18th Cent. Louis XV, King of France and Navarre.

Louis XV, King of France and Navarre in his Coronation Robes

by Hyacinthe Rigaud

1715

Château de Versailles

Louis was born on 15 February 1710, at Versailles, France. He was the son of Marie-Adélaïde of Savoy (6 December 1685 - 12 February 1712) and Louis, Duc de Bourgogne (16 August 1682 - 18 February 1712). His maternal grandparents were Anne Marie d'Orléans and Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia. His paternal grandparents were Duchess Maria Anna Christina Victoria of Bavaria (28 November 1660 - 20 April 1690) and Louis, Dauphin de France (1 November 1661 - 14 April 1711). Louis's parents were married on 7 December 1697. His sibling included: Louis, Duke of Brittany (1704-1705) and Louis, Dauphin de France (1707-1712). Early in 1712, his mother and father both fell ill. His mother, Marie Adélaïde died on 12 February 1712. His father, Louis died on 18 February 1712. Because his parents, his only surviving brother and his paternal grandfather, Louis, Le Grand Dauphin had all died, Louis became the Dauphin de France. Louis XIV, King of France and Navarre (1638-1715) died on 1 September 1715. He was succeeded by his great-grandson, as Louis XV, with Philippe II, Duc de Orléans as his Regent. In 1721, Louis XV was engaged to Infanta Mariana Victoria of Spain (31 March 1718 - 15 January 1781). She was the daughter of Elisabeth Farnese (25 October 1692 - 11 July 1766) and Philip V, King of Spain (19 December 1683 - 9 July 1746). Philippe II, Duc de Orléans died in December 1723. Louis XV appointed as his first minister, Louis-Henri, Duc de Bourbon-Condé, who cancelled the betrothal between Louis and Mariana Victoria of Spain. Louis XV married by proxy Maria Karolina Zofia Felicja Leszczyńska (23 June 1703 - 24 June 1768) on 15 August 1725, at Strasbourg. The Court celebrated the marriage on 4 September 1725, at Château de Fontainebleau, in Fontainebleau. She was the daughter of Katarzyna Opalinska (1680-1747) and Stanislas Leszczynski (20 October 1677 - 23 January 1766). The couple had ten children.

The Children of Maria Leszczyńska and Louis XV:

Marie-Louise-Elisabeth de France (14 August 1727 - 6 December 1759)

Anne-Henriette de France (14 August 1727 - 10 February 1752)
Marie-Louise de France (28 July 1728 - 19 February 1733)

Louis, Dauphin de France (4 September 1729 - 20 December 1765)

Philippe de France (30 August 1730 - 17 April 1733)

Marie Adélaïde de France (23 March 1732 - 27 February 1800)

Victoire Louise Marie Thérèse de France (11 May 1733 - 7 June 1799)

Sophie Philippine Élisabeth Justine de France (27 July 1734 - 3 March 1782)

Stillborn Child (28 March 1735 - 28 March 1735)

Thérèse-Félicité de France (16 May 1736 - 28 September 1744)

Louise-Marie de France (15 July 1737 - 23 December 1787)

In 1726, the bishop André-Hercule de Fleury, replaced Louis-Henri, Duc de Bourbon-Condé as chief minister.

Louis XV, King of France and Navarre in his Coronation Robes

by Hyacinthe Rigaud

1730

Château de Versailles

From 1733 to 1738, the connection with Poland led to French involvement against Austria and Russia in the War of the Polish Succession. His daughter, Madame Élisabeth married Infante Felipe of Spain (15 March 1720 - 18 July 1765) on 25 October 1739, in Alcala de Henares, Spain. He was the son of Elisabeth, Queen Consort of Spain (22 October 1692 - 11 July 1766) and Philip V, King of Spain (19 December 1683 - 9 July 1746). Fleury died in 1744. The King proclaimed that he would henceforth rule without a chief minister. His son, Louis married Infanta Maria Teresa Antonia Rafaela of Spain (11 June 1726 - 22 July 1746) by proxy on 18 December 1744, in Madrid and in person on 23 February 1745, at Versailles. She was the younger sister of Felipe of Spain. In September 1745, the King took as his maîtresse en titre, Jeanne Antoinette Poisson, Marquise de Pompadour (29 December 1721 -15 April 1764). His daughter-in-law, Maria Teresa died on 22 July 1746. Louis married his second wife, Marie Josèphe of Saxony (4 November 1731 - 13 March 1767) on 9 February 1747. She was the daughter of Maria Josepha of Austria (8 December 1699 - 17 November 1757) and Frederick Augustus II, Prince Elector of Saxony and King of Poland (17 October 1696 - 5 October 1763). His daughter, Anne Henriette died of smallpox on 10 February 1752. She was interred at Saint-Denis. In 1752, the King took as his new mistress, Marie-Louise O'Murphy de Boisfaily (21 October 1737 - 11 December 1814). She gave birth to a daughter by the King, Agathe Louise de Saint André (1754-1774) on 24 May 1754. In 1755, the relationship with Marie-Louise ended. In 1756, the King concluded an alliance with Austria. From 1756 to 1763, France and Austria went to war with Great Britain and Prussia, known as the Seven Years War. His daughter, Marie Louise Élisabeth died of smallpox on 6 December 1759, at the Château de Versailles. She was interred beside her twin sister, Anne Henriette on 27 March 1760, at Saint-Denis. Madame du Pompadour died on 15 April 1764, in Paris, France. Looking at the rain during the leaving of her coffin from Versailles, the King reportedly said; "La Marquise n'aura pas beau temps pour son voyage." (The Marquise won't have good weather for her journey.) His son, Louis Ferdinand died of consumption on 20 December 1765, at the Château de Fontainebleau, in Fontainebleau. He was interred at the Cathedral of St. Étienne, in Sens. His heart was interred at the Basilica of Saint-Denis, in Saint-Denis. His grandson, Louis Auguste, Duc de Berry (1754-1793), became the new Dauphin. His wife, Maria died on 24 June 1768, at Versailles, France. The King's new mistress, Marie Jeanne Bécu (19 August 1743 - 8 December 1793) was presented to the King's family and the Court on Sunday, 22 April 1769, at the Château de Versailles. In February 1770, his daughter Louise Marie entered the Carmelite Convent of Saint-Denis. With the veil, she received her new name, Thérèse of Saint Augustine. His grandson, Louis Auguste, Dauphin de France married Maria Antonia, Archduchess of Austria (1755-1793) on 16 May 1770, in the Chapel Royal at the Château de Versailles, in Versailles. In 1774, Louis XV got ill with smallpox. According to The Guardian of Marie Antoinette Letters from the Comte De Mercy-Argenteau, Austrian Ambassador to the Court of Versailles to Maria Theresa, Empress of Austria, Mercy wrote, "The eruption of the smallpox has not in any way changed the King's ordinary habits of life. On Sunday he went to hear Mass and walked in the gardens. Throughout this stay at Marly they spend the days in walking, in playing billiards and cards in the evening. The family is all together, and the Court is very numerous. All is carried on with so much gaiety that one forgets all idea of smallpox and illness... Mesdames have returned, they are badly marked by the smallpox, and are still very red." Louis XV died of smallpox on 10 May 1774, at Versailles, France. He was succeeded by his grandson as, Louis XVI with Marie Antoinette as his Consort. The new King and Queen of France and Navarre fell to their knees in prayer, with Louis XVI saying; "Dear God, guide and protect us. We are too young to reign."

Excerpt and Source: The Guardian of Marie Antoinette Letters from the Comte De Mercy-Argenteau, Austrian Ambassador to the Court of Versailles to Maria Theresa, Empress of Austria.