Princess Marie Victoire of Arenberg was a member of the House of Arenberg and later the Margravine of Baden-Baden as consort of Augustus George of Baden-Baden.
Background
Marie Victoire was born in Brussels the eldest daughter of Léopold Philippe, Duke of Arenberg. Her mother was Maria Lodovica Francesca Pignatelli, a grand daughter of Ottone Enrico del Carretto was an Imperial Army commander like her own father.
Career
She is credited for her charitable nature setting up various religious orders in her adopted Baden-Baden where she was known as Maria Viktoria. She was also active in the care of children and Catholic education of young women. She also had a good education in music and the arts
Originally destined for the church, he left his ecclesiastical career in 1735.
He was the brother of the ruling Margarve Louis George of Baden-Baden. The marriage remained childless.
While Margravine, she set up an Augustinian choir for the women of Rastatt, the main seat of the rulers of Baden-Baden. Her husband died in 1771 leaving no heirs of his own and thus Baden-Baden went to Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Baden, leaving the defunct Maria Viktoria without a home.
She moved from Rastatt and took up residence in Ottersweier where she set up a convent.
In the convent school girls learned all the skills which they would need as future mothers and teachers. She died in Strasbourg aged 78. Titles and styles
26 October 1714 – 7 December 1735 Her Serene Highness Princess Marie Victoire of Arenberg
7 December 1735 – 22 October 1761 Her Serene Highness Margravine Augustus George of Baden-Baden
22 October 1761 – 21 October 1771 Her Serene Highness The Margravine of Baden-Baden
21 October 1771 – 13 April 1793 Her Serene Highness The Dowager Margravine of Baden-Baden.
Membership
As a member of the House of Arenberg, she was allowed the style of Serene Highness reflecting the Arenbergs status as Princes of the Holy Roman Empire. She was one of six children, her only surviving brother being Charles Marie Raymond, Duke of Arenberg, another distinguished member of the imperial army.