Maria Anna of Naples and Sicily

Maria Anna was born at the Royal Palace in Naples. Her father was Ferdinand, Duke of Calabria, the third son and ninth child of Charles III of Spain and Maria Amalia of Saxony. Her mother was the Archduchess of Austria, the tenth daughter and thirteenth child of the famous Maria Theresa of Austria and her husband, Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor. She was baptised during the first year of her life. Her full name was Maria Anna Giuseppa Antoinette Francesca Gaetana Teresa Amalia Clementina, her first four names were the same as her mother's eldest sister Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria (1738-1789). She was born and died while her father was still styled Duke of Calabria. She was then styled Princess of Naples and Sicily. Her older siblings were Maria Theresa, namesake of her grandmother, born in 1772; Maria Luisa, born in 1773 and Carlo, Duke of Calabria, born just ten months before her. He also died in childhood, yet Maria Anna outlived him.

Due to the fact that Maria Anna was born just ten months after her older brother Carlo Francesco Giuseppe Gennaro, her birth was extremely difficult for Maria Carolina, and thus for the baby too. She was a very frail and weak child. Her health was reason for debate and when her brother Carlo, Duke of Calabria became ill with smallpox, he was immediately transferred to the Caserta Palace in order to prevent Maria Anna from getting sick, too. Carlo eventually succumbed to the illness on 17 December 1778, aged just three. In 1778, against all efforts, she contracted smallpox. She rallied for a while, but died on 22 February 1780.