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Vittoria Francesca di Savoia
Marchesa di Susa
(1690–1766)

Other names: Maria Vittoria Francesca, Mademoiselle di Susa

Biographical

Marchesa di Susa 1701–66†

Baptised in 1695, Vittoria and her brother, Vittorio, were legitimised in 1701, and were granted the Susa title through an act. An appanage of 50,000 livres was also granted to each of them, along with a palace. A few years later these primary concessions were extended by their father, Victor Amadeus, who decreed that both the Marchese di Susa and his sister had a right to the title of highness They were further privileged to accompany the Queen to Mass, and seats, though of a different colour, were assigned to them behind those of the princes of blood royal. Mademoiselle di Susa was also to be admitted to the circles held by the Queen and Madame Royale, and her place would be only one step further back than that of the princesses of the blood. To support these two children of the King, taxes were raised on salt, and the revenues of the various districts served to pay the pensions. This was at a time when in Piedmont, poverty was being felt by all classes, and the news increased resentment against their already unpopular mother, Madame de Verrua, who was herself, very costly to maintain. Vittoria passed her early years in the Convent of the Visitation at Pinerolo, and after her completing her education, the Baronne de Choix was appointed her dame de compagnie, and she was sent to live at the royal palace. Her father then turned his attention on arranging a suitable marriage for her. She had a number of suitors, including the Earl of Peterborough whom Vittoria rejected, and eventually, the King's choice fell on her cousin, Principe Luigi Vittorio di Carignano. Vittoria raised no objections to this proposal—she expressed a certain sympathy towards the Price— and the couple was married in 1740 with great pomp and solemnity. Soon after their marriage, the undesirable traits of the Prince's character came out. Vittoria's parents found his conduct unsatisfactory. For a long time the Prince's dissolute and extravagant habits had been a subject of King Vittorio Amedeo's disapprobation, and the King had openly expressed to his cousin his displeasure on a mode of living so unworthy of the position the Prince occupied. Instead of influencing him to better ways, Vittoria encouraged him in dissipations that led to the King's perpetual reprimands. For a while, the Prince tolerated the King's constant reproaches with indifference; but, finally, he lost patience and fled to France. Despite the King trying to persuade him otherwise, the Prince remained in France and Vittoria soon followed him, living a scandalous life there, much to the disappointment to the Queen who had given her much attention and support.

Place of marriage: Moncalieri
Place of death: Paris

Illegitimate daughter of King Vittorio Amedeo II of Sardinia and Jeanne-Baptiste d'Albert de Luynes. She married Vittorio Amedeo I di Savoia in 1714, and had issue.

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