Maria Vittoria dal Pozzo

{{Infobox royalty

| consort = yes

| title = 6th Princess of Cisterna d'Asti and of Belriguardo

| image =María Victoria dal Pozzo, reina consorte de España.jpg

| birth_name = Maria Vittoria Carlotta Enrichetta Giovanna dal Pozzo

| succession = Queen consort of Spain

| reign = 16 November 1870 – 11 February 1873

| succession1 = 6th Princess of Cisterna d'Asti and of Belriguardo

| reign1 = 26 March 1864 – 8 November 1876

| predecessor1 = Carlo Emanuele dal Pozzo

| successor1 = Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy

| spouse = {{marriage|Amadeo I of Spain|30 May 1867}}

| issue = {{plainlist|

| house = Pozzo

| father = Carlo Emanuele dal Pozzo

| mother = Louise de Mérode

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1847|8|9|df=y}}

| birth_place = Paris, France

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1876|11|8|1847|8|9|df=y}}

| death_place = Sanremo, Italy

| burial_place = Basilica of Superga

}}

Maria Vittoria Carlotta Enrichetta Giovanna dal Pozzo, 6th Princess of Cisterna d'Asti and of Belriguardo (9 August 1847 – 8 November 1876), was an Italian noblewoman who was Queen of Spain from 16 November 1870 until 11 February 1873 as the wife of King Amadeo I. Maria Vittoria inherited her princely title after the death of her father.de Badts de Cugnac, Chantal. Coutant de Saisseval, Guy. "Le Petit Gotha". Nouvelle Imprimerie Laballery, Paris 2002, p. 612 (French) {{ISBN|2-9507974-3-1}} In 1867, she married Amadeo, then Duke of Aosta, second son of King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy. In 1870, her husband became the king of Spain, making her queen consort. King Amadeo abdicated after a reign of less than three years, and he and Maria Vittoria returned to Italy. She died in Sanremo, Italy, in 1876.

Early life

She was the eldest and only surviving child of Carlo Emanuele dal Pozzo della Cisterna, 5th Prince of Cisterna d'Asti and of Belriguardo, and his wife, Countess Louise de Mérode-Westerloo. Upon the death of her father in 1864, she inherited his noble titles and thus became the Princess of Cisterna d'Asti and of Belriguardo, Marquise of Voghera and Countess of Ponderano, among other titles, in her own right.

Marriage

On 30 May 1867 in Turin, she married Prince Amadeo of Savoy, the Duke of Aosta and second son of King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy. An urban legend grew and circulates that claims numerous tragedies to have befallen the wedding of Maria Vittoria and the Duke of Aosta;[http://www.snopes.com/weddings/horrors/badomen.asp Death and the Wedding Party] 'Legend... we present it here without making any claims as to how real it might be' www.snopes.com, 1998 an early source recounts the death of a stationmaster under the bridal party's train.Roger L. Williams, Gaslight and Shadow: The World of Napoleon III, 1851–1870 (NY: Macmillan, 1957), 156–57

Her husband was elected to occupy the vacant Spanish throne on 16 November 1870. She lived a discreet life in Spain and only involved herself in charity. Amadeo resigned from his position on 11 February 1873, and he and Maria Vittoria returned to Italy. Her health was damaged by the trip and childbirth, and she died later that year of tuberculosis in Sanremo.[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/89097325 Find a grave: Maria Vittoria Dal Pozzo Della Cisterna] www.findagrave.com

Issue

Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy-Aosta, Duke of Aosta (13 January 1869 – 4 July 1931), Marshal of Italy, married to Princess Hélène of Orléans and had issue.
Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy-Aosta, Count of Turin (24 November 1870 – 10 October 1946), died unmarried.
Prince Luigi Amedeo of Savoy-Aosta, Duke of the Abruzzi (29 January 1873 – 18 March 1933), Vice Admiral in the Italian Royal Navy, died unmarried.

Honours

{{Flag|Kingdom of Italy}} : 50px Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus.[http://www.genmarenostrum.com/Savoia/savoia-carignano.htm Mediterranean Nobility- SAVOIA] www.genmarenostrum.com
{{Flag|Austria-Hungary}} : 50px Dame of the Order of the Starry Cross.