Maria Amalia of Saxony (1757–1831)
Encyclopedia
Maria Amalia of Saxony (26 September 1757 – 20 April 1831) was a daughter of Frederick Christian, Elector of Saxony
and his wife Maria Antonia Walpurgis of Bavaria
. She became the Duchess of Zweibrücken by her 1774 marriage to Charles II August, Duke of Zweibrücken
.
and Maria Antonia Walpurgis of Bavaria
in Dresden. Among her siblings were Frederick Augustus I of Saxony
, Anthony of Saxony, and Maximilian, Crown Prince of Saxony. Through her brother Maximilian, Maria Amalia was an aunt of Frederick Augustus II of Saxony
and Maria Josepha, Queen of Spain
.
As her parents were first cousins, Maria Amalia was also a double great granddaughter of Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor
through her two grandmothers Maria Josepha of Austria
and Maria Amalia of Austria
(who were sisters).
Through her mother, Maria Amalia was a granddaughter of Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
.
Furthermore, she was a cousin of Louis XVI of France
through her aunt Maria Josepha of Saxony.
. His sister had already been married to Maria Amalia's brother Frederick
since 1769. Charles succeeded as Duke of Zweibrücken in 1775. Previously, he had been bitterly rejected in 1768 as a husband for Maria Amalia of Austria by her mother Maria Theresa of Austria
, who felt he was not suitable enough for her. Maria Amalia was thus Charles' second choice.
Maria Amalia and her husband had only one son, who died in childhood. Charles' brother Maximilian inherited his title upon Charles' death in 1795.
Frederick Christian, Elector of Saxony
Frederick Christian, Elector of Saxony was the Prince-Elector of Saxony for less than three months in 1763...
and his wife Maria Antonia Walpurgis of Bavaria
Maria Antonia Walpurgis of Bavaria
Maria Antonia, Princess of Bavaria , Electress of Saxony, was a German composer, singer, harpsichordist and patron, known particularly for her operas Il trionfo della fedeltà and Talestri, regina delle amazoni . She was also the Regent of Saxony in 1763-1768...
. She became the Duchess of Zweibrücken by her 1774 marriage to Charles II August, Duke of Zweibrücken
Charles II August, Duke of Zweibrücken
Charles II/III August Christian was Duke of Zweibrücken from 1775 to 1795. He was the son of Frederick Michael of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld and Maria Franziska of Sulzbach...
.
Family
Maria Amalia was one of nine children born to Frederick Christian, Elector of SaxonyFrederick Christian, Elector of Saxony
Frederick Christian, Elector of Saxony was the Prince-Elector of Saxony for less than three months in 1763...
and Maria Antonia Walpurgis of Bavaria
Maria Antonia Walpurgis of Bavaria
Maria Antonia, Princess of Bavaria , Electress of Saxony, was a German composer, singer, harpsichordist and patron, known particularly for her operas Il trionfo della fedeltà and Talestri, regina delle amazoni . She was also the Regent of Saxony in 1763-1768...
in Dresden. Among her siblings were Frederick Augustus I of Saxony
Frederick Augustus I of Saxony
Frederick Augustus I was King of Saxony from the House of Wettin. He was also Elector Frederick Augustus III of Saxony and Duke Frederick Augustus I of Warsaw...
, Anthony of Saxony, and Maximilian, Crown Prince of Saxony. Through her brother Maximilian, Maria Amalia was an aunt of Frederick Augustus II of Saxony
Frederick Augustus II of Saxony
Frederick Augustus II |Tyrol]], 9 August 1854) was King of Saxony and a member of the House of Wettin.He was the eldest son of Maximilian, Prince of Saxony --younger son of the Elector Frederick Christian of Saxony—by his...
and Maria Josepha, Queen of Spain
Maria Josepha of Saxony
Maria Josepha of Saxony was Queen consort of Spain as the wife of King Ferdinand VII of Spain...
.
As her parents were first cousins, Maria Amalia was also a double great granddaughter of Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph I , Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia, King of Hungary, King of the Romans was the elder son of Emperor Leopold I and his third wife, Eleonor Magdalene of Neuburg....
through her two grandmothers Maria Josepha of Austria
Maria Josepha of Austria
Maria Josepha of Austria was born an Archduchess of Austria, and from 1711 to 1713 was heiress presumptive to the Habsburg Empire...
and Maria Amalia of Austria
Maria Amalia of Austria
Maria Amalia of Austria was the younger daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Joseph I and Wilhelmine Amalia of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
(who were sisters).
Through her mother, Maria Amalia was a granddaughter of Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VII, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VII Albert a member of the Wittelsbach family, was Prince-elector of Bavaria from 1726 and Holy Roman Emperor from 24 January 1742 until his death in 1745...
.
Furthermore, she was a cousin of Louis XVI of France
Louis XVI of France
Louis XVI was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre until 1791, and then as King of the French from 1791 to 1792, before being executed in 1793....
through her aunt Maria Josepha of Saxony.
Marriage
In Dresden, 1774, Maria Amalia married Charles of Zweibrücken-BirkenfeldCharles II August, Duke of Zweibrücken
Charles II/III August Christian was Duke of Zweibrücken from 1775 to 1795. He was the son of Frederick Michael of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld and Maria Franziska of Sulzbach...
. His sister had already been married to Maria Amalia's brother Frederick
Frederick Augustus I of Saxony
Frederick Augustus I was King of Saxony from the House of Wettin. He was also Elector Frederick Augustus III of Saxony and Duke Frederick Augustus I of Warsaw...
since 1769. Charles succeeded as Duke of Zweibrücken in 1775. Previously, he had been bitterly rejected in 1768 as a husband for Maria Amalia of Austria by her mother Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma...
, who felt he was not suitable enough for her. Maria Amalia was thus Charles' second choice.
Maria Amalia and her husband had only one son, who died in childhood. Charles' brother Maximilian inherited his title upon Charles' death in 1795.