Countess Palatine Maria Franziska of Sulzbach
| Maria Franziska of Sulzbach | |
|---|---|
| Countess Palatine of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld | |
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| Born | 15 June 1724 Schwetzingen |
| Died | 15 November 1794 (aged 70) Sulzbach |
| Spouse | Frederick Michael, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld |
| House |
House of Wittelsbach House of Palatinate-Zweibrücken |
| Father | Joseph Karl, Count Palatine of Sulzbach |
| Mother | Elizabeth Auguste Sophie of Neuburg |
Countess Palatine Maria Francisca of Sulzbach (Maria Franziska, Pfalzgräfin von Sulzbach; 15 June 1724 – 15 November 1794), was by birth Countess Palatine of Sulzbach and member of the House of Wittelsbach, and by marriage Countess Palatine and Duchess of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld.
Born in Schwetzingen, she was the fifth child of Joseph Karl, Count Palatine of Sulzbach and Countess Palatine Elizabeth Auguste Sophie of Neuburg. From her six siblings, only she and two older sisters survive adulthood: Elisabeth Auguste and Maria Anna.
Her father was the designated successor and of his father-in-law Charles III Philip, Elector Palatine, but he never took possession of his inheritance due to his early death in 1729. Maria Franziska's older sister Elisabeth Auguste later became the wife of the next heir of the Palatinate Electorate, Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria.
After the death of Charles Theodore in February 1799 without surviving legitimate offspring, the Palatinate and Bavaria were inherited by Maria Franziska's youngest son Maximilian IV Joseph (later King Maximilian I of Bavaria); thus, Maria Franziska became the ancestor of all the Bavarian Kings until 1918 and the still living royal branch of the Wittelbachs.
On 6 February 1746, Maria Franziska married with Frederick Michael, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld. After giving birth to five children, the relationship with her husband began to fail since 1760.
According to herself she was seduced by the bad example of the court and began an affair with an actor from Mannheim. When she became pregnant, Maria Franziska was banished from the court. In Strasbourg she gave birth to a son, and was then confined to a semi-detention in a series of monasteries, firstly at the Ursuline in Metz and then to the Augustinians of Bonnevoye in the Duchy of Luxembourg. After the death of her husband in 1767, she was allowed to return to Sulzbach Castle.
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