A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Amelie Maria, ex-Queen of the French
AMELIE MARIA, EX-QUEEN OF THE FRENCH,
Daughter of Ferdinand the First, king of the two Sicilies, was married to Louis Philippe, then the exiled duke d'Orleans, November, 1809. It was, apparently, a marriage of affection with the duke, but on her side of that absorbing love which seemed to seek nothing beyond the content of her husband—except his salvation—to complete her felicity. In all the changes of his life, she was with him as his wife; sensible to the smiles or frowns of fortune only as these affected her husband.
In 1814, after the fall of Napoleon, the duke of Orleans with his family removed to Paris; and the immense estates of his father were restored to him. At Neuilly he resided in a superb palace. surrounded with every luxury; yet amid all this magnificence the simple tastes, order, and economy, which distinguish the presence of a good wife, were predominant. They had nine children born to them; the training of these while young was their mother's care, and her example of obedience and reverence towards her husband, deepened and decided his influence over his family, which was a model of union, good morals, and domestic virtues.
By the events of July, 1830, Louis Philippe became King of the French; but this honour seems only to have increased the cares of his wife by her fears on his account; she never appears to have valued the station for any accession of dignity and importance it gave to her. Indeed, it is asserted that she was very adverse to his assuming the sceptre; with the instinct of a true woman's love, she probably felt that his happiness, if not his good name and his life, might be perilled; but he decided to be king, and she meekly took her place by his side, sharing his troubles, but not seeking to share his power. The French nation respected her character, and never imputed any of the king's folly, treachery, and meanness, to her; still the fervid truth of her soul was never surmised till she descended from the throne. Then she displayed what is far nobler than royalty of birth or station, the innate moral strength of woman's nature, when, forgetting self and sustaining every trial with a calm courage, she devotes her energies for the salvation of others. It has been said, that the queen endeavoured to prevent the abdication of Louis Philippe, that kneeling before him she exclaimed—"C'est le devoir d'un roi de mourir parmi son peuple!" But when he resolved on flight, it is known that her presence of mind sustained and guided him as though he had been a child. The sequel is familiar to all the world. They fled to England; Louis Philippe left Paris for the last time and for ever, on the 26th. of February, 1848. Supported on the arm of his noble wife, he reached the carriage that bore them from their kingdom, and on the 26th. of August, 1850, he passed from this world—forgiven of his sins, let us hope. He had been all his life a philosopher, that is to say, an infidel; but at the closing scene the piety and prayers of his wife seem to have been heard; the old king became a young penitent, performing with earnestness those holy rites his wife believes necessary to salvation. And she, who could never be happy if parted from him even for a day, resigned him to God, without a murmur;—and now devotes herself to the interests her deceased husband considered important, calmly and cheerfully as though he was still by her side. Well might that husband feel what one of his biographers observes he manifested so strongly, that "It was impossible to be in the company of Louis Philippe for half an hour, without some indication of his remarkable respect for his wife." And it should always be remembered to his honour, that in his domestic life, as husband and father, he deserves the highest regard. This purity of private morals, so rare in the stations he occupied, was undoubtedly owing to the excellence of his early education, almost entirely conducted by a woman—hence his respect for the sex.
We place the name of Amelie, ex-Queen of the French, in our record, not because she has worn a crown, or displayed great talents, or performed any distinguished deed; but because she has been the perfect example of a good wife.