Infanta Maria Antonia of Portugal

Infanta Maria Antónia of Portugal (Portuguese: Maria Antónia Adelaide Camila Carolina Eulália Leopoldina Sofia Inês Francisca de Assis e de Paula Micaela Rafaela Gabriela Gonzaga Gregória Bernardina Benedita Andrea; 28 November 1862 – 14 May 1959) was the seventh and last child of Miguel I of Portugal and Adelaide of Löwenstein.

Early life

She was born in exile as the youngest child of her parents in the Grand Duchy of Baden as her father, Infante Miguel, had been banished from Portugal by his brother, Pedro I of Brazil, after usurping and losing the Portuguese throne in the Liberal Wars.

Marriage

On 15 October 1884 at Schloss Fischorn, Maria Antonia married Robert I, Duke of Parma as his second wife. They had twelve children. Maria Antonia was widowed when Robert died at Villa Pianore on 16 November 1907. Later on she resided with her daughter Zita while in exile. By 1940, Zita and her family, Maria Antonia and her daughter Isabella were living in reduced circumstances in Quebec. Eventually, after World War II's end, Maria Antonia moved to Berg Castle, Luxembourg where she celebrated her 90th birthday. After lingering for many years, she died there in 1959 aged 96. She was the last surviving grandchild of John VI of Portugal. Many of her children and grandchildren have also lived very long lives.

Issue Princess Maria Adelaide of Bourbon-Parma (5 August 1885 – 6 February 1959); she was a Benedictine nun under the religious name of Mother Maria Benedicta of the Benedictine Order of the Sisters of St. Cecile. Prince Sixtus of Bourbon-Parma (1 August 1886 – 14 March 1934); he married Duchess Hedwige de La Rochefoucauld on 12 November 1919 and had issue. Xavier, Duke of Parma (25 May 1889 – 7 May 1977); he married Countess Madeleine of Bourbon-Busset on 12 November 1927 and had issue. Princess Francesca Giuseppa of Bourbon-Parma (22 April 1890 – 7 October 1978); she was a Benedictine nun under the religious name of Mother Scolastica of the Benedictine Order of the Sisters of St. Cecile. Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma (9 May 1892 – 14 March 1989); she married Charles I of Austria on 21 October 1911 and had issue; her cause of canonization was opened in 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI, and is titled Servant of God accordingly. Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma (28 September 1893 – 8 April 1970); he married Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg on 6 November 1919 and had issue. Prince René of Bourbon-Parma (17 October 1894 – 30 July 1962); he married Princess Margrethe of Denmark on 9 June 1921 and had issue. Princess Maria Antonia of Bourbon-Parma (7 November 1895 – 19 October 1977); she was considered as a possible bride for Infante Jaime, Duke of Madrid, but ultimately did not marry him. Then, she was a Benedictine nun under the religious name of Mother Maria Antonia of the Benedictine Order of the Sisters of St. Cecile. Princess Isabella Maria of Bourbon-Parma (14 June 1898 – 28 July 1984) Prince Louis of Bourbon-Parma (5 December 1899 – 4 December 1967); he married Princess Maria Francesca of Italy on 23 January 1939 and had issue. Princess Henrietta Anna of Bourbon-Parma (8 March 1903 – 13 June 1987) Prince Gaetano of Bourbon-Parma (11 June 1905 – 9 March 1958); he married Princess Margarete of Thurn and Taxis on 29 April 1931 and had issue. They were divorced on 24 January 1950.

Ancestry