Maria Luisa of Parma

Daughter of the Infante Philip (1720-1765), Duke of Parma, and of Louise-Élisabeth of France (1727-1759), Maria Luisa of Parma was the granddaughter of Philip V of Spain (1683-1746) and Louis XV of France (1710-1774). Her marriage to Charles, then Prince of Asturias and future Charles IV, was held at the Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso (Segovia) on 4th September 1765. During her first years in Spain, she found it difficult to adapt to the austere court of her father-in-law, Charles III (1716-1788). The royal couple had fourteen children: the Infante Carlos Clemente (1771-1774); the Infanta Carlota Joaquina (1775-1830), Queen of Portugal by marriage to John VI (1767-1826); the Infanta Maria Luisa (1777-1782); the Infanta Maria Amalia (1779-1798), married to her uncle, the Infante Antonio Pascual; the Infante Carlos Domingo (1780-1783); the Infanta Maria Luisa (1782-1824), Queen of Etruria by marriage to Louis of Bourbon, (1773-1803); the twin Infantes Carlos Francisco (1783-1784) and Felipe Francisco (1783-1784); the future Ferdinand VII (1784-1833), who would succeed his father on the throne; the Infante Carlos María Isidro (1788-1855), future Carlist Pretender to the Spanish Crown; the Infanta Maria Isabella (1789-1848), Queen of the Two Sicilies by marriage to Francis I (1777-1830); the Infanta Maria Teresa (1791-1794); the Infante Felipe (1792-1794) and the Infante Francisco de Paula (1794-1865), who married Princess Luisa Carlotta of the Two Sicilies (1804-1844).

After Charles IV ascended the Spanish throne on 14th December 1788, Maria Luisa of Parma became a highly influential figure in government affairs. The new Queen famously protected the political career of Manuel Godoy, following the dismissal of the Counts of Floridablanca and Aranda as ministers. Equally well-known was her interest in certain charitable works carried out by the Board of Ladies of Honour and Merit, such as the management of the Patriotic Schools, for example. In order to encourage noblewomen to perform charitable activities, the Queen also founded the Royal Order of Noble Ladies of Maria Luisa, personally signing its Statutes on 15th March 1794.

After Charles IV's abdication on 19th March 1808, Maria Luisa of Parma settled in France together with her husband and Manuel Godoy. The former King and Queen lived in France until 1812 when Napoleon allowed them to settle in Rome, where the Queen died on 2nd January 1819. The remains of Maria Luisa of Parma are buried in the Pantheon of Kings and Queens in the Monastery of El Escorial. 

Source: Royal Academy of History (https://www.rah.es)