Infanta Maria Antónia of Portugal
Infanta Maria Antónia of Portugal was the seventh and last child of Miguel I of Portugal and Adelaide of Löwenstein.
Early life
She was born in exile as the youngest child of her parents in the Grand Duchy of Baden as her father, Infante Miguel, had been banished from Portugal by his brother, Pedro I of Brazil, after usurping and losing the Portuguese throne in the Liberal Wars.Marriage
On 15 October 1884 at Schloss Fischorn, Maria Antonia married Robert I, Duke of Parma as his second wife. They had twelve children. Maria Antonia was widowed when Robert died at Villa Pianore on 16 November 1907. Later on she resided with her daughter Zita while in exile. By 1940, Zita and her family, Maria Antonia and her daughter Isabella were living in reduced circumstances in Quebec. Eventually, after World War II's end, Maria Antonia moved to Berg Castle, Luxembourg where she celebrated her 90th birthday. After lingering for many years, she died there in 1959 aged 96. She was the last surviving grandchild of John VI of Portugal. Many of her children and grandchildren have also lived very long lives.Issue
- Princess Maria Adelaide of Bourbon-Parma ; she was a Benedictine nun under the religious name of Mother Maria Benedicta of the Benedictine Order of the Sisters of St. Cecile.
- Prince Sixtus of Bourbon-Parma ; he married Duchess Hedwige de La Rochefoucauld on 12 November 1919 and had issue.
- Xavier, Duke of Parma ; he married Countess Madeleine of Bourbon-Busset on 12 November 1927 and had issue.
- Princess Francesca Giuseppa of Bourbon-Parma ; she was a Benedictine nun under the religious name of Mother Scolastica of the Benedictine Order of the Sisters of St. Cecile.
- Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma ; she married Charles I of Austria on 21 October 1911 and had issue; her cause of canonization was opened in 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI, and is titled Servant of God accordingly.
- Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma ; he married Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg on 6 November 1919 and had issue.
- Prince René of Bourbon-Parma ; he married Princess Margrethe of Denmark on 9 June 1921 and had issue.
- Princess Maria Antonia of Bourbon-Parma ; she was considered as a possible bride for Infante Jaime, Duke of Madrid, but ultimately did not marry him. Then, she was a Benedictine nun under the religious name of Mother Maria Antonia of the Benedictine Order of the Sisters of St. Cecile.
- Princess Isabella Maria of Bourbon-Parma
- Prince Louis of Bourbon-Parma ; he married Princess Maria Francesca of Italy on 23 January 1939 and had issue.
- Princess Henrietta Anna of Bourbon-Parma
- Prince Gaetano of Bourbon-Parma ; he married Princess Margarete of Thurn and Taxis on 29 April 1931 and had issue. They were divorced on 24 January 1950.