Maria Immaculata von Neapel-Sizilien

Maria Immaculata Clementina of Bourbon-Sicily was born on April 14, 1844, in Caserta, in the palace of the Bourbon kings of Naples and Sicily. She was a daughter of King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies and his second wife, the Austrian Archduchess Maria Theresa Isabella, known within the family as “Tetella.” Her father belonged to the Italian branch of the House of Bourbon, while her mother was a daughter of Archduke Charles of Austria-Teschen and Princess Henriette Alexandrine of Nassau-Weilburg. Maria Immaculata therefore grew up within a widely connected European princely and royal family. Ferdinand II had previously been married to Maria Christina of Savoy. Their son was the future King Francis II. After his first wife’s death, the king married Maria Theresa Isabella in 1837. Maria Immaculata was the fifth of the twelve children of this second marriage. Because of her delicate build, her father gave her the affectionate nickname “Petitta,” meaning “little one” or “little girl.” Her siblings included Louis Maria, Count of Trani; Alfonso Maria, Count of Caserta; Maria Annunciata; Gaetano; Maria Pia; Pasquale; Maria Luisa Immaculata; and Gennaro. Several of her siblings died in childhood. Through numerous marriages, the family was closely connected with other European dynasties. Maria Immaculata’s sister Maria Annunciata married Archduke Karl Ludwig in 1862, the brother of Emperor Franz Joseph. Their son was Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the later heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, and among their descendants was also Emperor Charles. Maria Immaculata was regarded as an exceptionally beautiful young woman. Empress Elisabeth included several photographs of her in her personal “album of beauties.” The relationship between the two relatives was nevertheless not entirely harmonious. Elisabeth, who is described as envious and jealous, reportedly took opportunities to hurt Maria Immaculata with mocking remarks. Later, she publicly ridiculed Maria Immaculata’s large family as “pearl fishers,” because Emperor Franz Joseph presented her with a pearl necklace for each of her children. On September 19, 1861, Maria Immaculata married Archduke Karl Salvator of Austria-Tuscany in Rome. He was a son of Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and the Bourbon princess Maria Antonia of Naples and Sicily. Through this marriage, Maria Immaculata became an Austrian archduchess. The couple had ten children, six of whom reached adulthood. Their eldest daughter, Archduchess Maria Theresa Antonietta, married Archduke Karl Stephan. Their son Archduke Leopold Salvator pursued a military career and became a colonel-general and artillery general. Another son, Archduke Franz Salvator, married Archduchess Maria Valeria in 1890, the youngest daughter of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth. Through this marriage, Maria Immaculata became Maria Valeria’s mother-in-law. Their daughter Caroline Maria Immaculata married Prince August Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, while their youngest daughter to reach adulthood, Archduchess Maria Immaculata Raineria, married Duke Robert of Württemberg. Four of the children died at an early age. Archduke Albert Salvator died as a young man in 1896. He had entered the military and spent a considerable period serving as a Hussar officer in Szombathely. Because of a lung illness, he traveled to Gries near Bozen for treatment, where he died. Archduchess Maria Antonietta also died young. Rainer Salvator, Henriette, and Ferdinand Salvator died while still children. As Karl Salvator’s wife, Maria Immaculata led a life centered strongly on family and care. She was described as kind-hearted and attentive, and as relatively reserved and subordinate within her marriage. She devoted herself above all to the loving upbringing of her children. Alongside her family responsibilities, she engaged in charitable activities. She stayed frequently in Baden, where her helpfulness and charitable work earned her widespread respect and recognition. During the final years of her life, Maria Immaculata suffered from cirrhosis of the liver. In its advanced stage, the illness was accompanied by intestinal bleeding and heart problems. On February 15, 1899, the family physician, Dr. Widerhofer, also diagnosed her with pneumonia. Her serious illness affected her daughter-in-law Maria Valeria, who, confronted with her suffering, thought of her deceased mother, Empress Elisabeth, and remarked that Elisabeth would have been outraged by such an extent of torment. Maria Immaculata died in Vienna on February 18, 1899, at the age of 54. She was buried in the Ferdinandsgruft of the Capuchin Church. Five of her children who had died young were later laid to rest there as well.