Maria Theresa of Savoy

**Maria Teresa of Savoy** (31 January 1756 – 2 June 1805) was a Princess of Savoy and the wife of Charles Charles, Count of Artois future Charles X of France. In France she was known as ** Marie Thérèse de Savoie**.

## Background

Born at the Royal Palace of Turin, she was the child of Victor Amandeus of Savoy and his wife Maria Antonia of Spain and was baptised with the names _Maria Teresa_. At the time of her birth her grandfather, Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia, was the King of Sardinia and her father was the heir to the throne.

## Marriage

Maria Teresa was engaged to Charles Philippe of France, youngest grandson of Louis XV. Her marriage with Charles Philippe, known as the Count of Artois, was the last of three marriages which were carried out between 1771 and 1775. These marriages were between her oldest brother and sister and the younger grandsons of Louis XV and his older granddaughter Marie Clotilde of France.

She was married officially at the Palace of Versailles on 16 November 1773. The most important female at court was her sister-in-law, Marie Antoinette. Maria Teresa's sister, Marie Joséphine had a higher rank than Maria Teresa as she had married the older brother, the Count of Provence. The two sisters did not have good relations with Marie Antoinette. Despite this, Maria Teresa was more popular than her sister Marie Joséphine who was very ugly. Despite this it was said that she was silent and was interested in absolutely nothing.

The marriage produced four children, two of which survived infancy. She fled France with her husband shortly after the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789 which marked the beginning of the French Revolution. Some time after, she took refuge in her homeland of Savoy under the protection of her father who had become king in 1773. Moving to Austria, she died in exile at Graz in 1805. She was buried in the Imperial Mausoleum next to Graz cathedral. Her husband became Charles X of France in 1824.

## Children

1. Louis Antoine d'Artois (6 August 1775 - 3 June 1844) married Marie Thérèse of France no issue.
1. Sophie d'Artois (5 August 1776 – 5 December 1783) died young.
1. Charles Ferdinand d'Artois (24 January 1778 – 14 February 1820) married Carolina of Naples and Sicily and had issue.
1. Marie Thérèse d'Artois (6 January 1783 -  22 June 1783) died young.

### Titles and styles

- **31 January 1756 – 16 November 1773:** _Her Royal Highness_ Princess Maria Teresa of Savoy
- **16 November 1773 – 2 June 1805:** _Her Royal Highness_ The Countess of Artois (_Madame la Comtesse d'Artois_)

## Infobox (royalty)

- **name**: Marie Thérèse of Savoy
- **image**: Famille de la comtesse d'Artois.jpg
- **title**: Countess of Artois
- **caption**: Marie Thérèse with her oldest children by Charles Emmanuel Leclerq
- **birth place**: Royal Palace of Turin, Turin
- **death place**: Graz, Austria
- **spouse**: Charles X of France, Charles Philippe, Count of Artois
- **father**: Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia
- **mother**: Maria Antonia of Spain
- **issue**: Louis Antoine, Duke of Angoulême
 Charles Ferdinand, Duke of Berry
- **full name**: Maria Teresa di Savoia
- **burial place**: Graz, Austria, Holy Roman Empire
- **signature**: Signature of Marie Thérèse of Savoy, Countess of Artois on 21 August 1785.jpg