She left Austria on
July 1 1769, accompanied by her brother, Joseph II, and married Ferdinand on
July 19, at the
Chateau de Colorno. Once in
Parma, Maria Amalia started to interfere in the politics of the country, initially with the complete support and advice of her mother, Maria Theresa. The Empress believed that her daughter needed to be active in Parmesan politics, but only as a support to Ferdinand. The Duchess took her mother's directives to an extreme, and the Court of Parma became a ridiculous exaggeration of Vienna.
The court of Parma also received financial support and political aid from France and Spain. Within a short while, Maria Amalia completely overshadowed her 18-year-old husband and began a scandalous way of life which included lovers that she openly lived with. The duchess' adulterous behaviour shocked the European courts, each of which slowly severed relationships with Parma. Maria Amalia dismissed
Du Tillot, a minister who opposed her adultery, and replaced him by a Spanish appointee,
Jose del Llano, who was highly recommended by
Charles III of Spain. However, the new minister had absolutely no influence over the duchess, who continued her immoral lifestyle despite del Llano's repeated entreaties. Finally, frustrated with her growing indiscipline and wary of being associated with her, Charles III washed his hands of Parma. Maria Theresa, who then attempted to force Amalia into giving up her immoral way of life, was also told off in no uncertain terms. Amalia would remain estranged from her mother, except for a brief reconciliation in 1773 when her son was born, despite the latter's repeated efforts at reconciliation for the rest of the Empress' life.
When
Napoleon Bonaparte invaded
Italy Maria Amalia and her family left for
Austria and she died in
Prague, in
1804.
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