Marie-Anne Sophie de Saxe

## Marie-Anne de Saxe

*Électrice-Consort de Bavière*

Kurfürstentum Sachsen

Kurfürstentum Bayern

Joseph de Saxe (1721-1728) †

Frédéric IV Chrétien de Saxe

Marie-Amélie de Saxe, Reine d'Espagne

Marie-Marguerite de Saxe (1727-1734) †

Marie-Marguerite de Saxe (1727-1734) †

François-Xavier de Saxe

Marie-Josèphe de Saxe

Charles-Chrétien de Saxe

Marie-Christine de Saxe

Marie-Élisabeth de Saxe

Albert-Casimir de Saxe

Clément-Wenceslas de Saxe

Marie-Cunégonde de Saxe

***Marie-Anne Sophie Sabine Angèle Françoise Xavière de Saxe*** (29th August 1728 - Présent) was by birth a Princess-Duchess of the Electorate of Saxony, the daughter of Prince-Elector *Frédéric-Auguste II* and Archduchess *Marie-Josèphe d'Autriche*. Born into the illustrious, influential and lavishly-equipped wealth of the House of Saxony, Marie-Anne was prepared in earnest from her youth for an illustrious lifestyle awarded to a princess of her high birth and noble stature. Destined for a lucrative marriage contract, she was betrothed in 1747 to her cousin, *Maximilien III Joseph de Wittelsbach*, Prince-Elector of Bavaria. Although the marriage was described as happy, it would remain a childless one- of which created a predicament for the succession crisis of the House of Wittelsbach that was sparked as a result.

Considered one of the more attractive daughters of Frédéric-Auguste II, Marie-Anne's beauty, although famed, was often masked behind her modest and humble demeanor. While described as witty, Marie-Anne understood the necessity of poise and grace that was required for a woman of her birth. Blessed with a talent for music, along with a thirst for knowledge, Marie-Anne was a close follower of the *Enlightenment*, keeping correspondence with intellects such as Voltaire, Rousseau, Immanuel Kant and Denis Diderot.

A great proponent of tradition, Marie-Anne enjoyed the the etiquette and protocols of the Prussian court, greatly exercising the duties expected of her, bar no exception. A materialistic and cultivated woman, she enjoyed all things rich in beauty. Marie-Anne was a large supporter of fashion, often influencing the ***Mode à la Saxonaise*** first introduced by her mother during the late reign of Frédéric-Guillaume I at the Prussian court. In the zeitgeist of the Friderician Époque, Marie-Anne spent much of her time in Berlin and Potsdam at the court of *Frédéric le Grand*, eagerly maintaining both favour and correspondence with the King. This favouritism would later prove tactical in the latter portion of her tenure as Electress-Consort of Bavaria, when, in 1778, Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II challenged claims to portions of Bavaria after the death of Maximilien III Joseph; sparking the War of the Bavarian Succession.

In her twilight as Electress-Dowager, Marie-Anne spent less and less time at the Prussian court, often sojourning to the Nymphenbourg Palace in Munich. In her final years, Marie-Anne was regarded for her piety and charitable acts, keeping the company of clerics and philosophers. Marie-Anne had a pious temperament and innocent outlook upon life. She was loyal and passionate about caring for those she loved dearly- especially her mother, and later, her husband. Although reserved at times, she could be witty and decisive, often attempting to dominate the Bavarian court in the interest of safeguarding her legacy and preventing the collapse of her husband's lands at the hands of the Austrians.