Maria Theresa of Austria-Este, Queen of Sardinia

She was the second child and first daughter of Archduke Ferdinand Karl of Austria, governor of Milan, and Maria Beatrice d'Este, heir to the Duchy of Modena.

[citation needed] Maria Theresa had one older brother, Josef Franz, but he died in infancy in 1772 before she was born.

Their relationship was described as a happy and harmonious one,[citation needed] and Victor Emmanuel spent ample time with their children.

Maria Theresa became a good friend of Marie Clotilde of France, the childless consort of Charles Emmanuel, Prince of Piedmont.

[citation needed] Maria Theresa was initially enthusiastically welcomed in Turin, but she soon aroused great discontent among the public.

After the outbreak of a liberal revolution in 1821, her husband Victor Emmanuel abdicated in favor of his brother, Charles Felix.

She was accused of having tried to convince her childless brother-in-law Charles Felix to assign Francis IV, Duke of Modena (her brother and the husband of her eldest daughter Maria Beatrice), as heir to the throne.

Portrait of Maria Theresa in the 18th century, at the time of her marriage (by an unknown artist). This portrait is a part of the Castello Cavour di Santena collection
Maria Theresa with her husband and their daughters Maria Anna , Maria Teresa and Maria Cristina .