Princess Henriette Adelaide of Savoy

Henriette Adelaide of Savoy, (November 6 1636 - June 13 1676), was the wife of the Elector of Bavaria Ferdinand Maria.

Born in Turin, she lost her father Victor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy when she was just one year old. Her mother was Christine Marie of France, daughter of Henry IV of France and Marie de' Medici.

Her maternal uncles were Louis XIII of France, Nicholas Henry, Duke of Orleans and Gaston, Duke of Orléans. Her maternal aunts were Elisabeth of Bourbon and Henrietta Maria of France. Her uncles-by-marriage included Philip IV of Spain through Elisabeth and Charles I of England through Henrietta Maria.

On December 8 1650 she married Ferdinand Maria, future Elector of Bavaria. The next year Ferdinand Maria became Elector, when his father Maximilian died.

Henriette Adelaide had a strong influence on Bavarian politics, in favor of France. This led to an alliance between France and Bavaria against Austria. She also had a great part in the building of Nymphenburg Palace and the Theatinerkirche. Many Italian artists were invited to Munich. She also introduced the Italian opera in Bavaria.

She died in Munich.

Ancestors

Children

* Duchess Maria Anna of Bavaria (1660-1690), married Louis, "le Grand Dauphin"
* Maximilian II (1662–1726), next Elector of Bavaria
* Luise Margarete Antonie, Duchess of Bavaria
* Ludwig Amadeus Victor, Duke of Bavaria
* Kajetan Maria Franz, Duke of Bavaria
* Joseph Clemens Kajetan (1671–1723), Elector and Archbishop of Cologne
* Violante Beatrix, Duchess of Bavaria