German Maria-Luise
born Dec. 12, 1791, Vienna, Austria
died Dec. 17, 1847, Parma
Austrian archduchess and second wife of Napoleon .
The eldest daughter of Emperor Francis II , she was married to Napoleon (1810) and gave birth to his long-desired heir, the future Napoleon II , in 1811. When Napoleon abdicated (1814), Marie-Louise returned to Vienna with their son. She ignored Napoleon's entreaties to join him in exile and again after his return to France (1815). Made duchess of Parma, Piacenza, and Guastalla (1816), she ruled in accordance with Austrian prescriptions. After Napoleon's death (1821), she contracted morganatic marriages with Adam Adalbert, count von Neipperg, who died in 1829, and in 1834 with Charles René, count de Bombelles.
Marie-Louise, detail of a portrait by Joseph Franque; in the Château de Versailles.
Alinari/Art Resource, New York