Quick Facts
Austrian archduchess who became Empress of the French as Napoleon's second wife, later ruled as Duchess of Parma for over thirty years.
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Life Journey
Born Maria Ludovica Leopoldina Franziska Theresa Josepha Lucia on December 12, 1791, as the eldest daughter of Archduke Francis (future Emperor Francis II) and Maria Theresa of Naples. She entered a world soon to be transformed by the French Revolution and Napoleon.
Her great-aunt Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, was guillotined by French revolutionaries. This event deeply affected the Habsburg family and shaped young Marie Louise's early perceptions of France as a land of terror and regicide.
Marie Louise began her formal education under strict Habsburg protocols. She studied languages (French, Italian, Latin), music, drawing, and the duties expected of a princess. She developed a particular talent for painting and music.
Napoleon's crushing defeat of Austria at Austerlitz forced the Habsburg family to flee Vienna. Young Marie Louise experienced firsthand the humiliation of defeat and developed a deep personal hatred for the French Emperor who had brought such suffering to her family.
After divorcing Josephine for failing to produce an heir, Napoleon sought a new wife from a major European dynasty. He set his sights on Marie Louise to legitimize his rule and secure alliance with Austria. Her father agreed to sacrifice her for political peace.
On March 11, 1810, Marie Louise was married to Napoleon by proxy in Vienna, with Archduke Charles standing in for the groom. She then traveled to France, meeting Napoleon for the first time at Compiègne. Despite her fears, she found him charming and attentive.
A grand religious ceremony was held at the Louvre on April 2, 1810, formalizing the marriage. Marie Louise became Empress of the French, bringing Napoleon the Habsburg legitimacy he craved. She adapted quickly to her role, winning approval at the French court.
On March 20, 1811, Marie Louise gave birth to Napoleon François Charles Joseph, immediately titled King of Rome. The difficult birth required forceps, but both mother and child survived. Napoleon finally had his heir, and Marie Louise had fulfilled her primary duty.
While Napoleon embarked on his disastrous invasion of Russia, Marie Louise remained in Paris. She anxiously followed news of the campaign and the catastrophic retreat that destroyed the Grande Armée. This marked the beginning of Napoleon's decline.
As Napoleon campaigned against the Sixth Coalition, he appointed Marie Louise as Regent of France. She presided over the Council of Ministers and managed state affairs, showing unexpected administrative capability during this critical period.
As Allied forces approached Paris, Marie Louise fled with her son to Blois on the advice of Napoleon's ministers. When Napoleon abdicated on April 6, 1814, she was faced with an impossible choice. Her father summoned her to Austria, and she never saw Napoleon again.
Despite Napoleon's letters from Elba pleading for her return, Marie Louise remained in Austria under her father's control. She was prevented from joining Napoleon, and gradually her feelings shifted. Her son was taken from her and given a new identity as Duke of Reichstadt.
The Congress of Vienna granted Marie Louise sovereignty over the Duchy of Parma, Piacenza, and Guastalla for her lifetime. This gave her independence and purpose. She would rule this Italian duchy for over thirty years, transforming it through enlightened governance.
When Napoleon escaped from Elba and returned to France, Marie Louise remained in Austria. She did not respond to his renewed pleas. After Waterloo, Napoleon was exiled to St. Helena. She never communicated with him again, despite his letters until his death in 1821.
Napoleon died on St. Helena on May 5, 1821. Marie Louise, now fully established in Parma, received the news with complex emotions. She was now officially a widow, though she had already secretly married Count Adam von Neipperg in 1821.
Her beloved son, the Duke of Reichstadt (formerly Napoleon II), died of tuberculosis in Vienna on July 22, 1832, at just 21 years old. This was the greatest tragedy of Marie Louise's life. She had been unable to see him as often as she wished due to political restrictions.
Marie Louise died on December 17, 1847, in Parma after a long illness. She was 56 years old. She had ruled Parma for over 30 years, earning the love of her subjects through progressive policies, support for the arts, and genuine concern for their welfare. She was buried in the Imperial Crypt in Vienna.