Maria Teresa Cybo-Malaspina
Encyclopedia
Maria Teresa Cybo-Malaspina (29 June 1725 – 29 December 1790) was the Duchess of Massa and the Princess of Carrara
from 1731 until her death in 1790. She was the eldest child of her parents, Alderano I Cybo-Malaspina and his wife Ricciarda Gonzaga. She was the wife of Ercole III d'Este, Duke of Modena
and was thus Duchess of Modena by marriage.
(in what is now the province of Reggio Emilia
, Emilia-Romagna
). As the eldest of her father's children, she was his designated heiress. Her father died on 18 August 1731 when she was just six years old. Through her mother she was a descendant of the Counts of Novellara and the House of Este.
As the sovereign of two sovereign territories, she was a very attractive candidate for marriage. A possible candidate was the Count of Soissons, Eugenio Giovanni Francesco of Savoy. He was the grandson of Prince Louis Thomas of Savoy
. Despite this marriage took place and the two were actually a couple, they never met due to the prince's death in 1734, months after the two were married. Eventually, she would look to the Duchy of Modena.
The young Ercole Rinaldo d'Este
was the hereditary prince of Modena and Reggio. The couple would marry in 1741 and the Duchy of Massa and Principality of Carrara would then be added to the Duchy of Modena and Reggio.
In 1744, she formally received her states, which so far had been ruled by her mother due to her age. She was known as a nice and sensible person, who had been well educated by her mother, with the emphasis on clemency, moderation and patience. She reformed the laws, built a hospital and promoted art, culture and architecture. Maria Teresa was praised for helping to set up Art Academies in Carrara and, after correspondence with the Spanish court, the creation of the Academy of Madrid.
Empress Maria Theresa of Austria
sought to arrange a marriage between Maria Beatrice Ricciarda and her fourth son Archduke Ferdinand of Austria
to expand Austrian influence in Italy. The couple was engaged at a very young age and the marriage was celebrated in Milan on 15 October 1771. From this marriage, the House of Austria-Este
was created, a cadet branch of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, which ruled Modena between 1814 and 1859.
Maria Teresa died in 1790 in Modena. By the time of her death, her daughter Maria Beatrice had succeeded to her titles. She was buried in the Basilica della Ghiara
. Her other titles of Duchess of Ajello, Baroness di Paduli, Sovereign Lady of Moneta and Avenza and Lady of Lago, Laghitello, Serra and Terrati also went to her daughter.
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Carrara
Carrara is a city and comune in the province of Massa-Carrara , notable for the white or blue-grey marble quarried there. It is on the Carrione River, some west-northwest of Florence....
from 1731 until her death in 1790. She was the eldest child of her parents, Alderano I Cybo-Malaspina and his wife Ricciarda Gonzaga. She was the wife of Ercole III d'Este, Duke of Modena
Ercole III d'Este, Duke of Modena
Ercole III d'Este was Duke of Modena and Reggio from 1780 to 1796. He was a member of the House of Este.-Biography:...
and was thus Duchess of Modena by marriage.
Biography
Maria Teresa was born in the town of NovellaraNovellara
Novellara is a town and comune in the province of Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna, Italy, with some 13,500 inhabitants. It is 19 km north of Reggio Emilia and has a railway station for the local train going from Reggio to Guastalla.-History:...
(in what is now the province of Reggio Emilia
Province of Reggio Emilia
The Province of Reggio Emilia is one of the eight provinces of the Italian Region of Emilia-Romagna. The capital city, which is the most densely populated comune in the Province, is Reggio Emilia....
, Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia–Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. The capital is Bologna; it has an area of and about 4.4 million inhabitants....
). As the eldest of her father's children, she was his designated heiress. Her father died on 18 August 1731 when she was just six years old. Through her mother she was a descendant of the Counts of Novellara and the House of Este.
As the sovereign of two sovereign territories, she was a very attractive candidate for marriage. A possible candidate was the Count of Soissons, Eugenio Giovanni Francesco of Savoy. He was the grandson of Prince Louis Thomas of Savoy
Prince Louis Thomas of Savoy-Carignan
Louis Thomas of Savoy was a Count of Soissons and Prince of Savoy.-Biography:...
. Despite this marriage took place and the two were actually a couple, they never met due to the prince's death in 1734, months after the two were married. Eventually, she would look to the Duchy of Modena.
The young Ercole Rinaldo d'Este
Ercole III d'Este, Duke of Modena
Ercole III d'Este was Duke of Modena and Reggio from 1780 to 1796. He was a member of the House of Este.-Biography:...
was the hereditary prince of Modena and Reggio. The couple would marry in 1741 and the Duchy of Massa and Principality of Carrara would then be added to the Duchy of Modena and Reggio.
In 1744, she formally received her states, which so far had been ruled by her mother due to her age. She was known as a nice and sensible person, who had been well educated by her mother, with the emphasis on clemency, moderation and patience. She reformed the laws, built a hospital and promoted art, culture and architecture. Maria Teresa was praised for helping to set up Art Academies in Carrara and, after correspondence with the Spanish court, the creation of the Academy of Madrid.
Empress 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...
sought to arrange a marriage between Maria Beatrice Ricciarda and her fourth son Archduke Ferdinand of Austria
Archduke Ferdinand of Austria-Este
Archduke Ferdinand Karl Anton Joseph Johann Stanislaus of Austria-Este was a son of Holy Roman Emperor Franz I and Maria Theresa of Austria. He was the founder of the House of Austria-Este and Governor of the Duchy of Milan between 1765 and 1796...
to expand Austrian influence in Italy. The couple was engaged at a very young age and the marriage was celebrated in Milan on 15 October 1771. From this marriage, the House of Austria-Este
Austria-Este
Archduke of Austria-Este and Habsburg-Este are a title and a surname which have been used by several cadet branches of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine to denote a connection with the extinct Italian princely and feudal family of Este and the Duchy of Modena ruled by them...
was created, a cadet branch of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, which ruled Modena between 1814 and 1859.
Maria Teresa died in 1790 in Modena. By the time of her death, her daughter Maria Beatrice had succeeded to her titles. She was buried in the Basilica della Ghiara
Basilica della Ghiara
The Tempio della Beata Vergine della Ghiara, also known as Basilica della Madonna della Ghiara is a church in Reggio Emilia, northern Italy...
. Her other titles of Duchess of Ajello, Baroness di Paduli, Sovereign Lady of Moneta and Avenza and Lady of Lago, Laghitello, Serra and Terrati also went to her daughter.
Family
Maria Teresa and Ercole III had 2 children:- Maria Beatrice Ricciarda d'EsteMaria Beatrice Ricciarda d'EsteMaria Beatrice d’Este was heiress of Modena and Reggio and Duchess of Massa and Carrara from 1790 until 1797 and from 1816 until her death in 1829.-Biography:...
(1750–1829) - Reinaldo Francesco d'Este (born 1753)
Ancestry
Titles and styles
- 29 June 1725 – 18 August 1731 Dona Maria Teresa
- 18 August 1731 – 16 April 1741 Her Highness the Duchess of Massa
- 16 April 1741 – 22 February 1780 Her Royal Highness the Hereditary Princess of Modena, Duchess of Massa
- 22 February 1780 – 29 December 1790 Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Modena, Duchess of Massa
Titles
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