Princess Maria Elisabeth of Bavaria was the eldest daughter of Prince Franz of Bavaria, third son of King Ludwig III of Bavaria died she was , 96.(9 September 1914 – 13 May 2011)
Early life
Princess Maria Elisabeth of Bavaria was born at Nymphenburg Palace, Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, the second child and first daughter of Prince Franz of Bavaria (1875–1957), (son of Ludwig III of Bavaria and Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria-Este) and his wife, Princess Isabella Antonie of Croÿ (1890–1982), (daughter of Karl Alfred, Duke of Croÿ and Princess Ludmilla of Arenberg).Princess Maria Elisabeth was born at the beginning of First World War; most of her relatives fought during the war, even her father. Her childhood and youth were very troubled because of the regimes that were established in Germany after the war.
Until coming of age the princess lived in Sárvár Castle, in Hungary, which was owned by his grandmother, Queen Maria Teresa, a born Archduchess of Austria, Princess of Hungary and of Modena, among others. The Bavarian Royal Family returned to Bavaria in the 1930s. The republican government was forced to return a substantial part of goods and castles that had been confiscated in 1918 after the revolution.
The times in Germany between the wars (1918–1938) were difficult, due to the Great Depression of 1929 and the rise of the Nazis, and Adolf Hitler in the German government. The uncle of the princess, Rupprecht (1869–1955), head of the Royal House of Bavaria, declared himself an enemy of Hitler. This fact had a huge impact on the Royal Family; they were forced to flee to Italy. The second wife of Prince Rupprecht, Princess Antonia of Luxembourg (1899–1955), and her children, however, were captured by the Nazis, while Rupprecht, still in Italy, evaded arrest. They were imprisoned at Sachsenhausen. Although liberated that very same month, the imprisonment greatly impaired Antonia's health, and she died nine years later, at Lenzerheide, Switzerland.[1]
Princess Maria Elisabeth received education from her parents, as schooling in the art of well as painting. The Princess specialized in porcelain painting, a traditional art of Bavaria.
Marriage and departure to Brazil
On 19 August 1937 Princess Maria Elisabeth married Prince Pedro Henrique of Orléans-Braganza, head of the Imperial House of Brazil, making her the titular pretender Empress consort of Brazil. The wedding took place in the chapel of Nymphenburg Palace.The imperial couple lived first in France; although they made numerous attempts to immigrate to Brazil, they were prevented by World War II. It was not until 1945 that the family was able to move. First, they settled in the Palace of Grão-Pará, in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, and later in a house of the neighborhood of Retiro. In 1951, Prince Pedro Henrique acquired the Fazenda Santa Maria, in Jacarezinho, Paraná, where the family lived until 1964. In 1965, the imperial family moved to Vassouras, within the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Widowhood
In 1981, Prince Pedro Henrique died at Vassouras and his eldest son became the Head of the Imperial House of Brazil, thus making Maria Elisabeth, Empress Mother of Brazil. Maria Elisabeth's life was divided between Santa Maria and her daughter Isabel's apartment in the district of Lagoa, Rio de Janeiro. She frequently visited Bavaria and Belgium, where her other daughters resided.In 2004, a Mass honoring her 90th birthday was celebrated by the abbot emeritus of St. Benedict of Rio de Janeiro, Jose Palmeiro Mendes, and co-celebrated by priests Sérgio Costa Couto, judge of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro and chaplain of the Glory of the Outeiro, and Jorge Luis Pereira da Silva at the Church of Imperial Brotherhood of Nossa Senhora da Glória do Outeiro, in Rio de Janeiro. It was attended by all of her children and numerous grandchildren, making the event noteworthy enough to be reported on by Brazilian media.
Children
- Prince Luís Gastão of Orléans-Bragança (1938- ), present Head of the Imperial House of Brazil (according the Vassouras branch).
- Prince Eudes Maria of Orléans-Bragança (1939- ), first married Ana Maria de Moraes e Barros (1945- ), second married Mercedes Neves da Rocha (1955- ). Renounced his rights of succession to the Brazilian throne for himself and his descendants on 3 June 1966.
- Prince Bertrand Maria of Orléans-Bragança (1941- ), Prince Imperial of Brazil (according the Vassouras branch).
- Princess Isabel Maria of Orléans-Bragança (1944- )
- Prince Pedro de Alcântara Henrique of Orléans-Bragança (1945- ), married Maria de Fátima Lacerda Rocha (1952-), he renounced his rights of succession to the Brazilian throne for himself and his descendants on 28 December 1972
- Prince Fernando Diniz of Orléans-Bragança (1948-), married Maria de Graça Baere de Araújo (1952-), he renounced his rights of succession to the Brazilian throne for himself and his descendants on 24 February 1972
- Prince Antônio João of Orleans-Bragança (1950- ), married Princess Christine de Ligne (1955-)
- Princess Eleonora of Orléans-Bragança (1953- ), married Prince Michel de Ligne (1951-)
- Prince Francisco Maria of Orléans-Bragança (1955- ), married Claudia Regina Godinho (1954-), he renounced his rights of succession to the Brazilian throne for himself and his descendants on 11 December 1980
- Prince Alberto Maria of Orléans-Bragança (1957- ), married Maritza Ribas Bockel (1961-), he renounced his rights of succession to the Brazilian throne for himself and his descendants on 11 December 1980
- Princess Maria Teresa of Orléans-Bragança (1959- ), married Jan Hessel de Jong (1953-)
- Princess Maria Gabriela of Orléans-Bragança (1959- ), married Theodore Senna de Hungria Machado (1952-)
Titles, styles, honours and arms
Titles and styles
- 14 September 1914 – 19 August 1937: Her Royal Highness Princess Maria Elisabeth of Bavaria
- 19 August 1937 – 13 May 2011: Her Imperial & Royal Highness Princess Maria Elisabeth of Orléans-Braganza
- Title in pretence: 19 August 1937 – 5 July 1981: Her Imperial Majesty The Empress of Brazil
- Title in pretence: 5 July 1981 – 13 May 2011: Her Imperial Majesty Empress Mother Maria Elisabeth of Brazil
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