Princess Maria Annunciata
Archduchess of Austria
Photograph of Princess Maria Annunciata, published as a postcard in Europe (photograph by Ludwig Angerer, ca. 1865)
Born(1843-03-24)24 March 1843
Royal Palace of Caserta, Caserta, Two Sicilies
Died4 May 1871(1871-05-04) (aged 28)
Vienna, Austria-Hungary
Burial
Imperial Crypt
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1862)​
Issue
Names
Italian: Maria Annunziata Isabella Filomena Sebasia
HouseBourbon-Two Sicilies
FatherFerdinand II of the Two Sicilies
MotherArchduchess Maria Theresa of Austria
ReligionRoman Catholic

Princess Maria Annunciata Isabella Filomena Sebasia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (Italian: Maria Annunziata Isabella Filomena Sebasia, Principessa di Borbone delle Due Sicilie; 24 March 1843 – 4 May 1871) was a political figure from the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. In 1862, she married Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria, however, their marriage was short-lived due to her death from tuberculosis in 1871. She is known for being the mother of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, whose assassination in Sarajevo precipitated the start of World War I.

Early years (1843-1861)

Maria Annunciata Isabella Filomena Sabasia, known as Maria Annunciata to the public and “Ciolla” to her family, was born on 24 March 1843 at the Royal Palace of Caserta to King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies and his wife, Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria. She was the fourth of their twelve children, and the eldest daughter. She also had a half-brother, Francis, from her father's first marriage. Throughout her childhood and adulthood, Maria was known to be "calm, modest and reserved", while her mother enjoyed social life.

The death of Ferdinand

In 1859, Ferdinand, Maria's father, died, and his older brother Francis claimed the throne of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. His reign ended in 1860 during the Expedition of the Thousand led by Giuseppe Garibaldi, who overthrew the monarchy, and the people voted to join the Kingdom of Sardinia, under King Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia.

Upon the invasion, Maria Theresa moved the family towards Gaeta. The family stayed in Rome after many weeks of traveling. There the family lived with Pope Pius IX at the Quirinal Palace. Then the family left for the Farnese Palace.[1]

Marriage (1862-1870)

During the family's stay in Rome, Maria was wedded to Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria. The marriage by proxy took place on 16 October 1862 in Rome, and the wedding itself took place on 21 October 1862 in Venice.[1] It was reported that the couple fell in love instantly upon seeing each other for the first time, though there is nothing to back this claim up. The marriage itself appeared to be a happy one.

Maria Anunciata and her husband Archduke Karl Ludwig
Maria Anunciata and her husband Archduke Karl Ludwig sitting at a table, ca. 1870

One day after the wedding, however, Maria suffered from a seizure during mass.[1] This in return caused many to worry over the Princess's health, and the fact the seizure had taken place in front of members of the reigning House of Habsburg.[1] Later on it was revealed Maria was afflicted with tuberculosis.

Maria suppressed her illness and attended balls, theater and opera.[1]

Children

Despite Maria's poor health, she gave birth to four children: Franz Ferdinand in 1863, Otto Franz in 1865, Ferdinand Karl in 1868 and Margarete Sophie in 1870.

Maria Anunciata with her children

Death and burial

After the birth of Margarete Sophie in 1870, Maria became very ill; it was evident that she wouldn't survive, much to the public's dismay. As her illness progressed, Maria spent her final days in agony,[1] succumbing to tuberculosis on 4 May 1871 at the age of 28. Her burial took place in the Imperial Crypt at the Capuchin Church in Vienna, Austria.

Her husband, Archduke Karl Ludwig remarried two years after her death in 1873 to Infanta Maria Theresa of Portugal. They named their first child, Archduchess Maria Annunciata of Austria, after her.

The Capuchin Church
The exterior of the Capuchin Church, in which Maria Annunciata is buried

Children

Children of Princess Maria Annunciata
NamePortraitLifespanNotes
Archduke Franz Ferdinand 18 December 1863 –
28 June 1914		 Married morganatically Countess Sophie Chotek von Chotkow und Wognin; had issue.
Archduke Otto Franz Joseph Karl Ludwig Maria
Archduke Otto of Austria		 21 April 1865 –
1 November 1906		 Married Maria Josepha of Saxony; had issue. He had an affair with actress Maria Schlenizer; had issue. His descendant Tony Bohler is an alleged illegitimate son of his granddaughter Lisa von Hortenau and John F. Kennedy.
Archduke Ferdinand Karl
Ferdinand Burg		 27 December 1868 –
12 March 1915		 Married morganatically to Bertha Czuber; no issue.
Archduchess Margarete Sophie 13 May 1870 –
24 August 1902		 Married Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg; had issue.

Ancestry

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Susan (11 June 2021). "Maria Annunciata of the Two Sicilies, Archduchess of Austria". Unofficial Royalty. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
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