Maria Chiara Spinucci


Maria Chiara Spinucci, was an Italian aristocrat, courtier of Duchess Maria Antonia of Bavaria and the morganatic spouse of Prince Francis Xavier of Saxony.

Secret Marriage

In Dresden on 9 March 1765, she married Franz Xavier morganatically. The union was keep secret until 1777 when it was formally announced and legitimized.
In 1769, Franz Xavier moved his family to France, the home of his younger sister, the Dauphine Marie-Josèphe, who had died two years earlier. He lived in France for almost twenty years under the assumed title of Count of Lusatia. In 1774, his nephew, Louis XVI, became the king of the country. Franz Xavier and his family chose to flee France at the beginning of the French Revolution. They moved to Rome; while in Rome, the Prince sat for a bust by Domenico Cardelli.

Issue

During their marriage, Franz Xavier and Maria Chiara had ten children —known as counts and countesses of Lusatia — but only six survived to adulthood:
  1. Ludwig Ruprecht Joseph Xavier.
  2. Clara Maria Augusta Beatrice, twin with Ludwig.
  3. Joseph Xavier Karl Raphael Philipp Benno, called "Le Chevalier de Saxe".
  4. Elisabeth Ursula Anna Cordula Xaveria, called "Mademoiselle de Saxe"; married on 8 November 1787 to Henri de Preissac, Duc d'Esclignac.
  5. Maria Anna Violente Katharina Martha Xaveria, married on 15 October 1793 to Principe Don Paluzzo Altieri, Principe di Oriolo.
  6. Beatrix Marie Françoise Brigitte, married on 18 February 1794 to Don Raffaele Riario-Sforza, Marchese di Corleto.
  7. Kunigunde Anna Helena Maria Josepha, married on 1795 to Marchese Don Giovanni Patrizi Naro Montoro.
  8. Maria Christina Sabina, married on 24 March 1796 to Don Camillo Massimiliano Massimo, Principe di Arsoli.
  9. Stillborn son.
  10. Cecilie Marie Adelaide Augustine.