In a move to attempt to smooth tense relations between Austrian and Savoy, a match between Crown Prince Umberto I of Savoy, Archduchess Mathilde of Austria-Teschen was offered as a bride. Unfortunately, the Archduchess had the misfortune to indulge in a rather fatal cigarette, and her outfit caught fire when trying to hide it from her father.
With the death of Mathilde, Umberto married his cousin, the Princess Margherita of Savoy-Genoa. So, say Mathilde's father had been running late (enough for her that she could finish the cigarette) or even early (that she was not able to light up in the first place), and the marriage had gone through.
How might this affect Austro-Italian relations in the future? AFAIK the Catholic houses of Europe were not eager to allow their daughters to marry into the house of Savoy after seeing what had happened to the various branches of the Bourbons and Habsburgs.
With the death of Mathilde, Umberto married his cousin, the Princess Margherita of Savoy-Genoa. So, say Mathilde's father had been running late (enough for her that she could finish the cigarette) or even early (that she was not able to light up in the first place), and the marriage had gone through.
How might this affect Austro-Italian relations in the future? AFAIK the Catholic houses of Europe were not eager to allow their daughters to marry into the house of Savoy after seeing what had happened to the various branches of the Bourbons and Habsburgs.