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Principessa Maria Luisa di Savoia
(1688–1714)

Other names: Maria Luisa Gabriella, La Saboyana

Biographical

Regent of Spain 1702–03, 1706, and 1710

At almost thirteen-years-of-age, Maria Luisa was married to Philippe de Bourbon, Duke of Anjou (later, Felipe V, King of Spain), the nephew of Louis XIV whom the king of Spain, Charles II of Habsburg, had appointed heir to the throne before dying in 1700. The marriage was organised by Louis XI and Maria Luisa's father, Vittorio Amedeo II, as part of the agreement they concluded in opposition to the Empire which was claiming the throne of Spain. After arriving at court and commencing contact with Spanish society, Maria Luisa's experiences were not positive, and she even considered returning to Piedmont, but in 1701, the War of the Spanish Succession broke out. In 1702 her husband Felipe was forced to leave Spain for Italy. Despite her young age, Maria Luisa was named regent, and had the task of building relations between the court that had been part of the Habsburgs for over two centuries, and the newly installed Bourbon dynasty. To make matters worse, her father abandoned the alliance with France and sided with the Empire in 1703. Because Maria Luisa had demonstrated support and determination towards Spain and her husband, her loyalty was never questioned. Despite the loss of support from France, Maria Luisa developed into a more independent and resolute figure and became more directly involved in state affairs. It was nevertheless a difficult period, with Spain losing Gibraltar to the British in 1704, and Barcelona being occupied by imperial forces in 1705. In the following year she was again regent as Felipe was away besieging Barcelona. After the Anglo-Portuguese invasion of Madrid, she distinguished herself in her attempted to defend the city, but was forced to flee for Burgos. By 1707 Madrid was liberated and Felipe returned to the capital. After Louis XIV was ready to withdraw his support from Felipe, Maria Luisa expelled the French courtiers, replacing them with Castilians. This gained her much support from the Spanish people. Once again Maria Luisa was regent in 1710 after Spain was again engaged in battles, and after Felipe's defeat at the Battle of Almenara, he and his wife left Madrid for Victoria, however, the subsequent victory against the Empire allowed them to return that year. The war was finally ended by the Peace of Utrecht in 1713. Maria Luisa, who had won the respect of the nobility of Spain and its people, and was esteemed by her husband, died in the following year.

Place of birth: Turin
Place of marriage: Figueras
Place of death: Madrid
Place of burial: El Escorial, Madrid

Daughter of King Vittorio Amedeo II of Sardinia and Princesse Anne Marie d'Orléans. She married Felipe V, King of Spain (Borbón) in 1701, and had issue.

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