Louis, Dauphin of France (1729–1765)

Louis, Dauphin of France (Louis Ferdinand; 4 September 1729 – 20 December 1765) was the elder and only surviving son of King Louis XV of France and his wife, Queen Marie Leszczyńska. As a son of the king, Louis was a fils de France. As heir apparent, he became Dauphin of France. However, he died before he could ascend the throne. Three of his sons became kings of France: Louis XVI (reign in 1774–1792), Louis XVIII (1814–1815, again in 1815–1824) and Charles X (1824–1830).

First marriage
In 1744 Louis XV negotiated a marriage between his fifteen year old son and the nineteen year old Infanta Infanta Maria Teresa Rafaela of Spain, daughter of King Philip V of Spain and Elisabeth Farnese. The marriage contract was signed 13 December 1744 and the marriage was celebrated by proxy at Madrid 18 December 1744 an in person at Versailles 23 February 1745. Louis and Maria Teresa were well matched an had a real affection for each other. They had a single daughter Marie Thérèse whose birth killed her mother.

Issue

 * 1) Marie Thérèse of France, "Madame Royale" (19 July 1746 – 27 April 1748) died young.

Second marriage
On 10 January 1747 Louis was married by proxy at Dresden to Maria Josepha of Saxony, the fifteen year old younger daughter of Frederick Augustus II, Prince-Elector of Saxony and King of Poland and, Archduchess Maria Josepha of Austria. A second marriage ceremony took place in person at Versailles on 9 February 1747.

Issue

 * 1) Marie Zéphyrine of France, Madame Royale (26 August 1750 - 1 September 1755) died in young.
 * 2) Louis of France, Duke of Burgundy (13 September 1751 - 22 March 1761) died young.
 * 3) Xavier of France, Duke of Aquitaine (8 September 1753 -22 February 1754)
 * 4) Louis of France, Duke of Berry (later King Louis XVI) (23 August 1754 – 21 January 1793) married Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria and had issue.
 * 5) Louis of France, Count of Provence (later King Louis XVIII) (17 November 1755 – 16 September 1824) married Princess Maria Giuseppina of Savoy but had no issue.
 * 6) Charles of France, Count of Artois (later King Charles X) (9 October 1757 - 6 November 1836) married Princess Maria Teresa of Savoy and had issue.
 * 7) Marie Clotilde of France (23 September 1759 – 7 March 1802) married Charles Emmanuel IV of Sardinia but had no issue.
 * 8) Élisabeth of France (3 May 1764 – 10 May 1794) died unmarried.