Joséphine de Lorraine (Marie Joséphine Thérèse; 26 August 1753 – 8 February 1797) was a princess of the

House of Lorraine The House of Lorraine () originated as a cadet branch of the House of Metz. It inherited the Duchy of Lorraine in 1473 after the death without a male heir of Nicholas I, Duke of Lorraine. By the marriage of Francis of Lorraine to Maria Ther ...

by birth and Princess of Carignan by virtue of marriage. She was the paternal grandmother of King

Charles Albert of Sardinia Charles Albert (; 2 October 1798 – 28 July 1849) was the Kingdom of Sardinia (1720–1861), King of Sardinia and ruler of the Savoyard state from 27 April 1831 until his abdication in 1849. His name is bound up with the first Italian constit ...

, from whom the modern royal house of Italy descends.

Biography

Marie Joséphine Thérèse de Lorraine was the second of four children born to Louis de Lorraine, prince de Brionne, a

cadet A cadet is a student or trainee within various organisations, primarily in military contexts where individuals undergo training to become commissioned officers. However, several civilian organisations, including civil aviation groups, maritime ...

of the House of Guise, among the most influential families of France's ''

ancien regime ''Ancien'' may refer to * the French word for "ancient, old" ** Société des anciens textes français * the French for "former, senior" ** Virelai ancien ** Ancien Régime ''Ancien'' may refer to * the French word for " ancient, old" ** Socié ...

''. The senior, sovereign branch of the

would merge with the Imperial

House of Habsburg The House of Habsburg (; ), also known as the House of Austria, was one of the most powerful Dynasty, dynasties in the history of Europe and Western civilization. They were best known for their inbreeding and for ruling vast realms throughout ...

during her lifetime through marriage of the last reigning duke,

Francis Francis may refer to: People and characters *Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church (2013–2025) *Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Francis (surname) * Francis, a character played by YouTuber Boogie2 ...

, to

Maria Theresa of Austria Maria Theresa (Maria Theresia Walburga Amalia Christina; 13 May 1717 – 29 November 1780) was the ruler of the Habsburg monarchy from 1740 until her death in 1780, and the only woman to hold the position in her own right. She was the sovereig ...

. Her mother was princess Louise Julie Constance of Rohan (1735-1815), who also belonged to a powerful family of '' princes étrangers'', the

House of Rohan The House of Rohan () is a Bretons, Breton family of viscounts, later dukes and princes in the French nobility, coming from the locality of Rohan, Morbihan, Rohan in Brittany. Their line descends from the viscounts of Porhoët and is said to tr ...

. Her brother, Charles Eugène de Lorraine, prince de Lambesc (25 September 1751 – 11 November 1825), escorted his kinswoman

Marie Antoinette Marie Antoinette (; ; Maria Antonia Josefa Johanna; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was the last List of French royal consorts, queen of France before the French Revolution and the establishment of the French First Republic. She was the ...

to France from Vienna in 1770, became Austrian ambassador to France, and would be the last male of the Guise branch of the House of Lorraine. On 18 October 1768 Joséphine married Prince Victor Amadeus of Savoy, the son and heir of Louis Victor, Prince of Carignan and his German wife, the Landgravine Christine Henriette of Hesse-Rotenburg. Amadeus was also the brother of the '' princesse de Lamballe'',Princess Maria Teresa Luisa of Savoy married Louis Alexandre de Bourbon in May 1768. Louis Alexandre was a grandson of

Louis XIV LouisXIV (Louis-Dieudonné; 5 September 16381 September 1715), also known as Louis the Great () or the Sun King (), was King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715. His verified reign of 72 years and 110 days is the List of longest-reign ...

and Françoise-Athénaïs de Rochechouart, Marquise de Montespan the tragic confidante of Queen Marie Antoinette. Prince Charles Emmanuel of Savoy was born to Joséphine in Turin on 24 October 1770. She died aged 43 in Turin at the

Palazzo Carignano Palazzo Carignano is a historical building in the centre of Turin, Italy, which houses the Museum of the Risorgimento. It was a private residence of the Princes of Carignano, after whom it is named. Its rounded façade is different from other f ...

and was buried at

Turin Cathedral Turin Cathedral or Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist (, ) is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Turin Turin ( , ; ; , then ) is a city and an important business and cultural centre in northern Italy. It is the capital city of Piedmont and of ...

until 1816, when she was moved to the Basilica of Superga during the reign of

Victor Emmanuel I of Sardinia Victor Emmanuel I (; 24 July 1759 – 10 January 1824) was the Duke of Savoy, King of Sardinia and ruler of the Savoyard states from 4 June 1802 until his reign ended in 1821 upon abdication due to a liberal revolution. Shortly thereafter, hi ...

Issue

* Prince Charles Emmanuel of Savoy (24 October 1770 – 16 August 1800), ''Prince of Carignan'', married Princess Maria Christina of Saxony and had issue.

Ancestry

References and notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Josephine of Lorraine, Princess 1753 births 1797 deaths House of Savoy House of Guise 18th-century French people French princesses Princesses of Carignan Burials at Turin Cathedral Burials at the Basilica of Superga