Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans
| Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Queen Isabel in 1724 by French artist Jean Ranc. | ||
| Tenure | 15 January 1724 – 31 August 1724 | |
| Born | 11 December 1709 Palace of Versailles, France | |
| Died | 16 June 1742 (aged 32) Palais du Luxembourg, Paris, France | |
| Spouse | Louis I of Spain (m 20 January 1722) | |
| Full name | ||
| Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans | ||
| House | House of Orléans (by birth) Bourbons of Spain (by marriage) | |
| Father | Philippe, Regent of France | |
| Mother | Marie Françoise de Bourbon | |
| Burial | Church of Saint Sulpice, Paris, France | |
| Religion | Roman Catholic | |
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'Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans (9 December 1709 – 16 June 1742) was the Queen consort of Spain for 6 months in 1724 as the wife of King Louis I of Spain. The couple had no children prior to the king's death by smallpox after which she was unceremoniously sent back to France where she died ignored and forgotten by the court of Louis XV of France. She was known in the Spanish court, above all, for her inappropriate behaviour due to the borderline personality disorder (BPD) she suffered from. The members of the court began to call her "the Mad Queen."
Mademoiselle de Montpensier[edit]
Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans was one of the seven daughters of Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans and his wife, Marie Françoise de Bourbon, herself the youngest legitimised daughter of Louis XIV and his former mistress, Madame de Montespan. Known to the family as Élisabeth, she had the rank of Princess of the French royal blood by birth, while her parents held the more prestigious rank of grandchildren of France. Élisabeth's rank entitled her to the style of Most Serene Highness from birth while being styled Mademoiselle de Montpensier. Her parents ignored Élisabeth's education and she spent her time with her numerous older siblings and would always have a close relationship with her only brother Louis d'Orléans. Baptised on the day of her birth in the bedroom of the Duchess of Orléans by the Abbé de Tressan , first chaplain of the Duke of Orléans, in the presence of Claude Huchon, priest of the Notre-Dame de Versailles, the parish of the Palace of Versailles.
Regency of Philippe d'Orlèans[edit]
Since 1715 , her father has held the regency during the minority of Louis XV. The war pits France and the powers of the Quadruple Alliance against Spain . But in 1720 , convinced of the need to make peace, Philip V of Spain proposed marriages: his daughter Infanta Mariana Victoria of Spain, aged three, would marry Louis XV, and his eldest son Infante Luis, Prince of Asturias, would marry a daughter of the Regent. But on this date, all the Duke of Orléans' eldest daughters were married. All that remains is Mademoiselle de Montpensier, ten years old, and her sisters, Mademoiselle de Beaujolais, five years old, and Mademoiselle de Chartres, then four years old. It was decided that Mademoiselle de Montpensier would marry the heir to the Spanish throne and that Mademoiselle de Beaujolais would be betrothed to the Infante Carlos of Spain , third son of the King of Spain, but from his second marriage with the ambitious and domineering Elisabeth Farnese.
Princess of Asturias[edit]
The marriage is celebrated on January 20, 1722 Élisabeth aged 12 and her husband aged 14. Élisabeth is watched, we spy on her, we suspect her of all evils. The Princess of Asturias withdraws into herself. She takes revenge by committing a thousand mischievous acts and whims, making fun of her ladies-in-waiting and, it is said, encouraging them to take part in so called “unnatural games”
Queen of Spain[edit]
THEJanuary 15, 1724, Philippe V abdicated in favour of his eldest son, who became King Louis I. Elisabeth therefore becomes queen at 14 known as Isabel, but the immature couple does not get along. After seven months of reign, Louis died childless on August 31 following and Philip V regains his crown. The regent of France had died the previous year and his cousin and rival the Duke of Bourbon was in charge of the state. He has no use for a widowed queen of the House of Orléans.
Dowager Queen[edit]
Widowed at 14, was kept under close surveillance, in the greatest destitution, especially as France broke off the engagement of the young Louis XV and dismissed the child Infanta Mariana Victoria. On March 15, 1725, Élisabeth left Spain and discreetly returns to Paris where she arrives on May 23. immediately settling in the Château de Vincennes then moving to the Palais du Luxembourg, where she lived in quietly till her unnoticed death in June 1742 aged 32.
Burial[edit]
The former Queen Isabel was buried within a special vault in the Church Saint-Sulpice in Paris, though her crypt was vandalised during the French Revolution.
Titles and styles[edit]
- 11 December 1709 - 20 January 1722 Her Most Serene Highness Mademoiselle de Montpensier, Princess of the French royal blood.
- 20 January 1722 - 15 January 1724 Her Royal Highness The Princess of Asturias.
- 15 January 1724 - 6 September 1724 Her Majesty the Queen.
- 6 September 1724 - 16 June 1742 Her Majesty The Dowager Queen.
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