Maria Vittoria dal Pozzo

Maria Vittoria dal Pozzo
6th Princess of Cisterna d'Asti and of Belriguardo
Queen consort of Spain
Tenure16 November 1870 – 11 February 1873
6th Princess of Cisterna d'Asti and of Belriguardo
Tenure26 March 1864 – 8 November 1876
PredecessorCarlo Emanuele dal Pozzo
SuccessorPrince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy
BornMaria Vittoria Carlotta Enrichetta Giovanna dal Pozzo
(1847-08-09)9 August 1847
Paris, France
Died8 November 1876(1876-11-08) (aged 29)
Sanremo, Italy
Burial
Spouse
(m. 1867)
Issue
HousePozzo
FatherCarlo Emanuele dal Pozzo
MotherLouise de Mérode

Maria Vittoria Carlotta Enrichetta Giovanna dal Pozzo, 6th Princess of Cisterna d'Asti and of Belriguardo (9 August 1847 – 8 November 1876), was an Italian noblewoman who was Queen of Spain from 16 November 1870 until 11 February 1873 as the wife of King Amadeo I. Maria Vittoria inherited her princely title after the death of her father.[1] In 1867, she married Amadeo, then Duke of Aosta, second son of King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy. In 1870, her husband became the king of Spain, making her queen consort. King Amadeo abdicated after a reign of less than three years, and he and Maria Vittoria returned to Italy. She died in Sanremo, Italy, in 1876.

Early life

She was the eldest and only surviving child of Carlo Emanuele dal Pozzo della Cisterna, 5th Prince of Cisterna d'Asti and of Belriguardo, and his wife, Countess Louise de Mérode-Westerloo.[1] Upon the death of her father in 1864, she inherited his noble titles and thus became the Princess of Cisterna d'Asti and of Belriguardo, Marquise of Voghera and Countess of Ponderano, among other titles, in her own right.

Marriage

On 30 May 1867 in Turin, she married Prince Amadeo of Savoy, the Duke of Aosta and second son of King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy.[1] An urban legend circulates that claims numerous tragedies to have befallen the wedding of Maria Vittoria and the Duke of Aosta.[2]

Her husband was elected to occupy the vacant Spanish throne on 16 November 1870. She lived a discreet life in Spain and only involved herself in charity. Amadeo resigned from his position on 11 February 1873, and he and Maria Vittoria returned to Italy. Her health was damaged by the trip and childbirth, and she died later that year of tuberculosis in Sanremo.[3]

Issue

  1. Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy-Aosta, Duke of Aosta (13 January 1869 – 4 July 1931), Marshal of Italy, married to Princess Hélène of Orléans and had issue.
  2. Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy-Aosta, Count of Turin (24 November 1870 – 10 October 1946), died unmarried.
  3. Prince Luigi Amedeo of Savoy-Aosta, Duke of the Abruzzi (29 January 1873 – 18 March 1933), Vice Admiral in the Italian Royal Navy, died unmarried.

Honours

Ancestry

References

  1. ^ a b c de Badts de Cugnac, Chantal. Coutant de Saisseval, Guy. ‘’Le Petit Gotha’’. Nouvelle Imprimerie Laballery, Paris 2002, p. 612 (French) ISBN 2-9507974-3-1
  2. ^ Death and the Wedding Party
  3. ^ Find a grave
  4. ^ a b Mediterranean Nobility
Maria Vittoria dal Pozzo
Pozzo family
Born: 7 January 1787 Died: 26 March 1864
Royal titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Francisco de Asís, Duke of Cádiz
as king consort
Queen consort of Spain
16 November 1870 - 11 February 1873
Vacant
Title next held by
Mercedes of Orléans
Italian royalty
Vacant
Title last held by
Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria-Este
Duchess of Aosta
2nd Creation

30 May 1867 – 8 November 1876
Vacant
Title next held by
Princess Maria Letizia Bonaparte
Italian nobility
Preceded by 6th Princess of Cisterna d'Asti and of Belriguardo
26 March 1864 – 8 November 1876
Succeeded by