese de Habsbourg. She grows at the court Viennese of the Habsbourg between the Hofburg and the palate of Schönbrunn. During its youth, she is very appreciated by the people and is regarded as tempting.

At 22 years, she wants to marry the young person and attractive prince Charles of Double-decker (1746 - 1795); however Marie-Therese and her minister Kaunitz consider both this union unworthy of an archduchess, the prince is not catholic and reigns on a tiny principality at the borders of the Empire and France.

Against her will, Marie-Amélie is promised in marriage then married to the duke Ferdinand de Bourbon (1751 - 1802), small son of Louis XV by her mother and of Philippe V of Spain by her father. Ferdinand is younger than six year old Marie-Amélie and presents some signs of mental imbalance. The marriage is wished by the future Joseph II of Austria which takes care of the interests of the Empire, because if the duchy remains without heir, this one will return to Austria. Guillaume of Tillot, Prime Minister of Ferdinand, set up by the France and the Spain and protected by the duke Etienne François de Choiseul, expresses its preference for Marie Béatrice d' Este, girl of the duke of Modena Ercole Renato: with died of this one, the two duchies would have amalgamated between the hands of Ferdinand. The duke of Choiseul proposes Miss d' Orléans, particularly rich person but Spain pushes back this proposal. The consensus is thus done around Marie-Amélie and Joseph II of Austria in addition took as first marries the tempting sister of the duke Ferdinand, Marie-Isabelle of Bourbon-Parma.

Duchess of Parma

The marriage is celebrated with Vienna by procuration the June 27th 1769. Marie-Amélie leaves Austria on July 1st 1769 and arrives at Mantoue the July 16th accompanied by her brother the Joseph emperor. Ferdinand goes to their opposition accompanied by the duke Sforza Cesarini and the duke Grillo. During a ceremony, the bishop confirms the marriage the July 19th in the Ducal Palais of Colorno, which is followed festivals and spectacles. The ducal couple joined Parma the 24 in the morning. Become duchess of Parma, Marie-Amélie does not follow the recommendations of her mother to ignore the policy and to take the advice of of Tillot. In fact, being Austrian, she wants to substitute the influence Austrian for that French and Spanish, which worries all the courses European. Quickly and because of its lifestyle which neglects the royal protocol, the behavior of Marie-Amélie causes scandals in the European aristocracy: it borrows money from any usurer, the bodyguards take part in the balls, the plays. Marie Therese invites Marie-Amélie to control her expenditure and she insists to give more funds to the court of Parma, but his/her Joseph son being opposed to it, she convinces the courses royal Frenchwoman and Spanish. Marie-Amélie opposes to the Prime Minister Guillaume of Tillot which is, a little later relieved; the duke of Choiseul, his support in France, is exiled on January 27th, 1771. The new minister named by Charles III of Spain is Spanish Jose de Llano. This one parvirnt not to solve the disorders of the court, which ends up putting an end to the relations between Parma, Charles III and Marie Therese. The latter tries to reconcile with her daughter in 1773 but without result.

When Napoleon Bonaparte invades the Italy, Marie-Amélie and her family leave for Austria. She dies in 1804 with Prague.

Children

Of its union, the ducal couple has seven children:

Caroline of Bourbon-Parma (Carolina) (November 22nd, 1770 - March 1st, 1804).
Louis Ier d' Étrurie (Ludovico) (August 5th, 1773 - May 27th, 1803). Duke of Parma and King of Étrurie.
Marie Antoinette of Bourbon (Maria Antonietta) (November 28th, 1774 - February 20th, 1841), nun with the Ursulines.
Charlotte of Bourbon-Parma (Carlotta) (September 7th, 1777 - April 5th, 1813), entered the orders.
Philippe Marie de Bourbon (Filippo) (May 22nd, 1783 - July 2nd, 1786).
Antoinette Louise de Bourbon (Antonietta Luisa) (October 21st, 1784).
Louise Marie de Bourbon (Luisa Maria) (April 17th, 1787 - November 22nd, 1789).

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