The Cursed King's Wife: Marie Louise d'Orleans, Queen of Spain
Charles II of Spain is known for the extreme interbreeding that created his existence. While most of us have family trees, Charles' was more of a family circle. Charles and his Hapsburg ancestors are some of my favorite historical subjects, so expect to see many posts about them. However, for my first post I will focus on his first wife: Marie Louise d'Orleans.
Marie Louise d'Orleans was the daughter of Philippe duc d'Orleans, the younger brother of Louis XIV of France. Her mother was his first wife and first cousin, Henrietta of England. Henrietta was the youngest sister of Charles II of England and James II of England. Her mother was known for her beauty, so much so it is said she had an affair with her brother-in-law, Louis. This is hardly surprising as her husband, Philippe, was known for his flamboyant and feminine personality, along with his attachment to many handsome men. Unfortunately, after having two daughters, Henrietta perished. Some say she was poisoned by one of Philippe's jealous lovers, but likely she died due to a stomach ailment. Philippe needed a son, so he was compelled to marry again. This time he married another relation, Elisabeth Charlotte of the Palatine. Elisabeth Charlotte got along well with her step children, and maintained a great correspondence with Marie Louise.
Marie Louise's father and uncle arranged her marriage with yet another relative, Charles II of Spain. Charles was the younger half brother of Louis' wife, Maria Theresa of Spain, and also a first cousin to her father and uncle. Marie Louise preferred to marry her cousin, Louis the heir to the French throne. Prior to her marriage to Charles, she wept daily. After she was married by proxy, she visited the convent where her mother's heart was kept and bid goodbye to France forever.
Marie Louise married Charles in person. Although not an appealing husband with his physical and mental infirmities, he loved Marie Louise greatly. Unfortunately, the court of Spain was extremely conservative, compared to the fun loving French court. Marie Louise was very alone, with no true friends. Her French servants were dismissed, and one was even tortured. She had little freedom and was married to a man with little appeal.
After ten years of marriage, Marie Louise did not fall pregnant. She told her confessor that she was not a virgin but doubted she'd ever become pregnant. Scholars speculate Charles suffered from premature ejaculation. To cope with the loneliness, Marie Louise over indulged. She became very overweight. It is said she drank a type of lemonade with cinnamon that required thirty two pounds of sugar a day. Aged only twenty six, she complained of a stomach ailment while riding her horse and died the next day.
Like her mother, she was rumored to be poisoned. The alleged culprit was Olympia Mancini, a former lover of Louis XIV and a friend of Charles' mother, the Queen Dowager Marianna. Supposedly, Marianna wanted to dispose of her daughter in law for her failure to produce a child. However, there is no indication of ill feelings between Marianna and Marie Louise, and likely, Marie Louise had a similar health to her mother, who died very similarly. Charles was devastated by her death; it is said he would not leave her tomb.
Marie Louise d'Orleans was the daughter of Philippe duc d'Orleans, the younger brother of Louis XIV of France. Her mother was his first wife and first cousin, Henrietta of England. Henrietta was the youngest sister of Charles II of England and James II of England. Her mother was known for her beauty, so much so it is said she had an affair with her brother-in-law, Louis. This is hardly surprising as her husband, Philippe, was known for his flamboyant and feminine personality, along with his attachment to many handsome men. Unfortunately, after having two daughters, Henrietta perished. Some say she was poisoned by one of Philippe's jealous lovers, but likely she died due to a stomach ailment. Philippe needed a son, so he was compelled to marry again. This time he married another relation, Elisabeth Charlotte of the Palatine. Elisabeth Charlotte got along well with her step children, and maintained a great correspondence with Marie Louise.
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| Marie Louise as Queen of Spain |
Marie Louise's father and uncle arranged her marriage with yet another relative, Charles II of Spain. Charles was the younger half brother of Louis' wife, Maria Theresa of Spain, and also a first cousin to her father and uncle. Marie Louise preferred to marry her cousin, Louis the heir to the French throne. Prior to her marriage to Charles, she wept daily. After she was married by proxy, she visited the convent where her mother's heart was kept and bid goodbye to France forever.
Marie Louise married Charles in person. Although not an appealing husband with his physical and mental infirmities, he loved Marie Louise greatly. Unfortunately, the court of Spain was extremely conservative, compared to the fun loving French court. Marie Louise was very alone, with no true friends. Her French servants were dismissed, and one was even tortured. She had little freedom and was married to a man with little appeal.
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| Marie Louise as Queen of Spain |
Like her mother, she was rumored to be poisoned. The alleged culprit was Olympia Mancini, a former lover of Louis XIV and a friend of Charles' mother, the Queen Dowager Marianna. Supposedly, Marianna wanted to dispose of her daughter in law for her failure to produce a child. However, there is no indication of ill feelings between Marianna and Marie Louise, and likely, Marie Louise had a similar health to her mother, who died very similarly. Charles was devastated by her death; it is said he would not leave her tomb.
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