Maria Louisa of Savoy
Maria Louisa of Savoy (November 17 1688 - February 14 1714) was the first wife of king Philip V of Spain.
She was the third daughter of Victor Amadeus II of Savoy (1666 - 1732), Duke of Savoy and future king of Sicily and Sardinia , and his wife Anna of Orleans, daughter of Philippe I of Orléans and Henriette Anne Stuart.
Her older sister Marie Adelaide married 1697 Louis, duke of Burgundy and was the mother of Louis XV of France.
On November 2 1701 Maria Louisa , just 12 years old , married the younger brother of he brother-in-law, Philip, duc d'Anjou who had just become king Philip V of Spain .
In 1702 the long and ruinous War of Spanish Succession broke out. Maria Louisa proved to have what it takes to be a great queen by making herself admired in Madrid. She also started to impose some order in the junta, and led by her example at least some individuals and cities to start supporting the government with troops and money.
She had a great influence on her husband, but was herself dominated by the Princess des Ursins.
They had 4 children :
- Louis (25 August 1707–31 August 1724)
- Philip Louis (2 July 1709–8 July 1709).
- Philip Peter (7 June 1712–29 December 1719).
- Ferdinand VI (23 September 1713–10 August 1759).
She died in 1714, well loved in Spain.