Duke Ferdinand of Parma, his wife Maria Amalia,their family

I don't think so. you talked about it but didn't not quote it directly (the exact words I mean). On Mimi's quote.

Please see the thread on Maria Theresa and her large family for the exact quotes in German.

Thanks I would look for that in the MT thread.

I wonder what MC & Antonia thought about their sister Amalia ?

I wonder what MC & Antonia thought about their sister Amalia ?

As discussed earlier in this thread (unsure if said posts were deleted or moved elsewhere), both sisters were disapproving of Maria Amalia at one point - Marie Antoinette at the height of the Parma/France/Spain/Austria disputes (1771-72 or 1773). Maria Carolina vented to Mimi (1783) about her disapproval regarding Maria Amalia. While Maria Amalia was far from perfect, she never seemed to exhibit any hostility or outright dislike of any of her siblings. Which speaks much of her character rather than their characters... no rancour either, which is more than one can say about her sister in France or Naples. 

I think They were more or less toeing the official line laid down by MT.

I think They were more or less toeing the official line laid down by MT.

It may be so. Or is it to make themselves feel "better"?  Marie Antoinette was playing a game with her mother throughout the 1770s. And it's rather rich of Maria Carolina to criticise Maria Amalia's behaviour to Mimi when: 1) she herself was not an example of an well- behaved person; 2) her friends were rather a disgraceful lot - I don't believe Acton's assertation that MC was not like her lady friends and was just attracted to her opposite. For one, she was deceitful....

I don't think she was as forthright as Amalia, but her honesty only got her into more trouble especially with MT. Both Maria Antonia & Maria Carolina are totally honest in her dealings with MT, but Maria Carolina was more crafty.

Sorry I mean not totally honest with MT.

I'm not very surprised that Maria Carolina criticised Maria Amalia to Mimi. For one, Maria Amalia's behaviour was "controversial". And many of MC's letters contained criticisms of everyone and everything. As for Marie Antoinette, I guess she dealt with her mother's rebukes in the best way she knew how: pretend that she was following her mother to the letter and pointing out how her sister in Parma was so badly behaved.....

A trick that siblings usually play, I am the good girl and she is the bad one. Also much as Marie Antoinette loved her family, Maria Amalia was a bit older and more independent to be close to. She was the baby sister who was very close to Maria Carolina. Both Maria Carolina & Mimi were very opinionated. Amalia was "controversial" but not outrageous. I agree after her "retirement" from politics & "separation" from her husband, her life became much calmer and contented.

I believe that having more horses, dogs and birds or hunting and traveling opportunities (as well as other country pursuits), then life was very simple for her. She was still very capricious (until the very end, if I'm not mistaken) but she - in essence - had simple joys.

I hope she likes the wine, cheese & ham too. They are now world famous and mine too.

She liked bread (and presumably pastries) from Vienna.

Yes. They all did (MA, MC and even Antonia "Let them eat cake !") :-)

Notice: all those interested in obtaining (new for us) information on Ferdinand, Amalia, and their children (grandchildren, too!), kindly contact me via PM - including those who are interested in writing articles, essays or books, whether as an individual or through collaboration (as discussed ages ago).

Also, has anyone heard of the "Baron of Bourbon-Parma" line? certain people with (partial) roots from where i am from claim such. I may be wrong but I have never heard/read of such a line... i think it is pure fiction/fantasy...