Princess Henriette Adelaide of Savoy

Henriette Adelaide of Savoy (Henrietta Adelaide Maria; 6 November 1636 – 13 June 1676), was Electress of Bavaria by marriage to Ferdinand Maria, Elector of Bavaria. She wielded considerable political influence in her adopted country and with her husband did much to improve the welfare of the Electorate of Bavaria.

Early life Born at the Castello del Valentino in Turin, Henriette was the older of twin girls; her sister Catherine Beatrice of Savoy died in Turin 26 August 1637. On 7 October 1637 her father, Victor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy, died when she was just one year old. Her mother, Christine of France, was the daughter of Henry IV of France and Marie de' Medici. After the death of her father, her mother served as Regent of Savoy on behalf of two of Henriette Adelaide's brothers: Francis Hyacinth from 1637 to 1638 and then Charles Emmanuel II until 1648.

Electress of Bavaria On 8 December 1650 Henriette married Ferdinand Maria, the heir to the Electorate of Bavaria. The following year, Ferdinand Maria became Elector following the death of his father, Maximilian I. Henriette Adelaide had a strong influence on Bavarian foreign affairs in favor of France, whose royal family counted her mother as a member. This led to an alliance between France and Bavaria against Austria. One of the results of the alliance was the marriage of Henriette's eldest daughter Maria Anna and her cousin Louis, Grand Dauphin, in 1680.

Henriette had a leading role in the building of Nymphenburg Palace and the Theatine Church in Munich. Many Italian artists were invited to Munich, and she also introduced Italian opera to the court of Bavaria.

Henriette died in Munich and was buried in the Theatine Church – the church she and her husband built as a gesture of thanks for the birth of the long-awaited heir to the Bavarian crown, Maximilian II Emanuel, in 1662.

Issue Maria Anna Victoria of Bavaria (28 November 1660 – 20 April 1690) married Louis, Dauphin of France, and had issue; the present King of Spain descends from her. Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria (11 July 1662 – 26 February 1726); married Maria Antonia of Austria and had issue; married Theresa Kunegunda Sobieska and had issue. Luise Margarete Antonie of Bavaria (18 September 1663 – 10 November 1665). Ludwig Amadeus Victor of Bavaria (6 April 1665 – 11 December 1665). Stillborn son (4 August 1666). Kajetan Maria Franz of Bavaria (2 May 1670 – 7 December 1670). Joseph Clemens of Bavaria (5 December 1671 – 12 November 1723) Elector and Archbishop of Cologne. Violante Beatrice of Bavaria (23 January 1673 – 30 May 1731) married Ferdinando de' Medici, Grand Prince of Tuscany.

In addition, the Electress suffered three miscarriages: in June 1661, March 1664 and 1674.