Duchess of Aosta explained

The Duchess of Aosta is the wife of the Duke of Aosta, a title created by Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor in the 13th century. The Duchy of Aosta had already been ruled by the House of Savoy for some time; it is a corner of the Italian Alps now bordering France and Switzerland, essentially the same as the Aosta Valley. The title of duke tended to be given to the second son of the ruler, reverting to the head of the house, until Amadeo I of Spain (1845 – 1890), the first and only King of Spain from the House of Savoy. He was the second son of King Vittorio Emanuele II of Italy and was known for most of his life as the Duke of Aosta. He was elected by the Spanish parliament (the Cortes) as King of Spain in 1870, but abdicated in 1873. He created a new Aosta branch of the House of Savoy, which retains the title, although it is not legally recognised.

The duchesses have in recent centuries been royal or princely. In 2021 the duchess was Princess Olga of Greece, younger daughter of Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark.

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PictureName FatherBirthMarriageBecame DuchessCeased to be DuchessDeathSpouse
Maria Theresa of Austria-EsteArchduke Ferdinand of Austria-Este
(Austria-Este)
1 November 1773 21 April 17894 June 1802
became Queen of Sardinia
29 March 1832 Vittorio Emanuele
Maria Vittoria dal Pozzo della CisternaCharles Emmanuel dal Pozzo della Cisterna
(dal Pozzo della Cisterna)
9 August 184730 May 18638 November 1876Amedeo I
Maria Letizia BonapartePrince Napoléon Bonaparte
(Bonaparte)
20 November 1866 11 September 188818 January 1890
husband's death
25 October 1926
Hélène of OrléansPhilippe, Count of Paris
(Orléans)
13 June 1871 25 June 1895 4 July 1931
husband's death
21 January 1951Emanuele Filiberto
Anne of OrléansJean, Duke of Guise
(Orléans)
5 August 19065 November 19274 July 1931
husband's accession
3 March 1942
husband's death
19 March 1986Amedeo
Irene of Greece and DenmarkConstantine I of Greece
(Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg)
13 February 1904 1 July 1939 3 March 1942
husband's accession
29 January 1948
husband's death
15 April 1974Aimone
Claude of OrléansHenri, Count of Paris
(Orléans)
11 December 194322 July 1964 8 January 1987
marriage annulled
livingAmedeo
Silvia Paternò di SpedalottoVincenzo Paternò di Spedalotto, 6th Marchese di Regiovanni
(Paternò di Spedalotto)
31 December 1953 30 March 1987 1 June 2021
husband's death
living
Olga of GreecePrince Michael of Greece and Denmark
(Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg)
17 November 197127 September 20081 June 2021
husband's accession
livinglivingAimone