Princess Isabella of Bavaria
Encyclopedia
Princess Isabella Maria Elisabeth of Bavaria (31 August 1863 – 26 February 1924) was the third child and eldest daughter of Prince Adalbert of Bavaria and his wife Infanta Amelia Philippina of Spain
. By her marriage to Prince Thomas, Duke of Genoa, she became referred to as the Duchess of Genoa.
.
Isabella's father Adalbert was the fourth son of Ludwig I of Bavaria
and Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen
. Her mother Amalia
was a daughter of Infante Francisco de Paula of Spain
, a younger brother of Ferdinand VII of Spain. Her mother was also a sister of Francis, Duke of Cádiz, the consort of Ferdinand VII's daughter Isabella II of Spain
.
of Umberto I of Italy
, and thus was an uncle of the future King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy
. Their union was the fourth time the houses of Wittelsbach and Savoy
had been united in marriage.
The wedding was regarded by one spectator as "remarkable for good taste and simplicity". Ludwig II of Bavaria
(Isabella's cousin) did not attend, as he rarely went to public events. His absence, observed one attendee, meant that the wedding guests "could enjoy themselves in an atmosphere of conviviality which is rarely found in Court festivities".
Isabella and Thomas had the following children:
attended a ceremony in honor of the beatification of a French priest. It was attended by Pope Pius X
, along with 1,000 French pilgrims and several thousand worshipers of other nationalities, as well as twenty-two Cardinals
and the Papal Court
. The event was notable as it was the first time members of the House of Savoy had assisted at a religious function in the presence of the Pope.
As Duke and Duchess of Genoa, Isabella and her husband often attended other royal functions as representatives of the House of Savoy. For instance, in 1911 they attended the unveiling of a large monument of Victor Emmanuel II of Italy
in Rome. The event had nearly one million witnesses, and was also attended by dowager queens Maria Pia of Portugal
and Margherita of Italy
and the Duke and Duchess
of Aosta
.
In 1913, Isabella had a near escape from death. While anointing her arms and neck with a preparation for rheumatism
, she became too close to a lamp, causing the preparation to ignite. She only survived because her maid quickly smothered the flames.
Infanta Amelia Philippina of Spain
Infanta Amalia Philippina of Spain was a member of the Spanish royal house.-Childhood:She was born in Madrid as the eleventh child and sixth daughter of Infante Francisco de Paula of Spain, younger brother of King Fernando VII of Spain, and wife, Princess Luisa Carlotta of Bourbon-Two Sicilies...
. By her marriage to Prince Thomas, Duke of Genoa, she became referred to as the Duchess of Genoa.
Family
Isabella was one of five children born to Prince Adalbert of Bavaria and his wife Infanta Amelia Philippina of SpainInfanta Amelia Philippina of Spain
Infanta Amalia Philippina of Spain was a member of the Spanish royal house.-Childhood:She was born in Madrid as the eleventh child and sixth daughter of Infante Francisco de Paula of Spain, younger brother of King Fernando VII of Spain, and wife, Princess Luisa Carlotta of Bourbon-Two Sicilies...
.
Isabella's father Adalbert was the fourth son of Ludwig I of Bavaria
Ludwig I of Bavaria
Ludwig I was a German king of Bavaria from 1825 until the 1848 revolutions in the German states.-Crown prince:...
and Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen
Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen
Therese Charlotte Luise of Saxony-Hildburghausen was a queen of Bavaria.She was a daughter of Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg, and Duchess Charlotte Georgine of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, eldest daughter of Charles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.-Biography:In 1809, she was on the list of...
. Her mother Amalia
Infanta Amelia Philippina of Spain
Infanta Amalia Philippina of Spain was a member of the Spanish royal house.-Childhood:She was born in Madrid as the eleventh child and sixth daughter of Infante Francisco de Paula of Spain, younger brother of King Fernando VII of Spain, and wife, Princess Luisa Carlotta of Bourbon-Two Sicilies...
was a daughter of Infante Francisco de Paula of Spain
Infante Francisco de Paula of Spain
Infante Francisco de Paula of Spain was the youngest son of Charles IV of Spain and Maria Luisa of Parma.-Marriage and children:...
, a younger brother of Ferdinand VII of Spain. Her mother was also a sister of Francis, Duke of Cádiz, the consort of Ferdinand VII's daughter Isabella II of Spain
Isabella II of Spain
Isabella II was the only female monarch of Spain in modern times. She came to the throne as an infant, but her succession was disputed by the Carlists, who refused to recognise a female sovereign, leading to the Carlist Wars. After a troubled reign, she was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of...
.
Marriage and children
In 1883 at Nymphenburg, Bavaria, Isabella married Prince Thomas, Duke of Genoa. He was the only son of Prince Ferdinand, Duke of Genoa and his wife Princess Elisabeth of Saxony. He was also a brother-in-law through his sister Margherita of SavoyMargherita of Savoy
Margherita of Savoy , was the Queen consort of the Kingdom of Italy during the reign of her husband, Umberto I.-Family:...
of Umberto I of Italy
Umberto I of Italy
Umberto I or Humbert I , nicknamed the Good , was the King of Italy from 9 January 1878 until his death. He was deeply loathed in far-left circles, especially among anarchists, because of his conservatism and support of the Bava-Beccaris massacre in Milan...
, and thus was an uncle of the future King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy
Victor Emmanuel III of Italy
Victor Emmanuel III was a member of the House of Savoy and King of Italy . In addition, he claimed the crowns of Ethiopia and Albania and claimed the titles Emperor of Ethiopia and King of Albania , which were unrecognised by the Great Powers...
. Their union was the fourth time the houses of Wittelsbach and 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...
had been united in marriage.
The wedding was regarded by one spectator as "remarkable for good taste and simplicity". Ludwig II of Bavaria
Ludwig II of Bavaria
Ludwig II was King of Bavaria from 1864 until shortly before his death. He is sometimes called the Swan King and der Märchenkönig, the Fairy tale King...
(Isabella's cousin) did not attend, as he rarely went to public events. His absence, observed one attendee, meant that the wedding guests "could enjoy themselves in an atmosphere of conviviality which is rarely found in Court festivities".
Isabella and Thomas had the following children:
| Name | |Death | Prince Konrad of Bavaria Prince Konrad of Bavaria Prince Konrad of Bavaria was a member of the Bavarian Royal House of Wittelsbach.-Early life:Konrad was born in Munich, Bavaria... ; had issue | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince Adalberto, Duke of Bergamo | 1898 | 1982 | |
| Princess Adelaide of Savoy-Genoa | 25 April 1904 | 8 February 1979 | married Leone Massimo, Prince of Arsoli |
| Eugenio, 5th Duke of Genoa and Duke of Ancona Eugenio, 5th Duke of Genoa Eugenio of Savoy-Genoa was a Prince of Savoy-Genoa, Duke of Ancona from birth, and fifth and final Duke of Genoa... |
13 March 1906 | 8 December 1996 | married Princess Lucia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies Princess Lucia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies Princess Lucia Maria Raniera of Bourbon-Two Sicilies was a Princess of Bourbon-Two Sicilies as fifth child and fourth-eldest daughter of Prince Ferdinand Pius of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria and his wife Princess Maria Ludwiga Theresia of Bavaria... ; had issue |
Later life
In 1905, Isabella and her husband, as well as other members of the House of SavoyHouse 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...
attended a ceremony in honor of the beatification of a French priest. It was attended by Pope Pius X
Pope Pius X
Pope Saint Pius X , born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, was the 257th Pope of the Catholic Church, serving from 1903 to 1914. He was the first pope since Pope Pius V to be canonized. Pius X rejected modernist interpretations of Catholic doctrine, promoting traditional devotional practices and orthodox...
, along with 1,000 French pilgrims and several thousand worshipers of other nationalities, as well as twenty-two Cardinals
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
and the Papal Court
Papal court
The Papal Household or Pontifical Household , called until 1968 the Papal Court , consists of dignitaries who assist the Pope in carrying out particular ceremonies of either a religious or a civil character....
. The event was notable as it was the first time members of the House of Savoy had assisted at a religious function in the presence of the Pope.
As Duke and Duchess of Genoa, Isabella and her husband often attended other royal functions as representatives of the House of Savoy. For instance, in 1911 they attended the unveiling of a large monument 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...
in Rome. The event had nearly one million witnesses, and was also attended by dowager queens Maria Pia of Portugal
Maria Pia of Savoy
Maria Pia of Savoy was a Portuguese Queen consort, spouse of King Luís I of Portugal. On the day of her baptism, Pope Pius IX, her godfather, gave her a Golden Rose. Maria Pia was married to Luís on the 6 October 1862 in Lisbon...
and Margherita of Italy
Margherita of Savoy
Margherita of Savoy , was the Queen consort of the Kingdom of Italy during the reign of her husband, Umberto I.-Family:...
and the Duke and Duchess
Princess Hélène d'Orléans
Princess Hélène of Orléans was a member of the Orléans royal family and by marriage Duchess of Aosta.-Family:She was the third of eight children born to Prince Philippe, Count of Paris, and Infanta Maria Isabel of Spain...
of Aosta
Aosta
Aosta is the principal city of the bilingual Aosta Valley in the Italian Alps, north-northwest of Turin. It is situated near the Italian entrance of the Mont Blanc Tunnel, at the confluence of the Buthier and the Dora Baltea, and at the junction of the Great and Little St. Bernard routes...
.
In 1913, Isabella had a near escape from death. While anointing her arms and neck with a preparation for rheumatism
Rheumatism
Rheumatism or rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the joints and connective tissue. The study of, and therapeutic interventions in, such disorders is called rheumatology.-Terminology:...
, she became too close to a lamp, causing the preparation to ignite. She only survived because her maid quickly smothered the flames.
Death
On 26 February 1924, Isabella died of bronchial pneumonia in Rome. She had been ill for several days beforehand. Thomas would die seven years later, in 1931.Titles and styles
- 31 August 1863 – 21 May 1883: Her Royal Highness Princess Isabella of Bavaria
- 21 May 1883 – 26 February 1924: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Genoa