| Maria Beatrice of Savoy | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Portrait by Adeodata Malatesta | |||||
| Duchess consort of Modena and Reggio | |||||
| Tenure | 14 July 1814 – 15 September 1840 | ||||
| Born | 6 December 1792 Turin, Piedmont-Sardinia | ||||
| Died | 15 September 1840 (aged 47) Castello del Catajo, Lombardy-Venetia | ||||
| Spouse | |||||
| Issue | |||||
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| House | Savoy | ||||
| Father | Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia | ||||
| Mother | Maria Theresa of Austria-Este | ||||
Maria Beatrice of Savoy (Maria Beatrice Vittoria Giuseppina; 6 December 1792 – 15 September 1840) was Duchess of Modena by marriage to Francis IV, Duke of Modena.
Maria Beatrice was born on 6 December 1792 in Turin. She was the eldest daughter of Victor Emmanuel, Duke of Aosta, and his wife Maria Teresa of Austria-Este. Her father became King of Sardinia unexpectedly in 1802 when Charles Emmanuel IV abdicated.
Her maternal grandparents were Ferdinand Karl, Archduke of Austria-Este and Maria Beatrice d'Este, Duchess of Massa. Ferdinand was the third son of Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor, and Maria Theresa of Austria. Maria Beatrice was the eldest daughter of Ercole III d'Este and Maria Theresa, Princess of Carrara.
In December 1798, Maria Beatrice left Turin with her parents and uncles to escape the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. They fled to Parma, then to Florence, and finally settled in Sardinia, the last dominion held by Kingdom of Sardinia.[1] Maria Beatrice spent most of her time at Cagliari in the following thirteen years.[1]
On 20 June 1812, Maria Beatrice married her maternal uncle Francis, Archduke of Austria-Este; due to their close relation, a special dispensation was received for their marriage from Pope Pius VII.[1]
The couple left Sardinia on 15 July 1813 for Zakynthos, and then sailed to Trieste off the east shore of Adriatic Sea, finally reaching Vienna by land.
In 1814, Maria Beatrice's husband became Francis IV, Duke of Modena, Reggio, and Mirandola on 14 July 1814, thereby elevating Maria Beatrice to the rank of duchess of Modena. On the invasion of Joachim Murat during the Hundred Days, they fled Modena until 15 May 1815.
On the outbreak of revolution, Maria Beatrice had to flee Modena again with her family on 5 February 1831, but with Austrian military assistance the ducal family was able to return within a year.
Maria Beatrice died of a heart condition on 15 September 1840 at Castello del Catajo.[1] Her remains were kept in the Church of San Vincenzo, Modena. She was a Lady of the Austrian Order of the Starry Cross.
Through her father, she inherited the Jacobite claim to the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland, but like other non-Stuart pretenders, she never asserted her claim. Had she gained the throne she would have been Mary III & II.[2]
Her marriage had four children:
