Q is for Queen Maria Theresa – A peace offering
A contribution to the #AtoZchallenge 2024
Imagine being married to a double first cousin as a peace offering. King Philip IV of Spain accepted his prime ministerial proposal that his daughter, the devout Maria Theresa, should marry the son of his sister, Queen Anne of Austria, namely the flamboyant King Louis XIV of France. The couple – both were twenty-two years old – had barely ever seen each other and Maria Theresa wasn’t Louis’ first choice of wife, but the important thing was that this 1660 arrangement sealed the Peace of the Pyrenees, which formally ended the Franco-Spanish War that had dragged on for decades.
Maria Theresa was known for her beauty, grace, and piety and had received a thorough education in literature, as well as religious instruction. However, she didn’t share Louis’ interest in the arts and dancing. As Queen of France, she played a significant role in court life and the cultural affairs of the French court.
Life with King Louis XIV
Maria Theresa and Louis XIV had several children together, including the Grand Dauphin Louis, who would succeed his father as Louis XV. Despite their initial political motivations, the marriage between Maria Theresa and Louis XIV was reportedly a happy one, marked by mutual respect and affection.
It was no secret, however, that Louis shared his bed with several other beautiful women, with whom he fathered many other children. He had a luxurious suite made for Madame de Montespan in the Grand Appartement de la Reine in the Palace of Versailles. This was originally intended for the queen, but was reassigned to Athénaïs, as she preferred to be called, after she became the king’s favourite. Her apartment included a bedroom, a salon, and other living spaces, furnished and decorated in a manner befitting her status. We do not know what Maria Theresa thought of such rivals, but such liaisons were generally tacitly accepted.
Maria Theresa died on July 30, 1683, at the Palace of Versailles, France, at the age of 44. Her death was deeply mourned by her husband and the French court, and she was buried at the Basilica of Saint Denis in Paris. She left behind a legacy of grace, intelligence, and devotion to her family and faith.
In the book ‘Greet Suzon for me’, which is due to be published in 2024, Suzanne d’Albert is brought to Paris as a teenager to serve as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Maria Theresa. As a result, she has inside contacts within the Palace of Versailles.
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