Marie Jeanne Baptiste of Savoy-Nemours

Marie Jeanne Baptiste of Savoy-Nemours, born on April eleventh, sixteen forty-four, was a prominent figure in the arts and a significant political player in her time. As a Princess of Savoy, she ascended to the role of Duchess of Savoy through her marriage to Charles Emmanuel II in sixteen sixty-five, after an annulled proxy marriage to Charles of Lorraine.

She was the mother of Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia, who would later elevate the House of Savoy to royal status. Known as Madama Reale or Madame Royale, she took on the mantle of Regent of Savoy in sixteen seventy-five, governing on behalf of her son until her official regency concluded in sixteen eighty. However, her influence persisted until she was ultimately sidelined in sixteen eighty-four.

Marie Jeanne left an indelible mark on Turin's architectural landscape, most notably through her efforts in the remodelling of the Palazzo Madama, her private residence. Her legacy extended beyond her lifetime, as she became the great-grandmother of two kings, Louis I of Spain and Louis XV of France, solidifying her family's prominence in European history.