Marie Thérèse, Madame Royale

Marie Thérèse (2 January 1667 – 1 March 1672) was the fourth child and only legitimate surviving daughter of King Louis XIV of France and his wife; Maria Theresa of Spain. As the daughter of a reigning French Monarch, she was Fille de France and was known at court by the traditional honorific style of Madame Royale. She died at the age of five to tuberculosis.

Not to be confused with Marie Thérèse of France.

Marie Thérèse of France
Madame Royale
Portrait c. 1671[1]
Born	(1667-01-02)2 January 1667 Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France
Died	1 March 1672(1672-03-01) (aged 5) Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France
Burial	Royal Basilica, Saint Denis, France
Names Marie Thérèse de France
House	Bourbon
Father	Louis XIV of France
Mother	Maria Theresa of Spain

Early life

Marie Thérèse was born on 2 January 1667 at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye. She had two elder sisters, but they both died during infancy. Upon her parents' request, the following year after her birth, they had her baptised promptly alongside her godfather; Henri Jules, Prince of Condé and her paternal aunt; Margaret of Lorraine. This took place at the Palais du Louvre in 1668.

Portrait of Charles II as a child, c. 1673

Her parents reputedly adored and loved the young child. Her mother wanted her to become the queen of Spain and it was proposed via Charles II, the heir presumptive to the Spanish Throne.^[2] As a Fille de France, Marie Thérèse was entitled by law to the style of Her Royal Highness, but was referred to simply as '"Madame Royale". As governess, Marie Thérèse was appointed and placed under the care of Louise de Prie.^[3]

Marie Thérèse was also known by "La Petite Madame" to distinguish her from her aunts, the wives of her uncle Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, who were known as Madame Henrietta of England (1644–1670) and the second Elisabeth Charlotte, Madame Palatine (1652–1722).

Death

On the night of 1 March 1672, around 10 o'clock in the evening, her mother found Marie Thérèse covered in sweat. She watched as Marie Thérèse struggled to utter the words "Maman... peux plus..."^[4] Shortly afterwards she succumbed to tuberculosis at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Marie Thérèse was buried at the Royal Basilica of Saint Denis, outside Paris, France. The music for the funeral ceremony was composed by musician; Marc-Antoine Charpentier (H.409, H.189, H.331).

Ancestry

Ancestors of Marie Thérèse, Madame Royale

16. Antoine of Navarre[5]: 143–144  8. Henry IV of France[5]: 145–146  (= 14) 17. Jeanne III of Navarre[5]: 143–144  4. Louis XIII of France[5]: 151–153  18. Francesco I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany[6] 9. Marie de' Medici[5]: 145–146  (= 15) 19. Joanna of Austria[6] 2. Louis XIV of France 20. Philip II of Spain[7] (= 24) 10. Philip III of Spain[8] (= 12) 21. Anna of Austria[7] (= 25) 5. Anne of Austria[5]: 151–153  22. Charles II, Archduke of Inner Austria[9] 11. Margaret of Austria[8] (= 13) 23. Maria Anna of Bavaria[9] 1. Marie Thérèse of France 24. Philip II of Spain (= 20) 12. Philip III of Spain[10] (= 10) 25. Anna of Austria (= 21) 6. Philip IV of Spain[5]: 177  26. Charles II, Archduke of Inner Austria (= 22) 13. Margaret of Austria[10] (= 11) 27. Maria Anna of Bavaria (= 23) 3. Maria Theresa of Spain 28. Antoine of Navarre (= 16) 14. Henry IV of France[5]: 145–149  (= 8) 29. Jeanne III of Navarre (= 17) 7. Elisabeth of France[5]: 177  30. Francesco I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (= 18) 15. Marie de' Medici[5]: 145–149  (= 9) 31. Joanna of Austria (= 19)

Patrilineal descent

Patrilineal descent

Patrilineal descent is the principle behind membership in royal houses, as it can be traced back through the generations - which means that if Princess Marie Thérèse were to choose an historically accurate house name it would be Robertian, as all her male-line ancestors have been of that house. Marie Thérèse is a member of the House of Bourbon, a branch of the Capetian dynasty and of the Robertians. Marie Thérèse's patriline is the line from which she is descended father to son. It follows the Dukes of Parma as well as the Kings of Spain, France, and Navarre. The line can be traced back more than 1,200 years to the present day and is one of the oldest in Europe. Robert II of Worms and Rheingau (Robert of Hesbaye), 770 - 807 Robert III of Worms and Rheingau, 808 - 834 Robert IV the Strong, 820 - 866 Robert I of France, 866 - 923 Hugh the Great, 895 - 956 Hugh Capet, 941 - 996 Robert II of France, 972 - 1031 Henry I of France, 1008–1060 Philip I of France, 1053–1108 Louis VI of France, 1081–1137 Louis VII of France, 1120–1180 Philip II of France, 1165–1223 Louis VIII of France, 1187–1226 Louis IX of France, 1215–1270 Robert, Count of Clermont, 1256–1317 Louis I, Duke of Bourbon, 1279–1342 James I, Count of La Marche, 1319–1362 John I, Count of La Marche, 1344–1393 Louis, Count of Vendôme, 1376–1446 Jean VIII, Count of Vendôme, 1428–1478 François, Count of Vendôme, 1470–1495 Charles de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme, 1489–1537 Antoine, King of Navarre, Duke of Vendôme, 1518–1562 Henry IV, King of France and of Navarre, 1553–1610 Louis XIII, King of France and Navarre, 1601–1643 Louis XIV, King of France and Navarre, 1638–1715 Marie Thérèse of France, Madame Royale, 1667-1672

Cropped image of family portrait^[11]