Princess Maria Annunciata of Bourbon-Two Sicilies

Princess Maria Annunciata Isabella Filomena Sabasia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, full Italian name: Maria Annunziata Isabella Filomena Sabasia, Principessa di Borbone delle Due Sicilie (24 March 1843 – 4 May 1871) was the mother of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the archduke whose assassination in Sarajevo in 1914 precipitated the start of World War I.

Maria Annunciata was born in Caserta, the daughter of Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies and Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria.

Marriage

On 21 October 1862 in Venice, she married Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria as his second wife.They had four children :

• Franz Ferdinand (1863–1914)
• Otto Franz (1865–1906)
• Ferdinand Karl (1868–1915). Married morganatically to Bertha Czuber. No issue.
• Margarete Sophie (1870–1902). Married Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg.

Death

She died in Vienna, aged 28, from tuberculosis.

Titles and styles

• 24 March 1843 – 21 October 1862: Her Royal Highness Princess Maria Annunciata of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
• 21 October 1862 – 4 May 1871: Her Imperial and Royal Highness Archduchess Maria Annunciata of Austria, Princess of Hungary and Bohemia, Princess of Bourbon-Two Sicilies

Honours

•  Spain : Dame of the Order of Queen Maria Luisa