Lot Essay
Maria-Leopoldine (Milan 1776-1848 near Wasserburg), daughter of Empress Maria-Theresia's son Archduke Ferdinand (see lot 173) and his wife Maria-Beatrice of Este-Modena (see lot 175), was married at Innsbruck in 1795, at the age of 19 to a widower aged 71, Elector Charles-Theodor of Bavaria (see lot 186).
This marriage was intended to strengthen the Austrian influence in Bavaria, and in order to keep Elector Charles-Theodor's cousins of the House of Zweibrücken out of the way. Nevertheless, this political strategy failed as Charles-Theodor died in 1799 without issue, probably due to Marie-Leopoldine who favoured Max-Joseph of Zweibrücken and his family. Max-Joseph and King Louis I of Bavaria always showed their gratitude to the Dowager-Electress. She remarried in 1804, to Ludwig, Count of Arco, with whom she had two sons. At the Bavarian court, she was notorious for her greed and considerable wealth resulting from hazardous speculations. She died, aged 72, in an accident.
This marriage was intended to strengthen the Austrian influence in Bavaria, and in order to keep Elector Charles-Theodor's cousins of the House of Zweibrücken out of the way. Nevertheless, this political strategy failed as Charles-Theodor died in 1799 without issue, probably due to Marie-Leopoldine who favoured Max-Joseph of Zweibrücken and his family. Max-Joseph and King Louis I of Bavaria always showed their gratitude to the Dowager-Electress. She remarried in 1804, to Ludwig, Count of Arco, with whom she had two sons. At the Bavarian court, she was notorious for her greed and considerable wealth resulting from hazardous speculations. She died, aged 72, in an accident.