Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily (Reign of Kings)

Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily (26 April 1782 – 24 March 1866) was Queen of France was wife of King Louis XVII, and she served as regent for her grandson Louis XVIII. The years during which her grandson reigned have been called "the age of Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily" as she had extensive, if at times varying, influence in the political life of France.

Early years
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Queen Consort
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Co-Regent
Upon the death of her husband, Duchess Helene of Mecklenburg-Schwerin became regent. Distrusting the german princess, the National Guard staged a coup d'état to depose the Regent with the help of four regiments of the royal guard invaded the Amber Palace, and forced the Duchess to resign, upon which Maria and Marshal Jean-de-Dieu Soult  would share power as regents during his minority, and quickly moved themselves into the Louvre Palace with the young king. For the moment, Maria Amalia worked with the moderates out of necessity. She was not strictly entitled to a role in Louis's government, because he she was his joint regent.

Nevertheless, all his official acts began with the words: "This being the good pleasure of the Queen, my lady-Maria, and I also approving of every opinion that she holdeth, am content and command that ...". Maria did not hesitate to exploit her new authority.

Exile and Return to Power
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Regent of France
Maria Amalia herself became regent on 12 April 1856. The eleven-year-old King Louis sent his congratulations to "la Royne, la grand-mère" ("the Queen, my grandmother") from the Windsor Castle at Easter, where she was staying with his godmother Queen Victoria. After the death of her spouse, Maria came to be convinced that France needed reforms to avoid a revolution. She appointed the