# Marie Thérèse of Savoy, Princesse de Lamballe

> French princess (1749-1792)

**Wikidata**: [Q233210](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q233210)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Thérèse_Louise_of_Savoy,_Princesse_de_Lamballe)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/marie-therese-of-savoy-princesse-de-lamballe

## Summary
Marie Thérèse of Savoy, Princesse de Lamballe, was a French princess born in 1749 who played a significant role in the royal court of France. As a lady-in-waiting to Queen Marie Antoinette, she became a prominent figure during the final years of the Bourbon monarchy. Her life was tragically cut short during the French Revolution in 1792.

## Biography
- **Born**: September 8, 1749
- **Nationality**: French
- **Known for**: Being a lady-in-waiting to Queen Marie Antoinette and a victim of the French Revolution
- **Employer(s)**: Royal Court of France
- **Field(s)**: Nobility, Royal Service

## Contributions
Marie Thérèse of Savoy, Princesse de Lamballe, is best known for her service as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Marie Antoinette. Her loyalty to the monarchy during the French Revolution led to her execution in 1792, symbolizing the brutal purge of the aristocracy. She did not publish works or lead projects but was a key figure in the royal court's social and political dynamics.

## FAQs
**What was Marie Thérèse of Savoy, Princesse de Lamballe's role in the French court?**  
She served as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Marie Antoinette, a position that highlighted her status within the royal hierarchy and her close association with the monarchy.

**How did she die?**  
She was executed by guillotine on September 3, 1792, during the French Revolution, a victim of the revolutionary violence targeting the aristocracy.

**Was she related to the royal family?**  
As a member of the House of Savoy, she was part of the European nobility but not directly related to the French Bourbon monarchs. Her title and marriage connected her to the French court.

## Why They Matter
Marie Thérèse of Savoy, Princesse de Lamballe, matters as a symbol of the French Revolution's brutality against the aristocracy. Her execution underscored the radical shift from monarchy to republic, serving as a stark example of the period's political violence. Her loyalty to Marie Antoinette and the royal family has made her a enduring figure in historical accounts of the Revolution.

## Notable For
- **Execution during the French Revolution**: Guillotined in 1792 as part of the September Massacres.
- **Lady-in-waiting to Marie Antoinette**: A key position in the royal court, reflecting her nobility and influence.
- **Member of the House of Savoy**: Part of a prominent European royal family, though her direct impact was through her association with the French monarchy.

## Body

### Early Life and Background
Marie Thérèse Louise of Savoy was born on September 8, 1749, into the House of Savoy-Carignan, a cadet branch of the House of Savoy. Her family's noble status positioned her for a life within European royalty. She married Louis Alexandre de Bourbon, Prince of Lamballe, in 1767, further solidifying her ties to the French nobility.

### Role at Court
As the Princesse de Lamballe, she became a lady-in-waiting to Queen Marie Antoinette. This role immersed her in the intrigues and extravagances of the Palace of Versailles. Her close relationship with the Queen made her a target during the Revolution, as she was perceived as a symbol of the monarchy's excesses.

### French Revolution and Execution
During the French Revolution, she remained loyal to the royal family. In 1792, she was arrested and imprisoned in the Temple alongside the royal family. On September 3, 1792, she was executed by guillotine in the September Massacres, a wave of killings of prisoners deemed counter-revolutionary. Her death marked the Revolution's escalating violence against the aristocracy.

### Legacy
Princesse de Lamballe's legacy is intertwined with the tragic fate of the French monarchy. Her execution served as a chilling example of the Revolution's radical phase, earning her a place in historical narratives as a martyr of the aristocracy. While she did not leave behind literary or political works, her life and death illustrate the profound social and political upheavals of late 18th-century France.

### Historical Connections
- **Marie Antoinette**: Her loyalty to the Queen defined her role and fate.
- **French Revolution**: Her execution was a pivotal moment in the Revolution's violence.
- **House of Savoy**: Her lineage connected her to broader European nobility, though her impact was primarily within France.

## References

1. Czech National Authority Database
2. BnF authorities
3. International Standard Name Identifier
4. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
5. Find a Grave
6. The Peerage
7. FemBio database
8. Collective Biographies of Women
9. Genealogics
10. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
11. Virtual International Authority File
12. CERL Thesaurus
13. Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani
14. Catalogo of the National Library of India