Henriette Adelaide Marie of Savoy, Electress of Bavaria, (Turin, 6 November 1636 - Munich, 13 June 1676), was the wife of the Elector of Bavaria Ferdinand Maria. She had much influence and with her husband did much to improve the Electorate of Bavaria, her adopted country.

Biography

Born at the Castello del Valentino in Turin she was the older of twins; Princess Catherine Beatrice of Savoy died in Turin 26 August 1637. On 7 October 1737 she lost her father Victor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy when she was just one year old. Her mother was Christine Marie of France, daughter of Henry IV of France and Marie de' Medici. After the death of her father, her mother was the Regent of Savoy for two of Henriette Adelaide's brothers Francis Hyacinth (1632-1638) and Charles Emmanuel II (1634-1675). Her uncle's Maurice of Savoy and his younger brother Thomas disputed the power of their sister-in-law, and her French entourage.

When the first heir Francis Hyacinth died in 1638, both brothers started the Piedmontese Civil War, with Spanish support. The two parties were called "principisti" (supporters of the Princes) and "madamisti" (supporters of Madama Reale).

Her maternal uncles were Louis XIII of France, Nicholas Henri, Duke of Orléans and Gaston, Duke of Orléans. Her maternal aunts were Elisabeth of Bourbon and Henrietta Maria of France. Her uncles-by-marriage included Philip IV of Spain through Elisabeth and Charles I of England through Henrietta Maria.

On 8 December 1650 she married Ferdinand Maria, future Elector of Bavaria. The next year Ferdinand Maria became Elector, when his father Maximilian died.

Henriette Adelaide had a strong influence on Bavarian politics, in favor of France. This led to an alliance between France and Bavaria against Austria. The marriage of her eldest daughter Maria Anna and her cousin le Grand Dauphin in 1680 was the outcome of this alliance.

She also had a great part in the building of Nymphenburg Palace and the Theatinerkirche. Many Italian artists were invited to Munich. She also introduced the Italian opera in Bavaria.

She died in Munich and was buried in the Theatine Church, Munich - the church she and her husband built as a gesture of thanks for the birth of the long-awaited heir to the Bavarian crown, Prince Max Emanuel, in 1662.

Issue

• Maria Anna Christina Victoria, Duchess of Bavaria 28 November 1660 – 20 April 1690), married Louis, le Grand Dauphin and had issue; present King of Spain descends from Victoria;

• Maximilian Maria Emanuel Cajetan, Duke of Bavaria (11 July 1662 – 26 February 1726), next Elector of Bavaria; married Maria Antonia of Austria and had issue; married Theresa Kunegunda Sobieska and had issue;

• Luise Margarete Antonie, Duchess of Bavaria

• Ludwig Amadeus Victor, Duke of Bavaria

• Kajetan Maria Franz, Duke of Bavaria

• Joseph Clemens Kajetan, Duke of Bavaria (5 December 1671 – 12 November 1723), Elector and Archbishop of Cologne

• Violante Beatrix, Duchess of Bavaria (3 April 1673 – 3 June 1731) married Ferdinando de' Medici, Hereditary Prince of Tuscany

Ancestors

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

• 6 November, 1636 – 8 December, 1650 Her Highness Princess Henriette Adelaide of Savoy

• 8 December, 1650 – 27 September, 1651 Her Serene Highness the Electoral Princess of Bavaria

• 27 September, 1651 – 13 June, 1676 Her Serene Highness the Electress of Bavaria

Titles

{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=100% align="center"
|-
! style="background:#ccccff;"|Titles and Succession
|-
|

Category:1636 birthsCategory:1676 deathsCategory:People from the Province of TurinCategory:House of SavoyCategory:House of Wittelsbach
de:Henriette Adelheid von Savoyenes:Enriqueta Adelaida de Saboyafr:Henriette Adélaïde de Savoieit:Enrichetta Adelaide di Savoianl:Henriëtte Adelheid van Savoyeja:ヘンリエッテ・アーデルハイト・フォン・サヴォイエンpl:Henrietta Adelajda Sabaudzkasv:Henrietta Adelaide av Savojen