Maria Teresa Cybo-Malaspina, Duchess of Massa

Maria Teresa Cybo-Malaspina
Duchess of Massa
Reign	18 August 1731 – 29 December 1790
Spouse	Eugenio Giovanni Francesco of Savoy Ercole III d'Este, Duke of Modena
Issue
Rinaldo d'Este Maria Beatrice, Duchess of Massa
Father	Alderano I Cybo-Malaspina
Mother	Ricciarda Gonzaga
Born	29 June 1725(1725-06-29) Novellara, Italy
Died	29 December 1790(1790-12-29) (aged 65) Modena, Italy

Maria Teresa Cybo^[1]-Malaspina (29 June 1725 – 29 December 1790) was the Duchess of Massa and the Princess of Carrara from 1731 until her death in 1790. She was the eldest child of her parents, Alderano I Cybo-Malaspina and his wife Ricciarda Gonzaga. She was the wife of Ercole III d'Este, Duke of Modena and was thus Duchess of Modena by marriage.

Biography

Maria Teresa was born in the town of Novellara (in what is now the province of Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna). As the eldest of her father's children, she was his designated heiress. Her father died on 18 August 1731 when she was just six years old. Through her mother she was a descendant of the Counts of Novellara and the House of Este.

As the sovereign of two sovereign territories, she was a very attractive candidate for marriage. A possible candidate was the Count of Soissons, Eugenio Giovanni Francesco of Savoy.^[2] He was the grandson of Prince Louis Thomas of Savoy. Despite this marriage took place and the two were actually a couple, they never met due to the prince's death in 1734, months after the two were married. Eventually, she would look to the Duchy of Modena.

The young Ercole Rinaldo d'Este was the hereditary prince of Modena and Reggio. The couple would marry in 1741 and the Duchy of Massa and Principality of Carrara would then be added to the Duchy of Modena and Reggio.

In 1744, she formally received her states, which so far had been ruled by her mother due to her age. She was known as a nice and sensible person, who had been well educated by her mother, with the emphasis on clemency, moderation and patience. She reformed the laws, built a hospital and promoted art, culture and architecture. Maria Teresa was praised for helping to set up Art Academies in Carrara and, after correspondence with the Spanish court, the creation of the Academy of Madrid.

Empress Maria Theresa of Austria sought to arrange a marriage between Maria Beatrice Ricciarda and her fourth son Archduke Ferdinand of Austria to expand Austrian influence in Italy. The couple was engaged at a very young age and the marriage was celebrated in Milan on 15 October 1771. From this marriage, the House of Austria-Este was created, a cadet branch of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, which ruled Modena between 1814 and 1859.

Maria Teresa died in 1790 in Modena. By the time of her death, her daughter Maria Beatrice had succeeded to her titles. She was buried in the Basilica della Ghiara. Her other titles of Duchess of Ajello, Baroness di Paduli, Sovereign Lady of Moneta and Avenza and Lady of Lago, Laghitello, Serra and Terrati also went to her daughter.

Family

Maria Teresa and Ercole III had 2 children:

• Maria Beatrice Ricciarda d'Este (1750–1829)
• Reinaldo Francesco d'Este (born 1753)

Ancestry

Titles and styles

• 29 June 1725 – 18 August 1731 Dona Maria Teresa
• 18 August 1731 – 16 April 1741 Her Highness the Duchess of Massa
• 16 April 1741 – 22 February 1780 Her Royal Highness the Hereditary Princess of Modena, Duchess of Massa
• 22 February 1780 – 29 December 1790 Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Modena, Duchess of Massa

References

1. ^ This is also sometimes spelt Cibo
2. ^ Eugenio Giovanni Francesco di Savoia, Count of Soissons, Duke of Troppau

Titles

Titles and Succession

Maria Teresa Cybo-Malaspina, Duchess of Massa House of Cybo-Malaspina Born: 20 October 1700 Died: 19 January 1761 Italian royalty Preceded by Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans Duchess of Modena 1780–1790 Succeeded by Maria Beatrice of Savoy Preceded by Alderano I Cybo-Malaspina Sovereign Duchess of Massa and Sovereign Princess of Carrara 1731–1790 Succeeded by Maria Beatrice d'Este, Duchess of Massa Preceded by Alderano I Cybo-Malaspina Duchess of Ajello 1731–1790 Succeeded by Maria Beatrice d'Este, Duchess of Massa Persondata Name Cybo-Malaspina, Maria Teresa, Duchess Of Massa Alternative names Short description Date of birth 29 June 1725 Place of birth Novellara, Italy Date of death 29 December 1790 Place of death Modena, Italy