Margherita Yolanda di Savoia

## Margaret Yolande

Imperiale Principissa Epirotarum et Principissa Maria (c. 1680)

Henricus Carolus de Anjou, Dux Aulon

Henricus Eduardus de Anjou, Cardinalis Protector

Charles Emmanuel II di Savoia, Duc de Savoie

Enrichetta Adelaide di Savoia, Électrice de Bavière

**Margherita Yolanda di Savoia** *(15th November 1635 - Present)* is an Imperial Princess and Roman courtier. She is the wife of the current Princeps Epirotarum and first cousin to Philippus IX & VIII, **Ludovicus II de Anjou.** She was born as the second daughter and fifth child of **Victor Amadeus I di Savoia, the Duke of Savoy** who was infamously nicknamed the *Lion of Susa*.

Margherita Yolanda matched the temperament and immense will of her father, being known as a staunch and strict figure towards her family. She upheld the title of an Imperial with the upmost grace and power one would expect, thinking herself as above the daily and idle chatter of the lesser nobles due to her status as a member of the Imperial Family.

## Early Life

### Infancy

*Margherita Yolanda* was the fifth child born to Victor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy and his wife Christine Marie of France, daughter of Henry IV of France and Marie de Medici. She was born at the Castello del Valentino in the Duchy of Savoy which had been ruled by her family since 1416. The birth was relatively painless, as this was the fourth time her mother had given birth to a child. Upon her arrival into this world, she was received calmly and coolly as she was not the firstborn daughter or child.

Victor Amadeus I would pass away in 1637, when Yolanda was only two years of age. Her father died in October 1637, when she was just two years old. As such, her oldest surviving brother **Prince Francis Hyacinth** succeeded as Duke of Savoy. Her mother was thus Regent of Savoy as a result due to his young age.

### Bethrothal to Louis XIV

The first of her siblings to marry, Yolanda was expected to marry high. Yolanda's mother the French born Christine Marie started communicating with France in order to secure a marriage between Margherita Yolanda and the young Louis XIV of France, first cousin of Margherita Yolanda; Louis XIV's father Louis XIII was the oldest brother of Christine Marie.

Yolanda was in competition with the Spanish court who had presented the **Infanta Maria Teresa of Austria** as another proposed bride. Maria Teresa was a daughter of Elisabeth of France, another sister of Louis XIII and Christine. Maria Teresa's father Philip IV of Spain was also the brother of Anne of Austria, mother of Louis XIV and was eager to bring about peace between France and Spain with the marriage of Louis and Maria Teresa.

Negotiations with France and Savoy went as far as Louis XIV and Margaret Yolanda known to the French as *Marguerite Yolande de Savoie*, meeting at Lyon on the French royal family leaving Paris on October 26, 1630. The French were impressed by her appearance despite saying her skin was too tanned. They also said she was a quiet girl. Upon hearing of this meeting at Lyon, Philip IV is said to have said the marriage would not happen..

Prior to the proposed Franco-Savoyard match, *Antoine Pimentel Marquis de Tábara*, Spanish ambassador had had secret talks with Cardinal Mazarin which later led the French to say to the Savoyard's

"*...the Savoyard marriage is not for the King of France, Philip IV King of Spain proposes his daughter, the Infanta Maria Teresa who has all the qualities of being the wife of Louis XIV..."*

## Court of Gulielmus II & II

### Marriage

By the next year, her mother was already searching for another potential match for Yolanda. With time and effort and many discussions between nations;

## Title, Styles and Honours

### Title and Styles

**15th November 1635 - 7th July 1653:** Her Royal Highness, Dama Margherita Yolanda di Savoia, Dama di Savoia

**7th July 1653 - Present:** Her Imperial Highness, Principissa Margaret Yolande de Savoie, Imperiale Principissa Epirotarum & Prōtostratorissa