Princess Maria Christina of Saxony (1735–1782)

Princess Maria Christina of Saxony (Maria Christina Anna Theresa Salomea Eulalia Francisca Xaveria; 12 February 1735 – 19 November 1782) was a Princess of Saxony and later Abbess of Remiremont.

Her father, Augustus III of Poland, was the Elector of Saxony (as Frederick Augustus I), King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (as Augustus II). Her mother Maria Josepha, born an Archduchess of Austria, was a first cousin of Empress Maria Theresa.

She was the tenth child of fourteen. Her sisters included Maria Amalia, Queen of Spain (wife of Charles III of Spain), Maria Josepha, Dauphine of France (mother of Louis XVI), Maria Anna, Electress of Bavaria and Maria Kunigunde, Abbess of Thorn and Essen.

Her brothers included two electors of Saxony: Frederick Christian, Charles of Saxony, Duke of Courland, and also Prince Albert of Saxony, Duke of Teschen (son in law of Empress Maria Theresa).

Maria Christina was born at the Wilanów Palace in Poland. She came from a close family and her parents made sure they put emphasis on a good education. The young princess was educated in Latin, French, Polish, philosophy, geography, religion, drawing, music and dance.

Her older sister Maria Josepha married Louis, Dauphin of France in 1747. In 1764, Maria Christina was sent to France to become a Coadjutorice at the Abbey of Remiremont in Remiremont, northern France. Her position was thanks to the personal intervention of Louis XV himself.

At the time of her arrival, the abbey was under control of Anne Charlotte de Lorraine, sister of the Holy Roman Emperor and aunt of the future Marie Antoinette.

In France, she was known as Marie Christine de Saxe.

In 1773, at the death of Anne Charlotte, Maria Christina was named Abbess, a position she would keep until her death.

Remiremont had seats and votes in the Reichstag including all rights and obligations of an Imperial Princess (such as low justice, tax, legislation, coinage and military service), and enjoyed immunity against temporal power.

She was a frequent visitor to Paris and was fond of the Theatre and the city's social life. She spent a great deal of money, the payment of which was made by Stanisław Leszczyński (Duke of Lorraine until his death in 1766) and after that the king Louis XV. Her correspondence with her brother Francis Xavier, Regent of Saxony was preserved at Trojes.

She was created a Dame of the Order of the Starry Cross.

Maria Christina bought the Château de Brumath in the town of Brumath in the Alsace region of France. Purchased in 1775, she chose the building for its location in the country and for its natural setting. She lived a lavish lifestyle at the château which far outdid her revenues. Dying at the château on 19 November 1782, her nephew King Louis XVI was obliged to pay her debts in the amount of 136,876 livres for his dead aunt.

She was buried at the abbey in its église des Dames on the 15 December 1782. She was praised for her intelligence, her conversation and for being a cultivated woman for her age. The château de Brumath was abandoned and was pillaged in the French Revolution.

Titles and styles

• 12 February 1735 – 19 November 1782 Her Serene Highness Princess Maria Christina of Saxony