Maria Angela Caterina d'Este
Encyclopedia
Maria Angela Caterina d'Este (1 March 1656 – 16 July 1722) was an Italian born Princess of Modena who was later the Princess of Carignano
by marriage. She was the wife of Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, Prince of Carignano. In France she was known as Angélique Catherine d'Este and in Modena and Savoy she was known as Maria Caterina d'Este. She is an ancestor of Victor Emmanuel II of Italy
and thus the whole present pretending Italian Royal Family
. She is also an ancestor of the pretender of France.
The youngest of seven children, she lost her father in 1664; it is not clear whether she knew her mother. Her first cousins included Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena, Margherita d'Este (wife of the Duke of Guastalla
) and the Duke of Mirandola. She was also a cousin of Isabella and Maria d'Este
, two successive Duchesses of Parma.
The unmarried princess was noted for her good looks and for having such a fine figure for one of her age at the time of her marriage.
Despite the permission of Victor Amadeus, Duke of Savoy
, Emmanuel Philibert's cousin and ruler of Savoy Emmanuel Philibert had expressed a wish to marry Maria Angela Caterina. Emmanuel Philibert was the son of the late Thomas Francis, Prince of Carignano
and his French born wife, the domineering Marie de Bourbon
. His sister was the Dowager Hereditary Princess of Baden-Baden, mother of the famous General Türkenlouis
.
The match was greatly opposed by France, then under the rule of Louis XIV, as Louis XIV had wanted Emmanuel Philibert to marry a French princess as Emmanuel Philibert was the heir presumptive
to the Duchy of Savoy
.
A proxy ceremony took place in Modena where her unmarried brother Caesare Ignace d'Este acted as her husband to be. In a private ceremony at the Castle of Racconigi
, the summer residence of the Princes of Carignano. The ceremony took place on the 10 November 1684, the bride being 28 and the groom 56.
This wedding was important to the House of Savoy
, but very poorly viewed by the kingdom of France for its lack of political connection. Louis subsequently bannised Emmanuel Philibert and his new spouse from the French court.
Maria Angela's grand father had accepted the offer of marriage as he and Emmanuel Philibert had had good relations.
Her husband died in 1709 making Maria Angela Caterina the dowager princess of Carignano. Her only surviving son Victor Amadeus succeeded as Prince of Carignano. She died at the age of 66.
Princess of Carignano
The Princess of Carignano was a woman married to the Prince of Carignano of the House of Savoy. The list ends with Charles Albert, in 1831, after he became King of Sardinia...
by marriage. She was the wife of Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, Prince of Carignano. In France she was known as Angélique Catherine d'Este and in Modena and Savoy she was known as Maria Caterina d'Este. She is an ancestor of Victor Emmanuel II of Italy
Victor Emmanuel II of Italy
Victor Emanuel II was king of Sardinia from 1849 and, on 17 March 1861, he assumed the title King of Italy to become the first king of a united Italy since the 6th century, a title he held until his death in 1878...
and thus the whole present pretending Italian Royal Family
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early 11th century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until the end of World War II, king of Croatia and King of Armenia...
. She is also an ancestor of the pretender of France.
Biography
Born to the General Borso d'Este and his wife Ippolita d'Este, Maria Angela Caterina was the product of a marriage between niece and uncle, her father being a son of Cesare d'Este, Duke of Modena and her mother a daughter of Luigi d'Este, younger son of Cesare. As a member of the House of Este, she was a princess of Modena by birth, her father being the "founder" of a collateral line of the House of Este.The youngest of seven children, she lost her father in 1664; it is not clear whether she knew her mother. Her first cousins included Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena, Margherita d'Este (wife of the Duke of Guastalla
Ferrante III Gonzaga
Ferrante III Gonzaga was Duke of Guastalla.He was the son of Cesare II Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla and Duke of Amalfi and Isabella Orsini.He succeeded his father in 1632....
) and the Duke of Mirandola. She was also a cousin of Isabella and Maria d'Este
Maria d'Este
Maria d'Este was a Modenese princess and Duchess of Parma as the wife of Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of Parma. She was a daughter of Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena and Maria Caterina Farnese.-Family:...
, two successive Duchesses of Parma.
The unmarried princess was noted for her good looks and for having such a fine figure for one of her age at the time of her marriage.
Despite the permission of Victor Amadeus, Duke of Savoy
Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia
Victor Amadeus II was Duke of Savoy from 1675 to 1730. He also held the titles of marquis of Saluzzo, duke of Montferrat, prince of Piedmont, count of Aosta, Moriana and Nizza. Louis XIV organised his marriage in order to maintain French influence in the Duchy but Victor Amadeus soon broke away...
, Emmanuel Philibert's cousin and ruler of Savoy Emmanuel Philibert had expressed a wish to marry Maria Angela Caterina. Emmanuel Philibert was the son of the late Thomas Francis, Prince of Carignano
Thomas Francis, Prince of Carignano
Thomas Francis of Savoy was an Italian military commander, the founder of the Savoy-Carignano branch of the House of Savoy which reigned as kings of Sardinia from 1831 to 1861, and as kings of Italy from 1861 until the...
and his French born wife, the domineering Marie de Bourbon
Marie de Bourbon, Countess of Soissons
Marie de Bourbon, Countess of Soissons was the wife of Thomas Francis, Prince of Carignano.-Biography:Marie Marguerite de Bourbon was born at the Hôtel de Soissons in Paris, was the second daughter and youngest child of Charles de Bourbon, comte de Soissons and his wife Anne de Montafié...
. His sister was the Dowager Hereditary Princess of Baden-Baden, mother of the famous General Türkenlouis
Louis William, Margrave of Baden-Baden
Louis William, Margrave of Baden was the ruler of Baden in Germany and chief commander of the Imperial army. He was also known as Türkenlouis...
.
The match was greatly opposed by France, then under the rule of Louis XIV, as Louis XIV had wanted Emmanuel Philibert to marry a French princess as Emmanuel Philibert was the heir presumptive
Heir Presumptive
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...
to the Duchy of Savoy
Duchy of Savoy
From 1416 to 1847, the House of Savoy ruled the eponymous Duchy of Savoy . The Duchy was a state in the northern part of the Italian Peninsula, with some territories that are now in France. It was a continuation of the County of Savoy...
.
A proxy ceremony took place in Modena where her unmarried brother Caesare Ignace d'Este acted as her husband to be. In a private ceremony at the Castle of Racconigi
Castle of Racconigi
The Royal Castle of Racconigi is a palace and landscape park in Racconigi, province of Cuneo, Italy. It was the official residence of the Carignano line of the House of Savoy, and is one of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy included by UNESCO in the World Heritage Sites list.-History:The...
, the summer residence of the Princes of Carignano. The ceremony took place on the 10 November 1684, the bride being 28 and the groom 56.
This wedding was important to the House of Savoy
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early 11th century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until the end of World War II, king of Croatia and King of Armenia...
, but very poorly viewed by the kingdom of France for its lack of political connection. Louis subsequently bannised Emmanuel Philibert and his new spouse from the French court.
Maria Angela's grand father had accepted the offer of marriage as he and Emmanuel Philibert had had good relations.
Her husband died in 1709 making Maria Angela Caterina the dowager princess of Carignano. Her only surviving son Victor Amadeus succeeded as Prince of Carignano. She died at the age of 66.
Issue
- Princess Maria Isabella of Savoy (14 March 1687 – 2 May 1767)
- Maria Vittoria of Savoy (12 February 1688 – 18 May 1763)
- Prince Victor Amadeus of Savoy, (1 March 1690 – 4 April 1741)
- Prince Thomas Philippe Geatano of Savoy (10 May 1696 – 12 Sep 1715)
Ancestry
Titles and styles
- 1 March 1656 – 10 November 1684 Her Highness Maria Angela Caterina d'Este, Princess of Modena
- 10 November 1684 – 21 April 1709 Her Highness the Princess of Carignan
- 21 April 1709 – 16 July 1722 Her Highness the Dowager Princess of Carignan