Lexi Webster
Marie Louise of Austria, born in 1791, was the second wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, whom she married in 1810. Marie Louise was the firstborn and favourite daughter of the Austrian emperor Francis II. She was given to Napoleon as a bride at 18 years of age to seal the peace between France and the Austrian Empire. After Napoleon's abdication in 1814, she returned to Vienna, where she was regarded as spoilt and arrogant. She was awarded the Duchy of Parma at the Congress of Vienna and ruled there until her death in 1847. She married twice more and had several children.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Birthdate | 12 December 1791 |
| Birthplace | Vienna, Austria |
| Father | Emperor of Austria Franz I of Hapsburg |
| Mother | Princess Maria Teresa Bourbon of the Two Sicilies |
| Upbringing | Secluded in the Austrian court |
| Education | Excellent cultural education; learned several languages |
| Languages spoken | German, French, Italian, Spanish, English, Latin |
| Hobbies | Drawing, painting, music, embroidery, hunting, fishing |
| Marriage | Married Napoleon Bonaparte in 1810; had a son; later married Count Adam Albert von Neipperg and Count Charles-René de Bombelles |
| Post-marriage life | Became Empress of France and Queen of Italy; later Duchess of Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla |
| Death | 17 December 1847, Parma |
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What You'll Learn
Marie Louise's marriage to Napoleon
Marie-Louise of Austria was the second wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. She was the firstborn and favourite daughter of the Austrian emperor Francis II and his second wife, Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily. Marie-Louise was given to Napoleon as a bride at only 18 years of age to seal the peace between France and the Austrian Empire, defeated by Napoleon's Grande Armée in 1809.
Napoleon's marriage to Marie-Louise was triggered by his desire to have an heir and marry into one of the major European royal families. He had divorced his first wife, Josephine, due to her inability to have children. Marie-Louise was chosen over Maria Auguste, Princess of Saxony, and the Grand Duchess Anna Pavlovna of Russia, the youngest sister of Tsar Alexander I of Russia. Marie-Louise's family had her tutored in many languages to make her more marriageable.
The marriage contract was signed on 7 February 1810, and the wedding took place on 2 April 1810. Marie-Louise was married by proxy to Napoleon, who was represented by her uncle, Archduke Charles. Despite her initial reluctance, Marie-Louise soon developed a close personal relationship with Napoleon, writing to her father, "He loves me very much. I respond to his love sincerely. There is something very fetching and very eager about him that is impossible to resist."
Marie-Louise gave birth to the much-desired male heir, Napoléon–François–Charles–Joseph Bonaparte, who was given the title King of Rome at birth and later became Duke of Reichstadt. He briefly succeeded his father as Napoleon II.
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Her life after Napoleon's fall from power
Marie-Louise of Austria, the second wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, had a life governed by ceremony and etiquette. After Napoleon's fall from power, she put her life as Empress of the French behind her.
When the tide began to turn against Napoleon in 1814, Marie-Louise returned to Vienna with her son. She found herself in a difficult position in her former home country. As the exiled wife of Napoleon, she was increasingly under attack for her affectations of an empress and her unwillingness to abandon her French lifestyle. Contact with Napoleon was systematically impeded by the Viennese Court. Marie-Louise was persuaded by her father to return to Vienna and rest. Instead of returning to her husband's side, she proceeded to Aix and its thermal spas, accompanied by the Comte de Neipperg. She abandoned all thought of returning to her husband.
In 1815, the Congress of Vienna recognised Marie-Louise as ruler of Parma, Piacenza, and Guastalla, but prevented her from bringing her son to Italy. It also made her Duchess of Parma for her life only. In 1816, she took up residence in Parma, where she had three children by her lover, Count Neipperg, whose existence was kept secret. Marie-Louise was now living a life of a 'merry widow', making two further marriages. She ruled benevolently in the company of the Comte de Neipperg and became much-loved by the common people.
In 1831, Marie-Louise was forced to leave her duchy in the face of unrest, to which military action by Austrian troops soon put an end. After her return, she ruled benevolently, overseeing the reorganisation of the administration and public welfare system. Celebrated as the mother of her little duchy, she died at the age of 56 in 1847.
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Her time as Duchess of Parma
Marie Louise of Austria was given the Duchy of Parma, along with Piacenza and Guastalla, at the Congress of Vienna in 1814. She ruled the duchy until her death in 1847.
After Napoleon's abdication and exile to Elba, Marie Louise returned to Vienna with their son. She found herself in a difficult position as the wife of the exiled emperor. She was criticised for her affectations of an empress and her reluctance to abandon her French lifestyle. Marie Louise was increasingly regarded as spoilt and arrogant in her former home country.
In 1815, the Congress of Vienna confirmed the Duchy of Parma for Marie Louise, and she took up residence in the duchy in 1816. She wished to prove herself a caring and attentive sovereign. She was accompanied by Count Adam Albrecht Neipperg, a general and diplomat acting on behalf of the Austrian Empire, who made her a beloved figure in the duchy. Marie Louise and Neipperg had two children, Albertina and Guglielmo, and married in 1821, soon after Napoleon's death.
Marie Louise was forced to leave her duchy in 1831 due to unrest, but she returned and ruled benevolently after the Austrian troops had put an end to the unrest. She oversaw the reorganisation of the administration and public welfare system and became much-loved by the common people. She was celebrated as the mother of her little duchy.
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Her children and marriages after Napoleon
Marie Louise's first child, Napoléon François Joseph Charles Bonaparte, was given the title King of Rome at birth. He was the much-desired male heir to the Bonaparte dynasty. The boy was later titled Duke of Reichstadt in 1818 and was known as "Franz". He lived at the Austrian court, where he was shown great affection by his grandfather, the Emperor Francis. However, the Austrian ministers and nationalists did their best to sideline him. Franz grew resentful of his mother and Austrian relatives for their lack of support. He identified as Napoleon II and surrounded himself with French courtiers.
Marie Louise was devoted to her son, having him brought to her every morning and visiting him during the day. However, after Napoleon's fall from power, she was forced to leave her son in Vienna as a hostage while she went to Parma. She accepted the separation from her child, and contact between the two became less and less frequent.
Marie Louise was awarded the Duchy of Parma, along with Piacenza and Guastalla, at the Congress of Vienna, so that she would be provided for in keeping with her station and as a substitute for her lost status as empress. She ruled the duchy until her death, governing it benevolently and becoming much-loved by her subjects. She made her entrance in Parma on 9 April 1816 and ruled until unrest forced her to leave in 1831. She returned to power with the help of Austrian troops and ruled in accordance with their prescriptions.
Marie Louise married twice more after Napoleon's death in 1821. Her first marriage after Napoleon was to the general and equerry Count Adam Albert von Neipperg in 1821. She had three children with him: Albertine (1817–1867), William Albert, and Mathilde. She also had another daughter with Neipperg who died in infancy. Neipperg died in 1829. Marie Louise then married Count Charles-René de Bombelles, her chamberlain, in 1834.
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Her early life and education
Marie-Louise of Austria was born on 12 December 1791 at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria. She was the firstborn and favourite daughter of the Austrian emperor Francis II and his second wife, Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily. She was named after her grandmother, Marie Louise, Holy Roman Empress. Her father became Holy Roman Emperor a year after her birth. Marie Louise was a great-granddaughter of Empress Maria Theresa through both her parents, as they were double first cousins. She was also a maternal granddaughter of Queen Maria Carolina of Naples, Marie Antoinette's favourite sister.
Marie Louise was known as Luisel to her family. She grew up during a period of conflict between France and her family and was brought up to detest France and French ideas. Her upbringing was supervised by her French imperial governess Victoire de Folliot de Crenneville. She received a traditional education at court, focusing on religion and languages, becoming fluent in at least six languages. She was her father's favourite daughter, but she did not have a close relationship with her mother, who showed little affection for her children.
In 1809, Marie-Louise, then aged eighteen, heard rumours that Napoleon I was looking for a new bride after having recently defeated Austria. She agreed to the marriage despite her upbringing, and on 11 March 1810, she was married by proxy to Napoleon at the Augustinian Church in Vienna. She became Empress of the French and Queen of Italy. A little over a year after the marriage, she gave birth to a son, Napoléon–François–Charles–Joseph Bonaparte, who was styled the King of Rome at birth and later became Duke of Reichstadt. He briefly succeeded his father as Napoleon II.
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Frequently asked questions
Marie Louise of Austria was the second wife of Napoleon Bonaparte and the firstborn daughter of the Austrian emperor Francis II.
Marie Louise was obliged to marry Napoleon at the age of 18 to seal the peace between France and the Austrian Empire.
Marie Louise gave birth to the much-desired male heir, who was named Napoléon–François–Charles–Joseph Bonaparte. However, in 1814, Napoleon abdicated and went into exile, while Marie Louise returned to Vienna with their son.
Marie Louise was awarded the Duchy of Parma at the Congress of Vienna, where she ruled until her death in 1847. She married twice more and had several children.
