Princess Marie Victoire d'Arenberg
Encyclopedia
Marie Victoire d'Arenberg (Marie Victoire Pauline; 26 October 1714 – 13 April 1793) was a member of the House of Arenberg
and later the Margravine of Baden-Baden as consort of Augustus George of Baden-Baden
. She is credited for her charitable nature setting up various religious orders in her adopted Baden-Baden
where she was known as Maria Viktoria.
the eldest daughter of Léopold Philippe d'Arenburg. Her mother was Maria Lodovica Francesca Pignatelli, a grand daughter of Ottone Enrico del Carretto
was an Imperial Army commander like her own father. As a member of the House of Arenberg
, she was allowed the style of Serene Highness reflecting the Arenbergs status as princes of the Holy Roman Empire
.
She was one of six children, her only surviving brother being Charles Marie Raymond d'Arenberg, another distinguished member of the imperial army. She was a childhood friend of the future Empress Maria Theresa.
She was a cousin of Maria Henriette de La Tour d'Auvergne
, wife of Count Palatine John Christian
and mother of the last Wittelsbach Elector of Bavaria
.
Marie Victoire received a strict Roman Catholic education and in later life, spent much of her larger personal fortune on charitable foundations related to the Catholic Church. She was also active in the care of children and Catholic education of young women. She also had a good education in music and the arts.
On 7 December 1735 she married Margrave Augustus George of Baden-Baden
, youngest son of Louis William of Baden-Baden
and Sibylle of Saxe-Lauenburg. Originally destined for the church, he left his ecclesiastical career in 1735. He was the brother of the ruling Margarve Louis George of Baden-Baden
.
The marriage remained childless. At the death of her brother in law Louis George in 1761, her husband succeeded as margrave making Marie Victoire, known as Maria Viktoria in Germany, the most important female at the court of Baden-Baden displacing Louis Georges widow Maria Anna Josepha of Bavaria
, sister of Maximilian III Joseph, Elector of Bavaria.
While Margravine, she set up a Augustinian choir for the women of Rastatt
, the main seat of the rulers of Baden-Baden. Her husband died in 1771 leaving no heirs of his own and thus Baden-Baden went to Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Baden, leaving the defunct Maria Viktoria without a home.
She moved from Rastatt and took up residence in Ottersweier
where she set up a convent. In the convent school girls learned all the skills which they would need as future mothers and teachers. In 1767 she bequeathed most of her property of a foundation to preserve the school beyond their death.
She died in Strasbourg
aged 78. She was buried at the Stiftskirche in Baden-Baden beside her husband.
House of Arenberg
The House of Arenberg is an aristocratic lineage that is constituted by three successive families who took their name from Arenberg, a small principality of the Holy Roman Empire in the Eifel. The inheritance of the House of Croÿ-Aarschot made the Arenbergs the most influential and most wealthy...
and later the Margravine of Baden-Baden as consort of Augustus George of Baden-Baden
Augustus George, Margrave of Baden-Baden
Augustus George of Baden-Baden was the ruling Margrave of Baden-Baden from 1761 till his death in 1771. He succeeded his brother Louis George and was the brother of the Duchess of Orléans...
. She is credited for her charitable nature setting up various religious orders in her adopted Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden is a spa town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on the western foothills of the Black Forest, on the banks of the Oos River, in the region of Karlsruhe...
where she was known as Maria Viktoria.
Biography
Marie Victoire was born in BrusselsBrussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
the eldest daughter of Léopold Philippe d'Arenburg. Her mother was Maria Lodovica Francesca Pignatelli, a grand daughter of Ottone Enrico del Carretto
Othon Henri del Caretto, Marquis of Savona
Othon Henri del Caretto or del Carretto, Marquis of Grana was an Imperial Army commander and political figure....
was an Imperial Army commander like her own father. As a member of the House of Arenberg
House of Arenberg
The House of Arenberg is an aristocratic lineage that is constituted by three successive families who took their name from Arenberg, a small principality of the Holy Roman Empire in the Eifel. The inheritance of the House of Croÿ-Aarschot made the Arenbergs the most influential and most wealthy...
, she was allowed the style of Serene Highness reflecting the Arenbergs status as princes of the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
.
She was one of six children, her only surviving brother being Charles Marie Raymond d'Arenberg, another distinguished member of the imperial army. She was a childhood friend of the future Empress Maria Theresa.
She was a cousin of Maria Henriette de La Tour d'Auvergne
Maria Henriette de La Tour d'Auvergne
Maria Henriette de La Tour d'Auvergne was a noblewoman born into the House of La Tour d'Auvergne. She was the Margravine of Bergen op Zoom in her own right from 1710 at the death of her father...
, wife of Count Palatine John Christian
John Christian, Count of Palatinate-Sulzbach
John Christian was the Count Palatine of Sulzbach from 1732 until 1733....
and mother of the last Wittelsbach Elector of Bavaria
Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria
Charles Theodore, Prince-Elector, Count Palatine and Duke of Bavaria reigned as Prince-Elector and Count palatine from 1742, as Duke of Jülich and Berg from 1742 and also as Prince-Elector and Duke of Bavaria from 1777, until his death...
.
Marie Victoire received a strict Roman Catholic education and in later life, spent much of her larger personal fortune on charitable foundations related to the Catholic Church. She was also active in the care of children and Catholic education of young women. She also had a good education in music and the arts.
On 7 December 1735 she married Margrave Augustus George of Baden-Baden
Augustus George, Margrave of Baden-Baden
Augustus George of Baden-Baden was the ruling Margrave of Baden-Baden from 1761 till his death in 1771. He succeeded his brother Louis George and was the brother of the Duchess of Orléans...
, youngest son of Louis William of Baden-Baden
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...
and Sibylle of Saxe-Lauenburg. Originally destined for the church, he left his ecclesiastical career in 1735. He was the brother of the ruling Margarve Louis George of Baden-Baden
Louis George, Margrave of Baden-Baden
Louis George of Baden-Baden was the Margrave of Baden-Baden from 1707 till his death in 1761. From 1707 till 1727 his mother Sibylle of Saxe-Lauenburg was the regent of Baden-Baden. He was succeeded by his younger brother August Georg Simpert...
.
The marriage remained childless. At the death of her brother in law Louis George in 1761, her husband succeeded as margrave making Marie Victoire, known as Maria Viktoria in Germany, the most important female at the court of Baden-Baden displacing Louis Georges widow Maria Anna Josepha of Bavaria
Duchess Maria Anna Josepha of Bavaria
Maria Anna Josepha of Bavaria was a Duchess of Bavaria by birth and Margravine of Baden-Baden by marriage. She was nicknamed the savior of Bavaria. She is also known as Maria Josepha and is sometimes styled as a princess of Bavaria.-Biography:Maria Anna Josepha was born at the Nymphenburg Palace...
, sister of Maximilian III Joseph, Elector of Bavaria.
While Margravine, she set up a Augustinian choir for the women of Rastatt
Rastatt
Rastatt is a city and baroque residence in the District of Rastatt, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on the Murg river, above its junction with the Rhine and has a population of around 50'000...
, the main seat of the rulers of Baden-Baden. Her husband died in 1771 leaving no heirs of his own and thus Baden-Baden went to Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Baden, leaving the defunct Maria Viktoria without a home.
She moved from Rastatt and took up residence in Ottersweier
Ottersweier
Ottersweier is a community in western Baden-Württemberg, Germany.-Twin cities: - Westerlo, Flanders, Belgium, since 1962 - Krauschwitz, Germany, since 1989...
where she set up a convent. In the convent school girls learned all the skills which they would need as future mothers and teachers. In 1767 she bequeathed most of her property of a foundation to preserve the school beyond their death.
She died in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
aged 78. She was buried at the Stiftskirche in Baden-Baden beside her husband.
Ancestry
Titles and styles
- 26 October 1714 – 7 December 1735 Her Serene Highness Princess Marie Victoire d'Arenberg
- 7 December 1735 – 22 October 1761 Her Serene Highness Margravine Augustus George of Baden-Baden
- 22 October 1761 – 21 October 1771 Her Serene Highness the Margravine of Baden-Baden
- 21 October 1771 – 13 April 1793 Her Serene Highness the Dowager Margravine of Baden-Baden