Princess Cristina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
Encyclopedia
Princess Cristina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (full Italian
name: Maria Cristina Pia Anna Isabella Natalia Elisa di Borbone delle Due Sicilie) (24 December 1869, Rome
– 28 March 1870, Rome
) was the only child of King Francis II of the Two Sicilies
and his wife, Maria Sophie of Bavaria.
(still under pontifical rule), the Bourbons-Two Sicilies needed to perpetuate their dying dynasty in the relatively likely scenario of a failure of the newborn (1861) Kingdom of Italy which struggled, in its early years under Savoy
rule, to contain the foreign and rebellious south of the peninsula. Ever since fleeing the castle of Gaeta
, where they had sought refuge, the sovereigns had looked at the current situation as a temporary one (much as it had been the case for their parents during the time of the Napoleonic empire).
Somewhat supported by other European reigning families, who had witnessed the Savoys quickly "usurp" the thrones of relatives close and distant, the Bourbons-Two Sicilies were well aware of the significance of a strong, healthy blood line to encourage former subjects to act against the Savoys—hence the pressure on Francis and Maria Sophie to conceive and procure a healthy heir designated.
However, king Francis had suffered, since birth, of a malformation
that prevented him from having children. His deeply religious and shy nature also hindered any intimate contact with his wife.
Maria Sophie, after being patient for some time, finally gave free rein to her sensuality and began several extra-marital affairs
. From one of her lovers, the Belgian
Count Armand de Lawayss, Maria Sophie even had twins, a pregnancy kept well hidden to avoid a scandal by her mother Princess Ludovika of Bavaria and siblings.
Traveling continuously in an attempt to distract herself from a disappointing marriage, the young queen had many chances to meet new people (and new lovers) while spending time with her favourite sister, Empress Elisabeth of Austria
, who regularly sought escape from her unhappy marriage as well.
After witnessing one of Maria Sophie's several liaisons, her brother-in-law, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria
, intervened. His wife Elisabeth, unwilling to tolerate the rift between Maria Sophie and her husband any further, wrote a letter to King Francis II in which she attempted to persuade him to fulfil his conjugal duties, while calling upon her sister to return to Rome to receive a gift from her.
Francis, under pressure from the Emperor and the papal court, finally decided to undergo an operation to resolve his physical problem; Maria Sophie, upon returning to Rome, found her sister Elisabeth's gift, a beautiful and expensive double bed.
1869. The infant was named Maria Cristina after her paternal grandmother, Maria Christina of Savoy
.
The search for a wet nurse, which began immediately, led, after two failed attempts, to the selection of a sturdy peasant from the northern regions of the kingdom.
The choice of a governess, who effectively led the nursery, proved to be an even more arduous, and less fortunate, endeavour. The English middle-aged Lady who was finally selected turned out to be very eccentric and ill-suited to fit the Bourbon's strict royal protocol, suggesting that the infant be given cold baths and left to dry in the sun, administering alcoholic beverages "to build character", and requesting that the wet nurse do not touch the newborn altogether.
As it was customary that parents rarely visite newborns (and children, in general), there was little supervision that could have prevented the infant's health from quickly deteriorating under such bizarre (and overly harsh) conditions.
An opulent baptism ceremony took place five days after the birth at Palazzo Farnese in Rome, with Pope Pius IX
and her maternal aunt Elisabeth serving as godparents; the baptism was attended by much of the Neapolitan nobility, in Rome for the occasion, several diplomats, prelates, and all of Maria Sophie's sisters.
The princess' health quickly deteriorated and could not be restored. Her death, at barely three months of age, shook her parents' relationship forever: Marie Sophie left Rome, where she never returned, while Francis became even more introverted, losing interest for royal duties and dedicating his time almost completely to prayer and religious functions.
The burial occurred at the Church of Santo Spirito dei Napoletani in Rome, from which the remains were translated, on 18 May 1984, to the Bourbon family chapel in Naples, alongside her parents'.
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
name: Maria Cristina Pia Anna Isabella Natalia Elisa di Borbone delle Due Sicilie) (24 December 1869, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
– 28 March 1870, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
) was the only child of King Francis II of the Two Sicilies
Francis II of the Two Sicilies
Francis II , was King of the Two Sicilies from 1859 to 1861. He was the last King of the Two Sicilies, as successive invasions by Giuseppe Garibaldi and Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia ultimately brought an end to his rule, and marked the first major event of Italian unification...
and his wife, Maria Sophie of Bavaria.
Her parents
Exiled to RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
(still under pontifical rule), the Bourbons-Two Sicilies needed to perpetuate their dying dynasty in the relatively likely scenario of a failure of the newborn (1861) Kingdom of Italy which struggled, in its early years under 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...
rule, to contain the foreign and rebellious south of the peninsula. Ever since fleeing the castle of Gaeta
Gaeta
Gaeta is a city and comune in the province of Latina, in Lazio, central Italy. Set on a promontory stretching towards the Gulf of Gaeta, it is 120 km from Rome and 80 km from Naples....
, where they had sought refuge, the sovereigns had looked at the current situation as a temporary one (much as it had been the case for their parents during the time of the Napoleonic empire).
Somewhat supported by other European reigning families, who had witnessed the Savoys quickly "usurp" the thrones of relatives close and distant, the Bourbons-Two Sicilies were well aware of the significance of a strong, healthy blood line to encourage former subjects to act against the Savoys—hence the pressure on Francis and Maria Sophie to conceive and procure a healthy heir designated.
However, king Francis had suffered, since birth, of a malformation
Congenital disorder
A congenital disorder, or congenital disease, is a condition existing at birth and often before birth, or that develops during the first month of life , regardless of causation...
that prevented him from having children. His deeply religious and shy nature also hindered any intimate contact with his wife.
Maria Sophie, after being patient for some time, finally gave free rein to her sensuality and began several extra-marital affairs
Adultery
Adultery is sexual infidelity to one's spouse, and is a form of extramarital sex. It originally referred only to sex between a woman who was married and a person other than her spouse. Even in cases of separation from one's spouse, an extramarital affair is still considered adultery.Adultery is...
. From one of her lovers, the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
Count Armand de Lawayss, Maria Sophie even had twins, a pregnancy kept well hidden to avoid a scandal by her mother Princess Ludovika of Bavaria and siblings.
Traveling continuously in an attempt to distract herself from a disappointing marriage, the young queen had many chances to meet new people (and new lovers) while spending time with her favourite sister, Empress Elisabeth of Austria
Elisabeth of Bavaria
Elisabeth of Austria was the spouse of Franz Joseph I, and therefore both Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. She also held the titles of Queen of Bohemia and Croatia, among others...
, who regularly sought escape from her unhappy marriage as well.
After witnessing one of Maria Sophie's several liaisons, her brother-in-law, Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I was Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, King of Croatia, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Galicia and Lodomeria and Grand Duke of Cracow from 1848 until his death in 1916.In the December of 1848, Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria abdicated the throne as part of...
, intervened. His wife Elisabeth, unwilling to tolerate the rift between Maria Sophie and her husband any further, wrote a letter to King Francis II in which she attempted to persuade him to fulfil his conjugal duties, while calling upon her sister to return to Rome to receive a gift from her.
Francis, under pressure from the Emperor and the papal court, finally decided to undergo an operation to resolve his physical problem; Maria Sophie, upon returning to Rome, found her sister Elisabeth's gift, a beautiful and expensive double bed.
Birth and death
A deeply moved King Francis announced, in April 1869, the pregnancy of his wife. The King demonstrated his enthusiasm throughout the pregnancy, attending to his spouse and to all the preparations, including the choice of a wet nurse—a degree of involvement seldom observed in royal couples of the time. Assisted by her sister Elisabeth, who had arrived incognito for the occasion, Maria Sophie gave birth to a frail girl on Christmas EveChristmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
1869. The infant was named Maria Cristina after her paternal grandmother, Maria Christina of Savoy
Maria Christina of Savoy
Maria Cristina of Savoy was the first Queen consort of Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies...
.
The search for a wet nurse, which began immediately, led, after two failed attempts, to the selection of a sturdy peasant from the northern regions of the kingdom.
The choice of a governess, who effectively led the nursery, proved to be an even more arduous, and less fortunate, endeavour. The English middle-aged Lady who was finally selected turned out to be very eccentric and ill-suited to fit the Bourbon's strict royal protocol, suggesting that the infant be given cold baths and left to dry in the sun, administering alcoholic beverages "to build character", and requesting that the wet nurse do not touch the newborn altogether.
As it was customary that parents rarely visite newborns (and children, in general), there was little supervision that could have prevented the infant's health from quickly deteriorating under such bizarre (and overly harsh) conditions.
An opulent baptism ceremony took place five days after the birth at Palazzo Farnese in Rome, with Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
and her maternal aunt Elisabeth serving as godparents; the baptism was attended by much of the Neapolitan nobility, in Rome for the occasion, several diplomats, prelates, and all of Maria Sophie's sisters.
The princess' health quickly deteriorated and could not be restored. Her death, at barely three months of age, shook her parents' relationship forever: Marie Sophie left Rome, where she never returned, while Francis became even more introverted, losing interest for royal duties and dedicating his time almost completely to prayer and religious functions.
The burial occurred at the Church of Santo Spirito dei Napoletani in Rome, from which the remains were translated, on 18 May 1984, to the Bourbon family chapel in Naples, alongside her parents'.
Titles and styles
- 24 December 1869 – 28 March 1870: Her Royal Highness Princess Cristina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies