Maria Cristina of Naples and Sicily
| Maria Cristina of Naples | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Portrait by Giacomo Berger | |||||
| Queen consort of Sardinia | |||||
| Tenure | 12 March 1821 – 27 April 1831 | ||||
| Born |
17 January 1779 Caserta Palace, Kingdom of Naples | ||||
| Died |
11 March 1849 (aged 70) Savona, Kingdom of Sardinia | ||||
| Burial | Royal Basilica of Superga, Turin | ||||
| Spouse | Charles Felix of Sardinia | ||||
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| House |
House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (by birth) House of Savoy (by marriage) | ||||
| Father | Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies | ||||
| Mother | Maria Carolina of Austria | ||||
| Religion | Roman Catholic | ||||
Maria Cristina of Naples and Sicily (Maria Cristina Amelia Teresa; 17 January 1779 – 11 March 1849) was a Princess of Naples and Sicily[1] and later Queen of Sardinia as wife of King Charles Felix.
Princess of Naples and Sicily
She was a daughter of King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies and his wife Maria Carolina of Austria, a daughter of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria. Her (younger) twin sister Princess Maria Cristina Amelia died of smallpox in 1783, aged four, a week after their brother Prince Giuseppe died.
She was her mother's favourite child.
Duchess of Genoa
She was married on 6 April 1807 in Palermo with Prince Charles Felix of Savoy, who became king when his elder brother Victor Emmanuel I abdicated in 1821. Until her husband became king, she was styled as the Duchess of Genoa.
Queen of Sardinia
The royal couple were interested in the arts and artists, and turned the Royal House in Agliè and the Villa Rufinella in Frascati into comfortable residences.
During her husband's reign, they resided at the Palazzo Chiablese, where her husband died in 1831.
In 1825, the Queen engaged the archaeologist Marquess Luigi Biondi (1776–1839), whose excavation work uncovered Tusculum. In 1839 and 1840, the architect and archaeologist Luigi Canina (1795–1856) was engaged by the royal family and excavated the Theatre area of Tusculum. The ancient works of art excavated were sent to the Duke of Savoy's Castle of Agliè in Piedmont.
Charles Felix died in 1831 after a reign of ten years. Maria Cristina lived the rest of her life in Turin, Naples, Agliè and Frascati, and died in Savona, Liguria. She was buried beside her husband in the Basilica of Superga, Great Mausoleum, Savoy Crypt, Turin, Piedmont, Italy. The couple had no children.
Ancestry
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies (1779–1849). |
References and notes
- ↑ Later known as the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
| Maria Cristina of Naples and Sicily Cadet branch of the House of Bourbon Born: 17 January 1779 Died: 11 March 1849 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
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| Preceded by Maria Theresa of Austria-Este |
Queen consort of Sardinia 12 March 1821 – 27 April 1831 |
Succeeded by Maria Theresa of Austria |
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