Princess Maria Annunziata of Bourbon-Two Sicilies

Princess Maria Annunciata Isabella Filomena Sebasia of the Two Sicilies (Italian: Maria Annunziata Isabella Filomena Sebasia, Principessa di Borbone delle Due Sicilie; 24 March 1843 – 4 May 1871) was a political figure from the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. In 1862, she married Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria; however, their marriage was short-lived due to her premature death in 1871. She is known for being the mother of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, whose assassination in Sarajevo precipitated the start of World War I.

Early years (1843–1861)

Maria Annunciata Isabella Filomena Sabasia, known as Maria Annunciata to the public and “Ciolla” to her family, was born on 24 March 1843 at the Royal Palace of Caserta to King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies and his wife, Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria. She was the fourth of their twelve children, and the eldest daughter. She also had a half-brother, Francis, from her father's first marriage. Throughout her childhood and adulthood, Maria was known to be "calm, modest and reserved", while her mother enjoyed social life.

Death of Ferdinand In 1859, Ferdinand, Maria's father, died, and her older brother Francis became king of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. His reign ended in 1860 during the Expedition of the Thousand led by Giuseppe Garibaldi, who overthrew the monarchy, and the people voted to join the Kingdom of Sardinia, under King Victor Emmanuel II of Sardinia.

Upon the invasion, Maria Theresa moved the family towards Gaeta. The family stayed in Rome after many weeks of traveling. There the family lived with Pope Pius IX at the Quirinal Palace. Then the family left for the Farnese Palace.

Marriage (1862–1870)

During the family's stay in Rome, Maria was wedded to Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria. The marriage by proxy took place on 16 October 1862 in Rome, and the wedding itself took place on 21 October 1862 in Venice. It was reported that the couple fell in love instantly upon seeing each other for the first time, though there is nothing to back up this claim. The marriage itself appeared to be a happy one. One day after the wedding, however, Maria suffered from a seizure during mass. This in return caused many to worry over the Princess's health, and the fact the seizure had taken place in front of members of the reigning House of Habsburg. Later on it was revealed Maria was afflicted with tuberculosis.

Maria suppressed her illness and attended balls, theater and opera.

Children Despite Maria's poor health, she gave birth to four children: Franz Ferdinand in 1863, Otto Franz in 1865, Ferdinand Karl in 1868, and Margarete Sophie in 1870. Death and burial

After the birth of Margarete Sophie in 1870, Maria became very ill; it was evident that she would not survive, much to the public's dismay. As her illness progressed, Maria spent her final days in agony, succumbing to tuberculosis on 4 May 1871 at the age of 28. Her burial took place in the Imperial Crypt at the Capuchin Church in Vienna, Austria.

Her husband, Archduke Karl Ludwig, remarried two years after her death in 1873 to Infanta Maria Theresa of Portugal. They named their first child, Maria Annunziata, after her. Children

Ancestry