she was born at the royal palace of milan to rainer joseph of austria and his wife elisabeth of savoy. named "adelaide", or known as "adele" in the family, she held the title of archduchess of austria. her father was the viceroy of lombardy-venetia and was a son of the holy roman emperor leopold ii and maria luisa of spain. her mother was a member of the house of savoy and a daughter of the then prince of carignano, the head of the junior branch of the house of savoy who ruled the kingdom of sardinia.