MARIE LOUISE (1791-1847), second wife of Napoleon I., was the daughter of Francis I., emperor of Austria, and of the princess Theresa of Naples, and was born on Dec. 12, 1791. It is probable, though not quite certain, that the first suggestions of a marriage between Napoleon and Marie Louise emanated secretly from the Austrian chancellor, Metternich. The prince de Ligne claimed to have been instrumental in arranging it. In any case the proposal was well received at Paris both by Napoleon and by his ministers ; and the difficulties respecting the divorce of Josephine, were surmounted. The marriage took place by proxy in the church of St. Augustine, Vienna, on March I1, 181o. The new empress was escorted into France by Queen Caroline Murat, for whom she soon conceived a feeling of distrust. The civil and religious contracts took place at Paris early in April, and during the honeymoon, spent at the palace of Compiegne, the emperor showed the greatest regard for his wife. "He is so evidently in love with her," wrote Metternich, "that he cannot conceal his feelings, and all his customary ways of life are subordinate to her wishes." His joy was complete when on March 20, 1811, she bore him a son who was destined to bear the empty titles of "king of Rome" and "Napoleon II." Before the campaign of 1812 she accompanied the emperor to Dresden; but after that scene of splendour misfortunes crowded upon Napoleon. In January 1814 he appointed her to act as regent of France (with Joseph Bonaparte as lieutenant-general) during his absence in the field.
At the time of Napoleon's first abdication (April 11, 1814), she succeeded in spite of the efforts of Joseph and Jerome Bona parte in reaching her father, the emperor Francis, while Napoleon was on his way to Elba. She, along with her son, was escorted into Austria by Count von Neipperg, and refused to comply with the entreaties of Napoleon to proceed to Elba; and her alienation from him was completed when he ventured to threaten her with a forcible abduction. During the Hundred Days she remained in Austria, and manifested no desire for the success of Napoleon in France. At the Congress of Vienna the Powers awarded to her and her son the duchies of Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla, in con formity with the terms of the treaty of Fontainebleau (March, 1814) ; in spite of the determined opposition of Louis XVIII.
she gained this right for herself owing largely to the support of the emperor Alexander, but she failed to make good the claims of her son to the inheritance. (See NAPOLEON II.) She proceeded alone to Parma, and had to acquiesce in the title "duke of Reich stadt" accorded to her son.
Long before the news of Napoleon's death reached her she was living in intimate relations with Neipperg at Parma, and bore a son to him not long after that event. Napoleon on the other hand spoke of her in his will with marked tenderness, and both excused and forgave her infidelity. Neipperg became her morganatic husband ; and they had other children. In 1832 she visited the duke of Reichstadt at Vienna when he was dying. Her rule in Parma, conjointly with Neipperg, was characterized by a clemency and moderation which were lacking in the other Italian states in that time of reaction. She preserved some of the Napoleonic laws and institutions; in 1817 she established the equality of women in heritage, and ordered the compilation of a civil code which was promulgated in January 182o. On the death of Neipperg in 1829 his place was taken by Baron Werklein, whose influence was hostile to popular liberty. In 1831 Marie Louise had to take refuge with the Austrian garrison at Piacenza; on the restoration of her rule by the Austrians its character deteriorated, Parma be coming an outwork of the Austrian empire. She died at Vienna on Dec. 18, See Correspondance de Marie Louise 2799-1847 (Vienna, 1887) ; J. A. Baron von Helfert, Marie Louise (Vienna, 1873) ; E. Wertheimer, Die Heirath der Erzherzogin Marie Louise mit Napoleon I. (Vienna, 1882) ; and The Duke of Reichstadt (Eng. ed., 1905). See also the Memoirs of Bausset, Mme. Durand Meneval and Metternich ; and Max Billard, The Marriage Ventures of Marie Louise, English version by Evelyn, duchess of Wellington (Iwo) ; D. Masson, L'imperatrice Marie Louise (1902) ; Cuthell, An Imperial Victim (1912) ; Gachot, Marie Louise intime (1912) ; C. de Clary-et-Aldringen, Souvenirs (i914).