French Monarch. Maria Theresa of Spain, daughter of King Philip IV of Spain and Élisabeth of France, was the result of generations of intermarriage between royal cousins. In 1658, negotiations began to arrange a marriage with her double first cousin Louis XIV. War with France had begun to wind down, and the marriage was a means to secure peace between Spain and France. After an initial marriage by proxy, she married Louis in June 1660 in France. She was fortunate to have her aunt Anne of Austria as her mother-in-law, as her aunt arranged a private consummation of the marriage and was a friend at the French court. Her first child Louis, le Dauphin, was born in 1661. Five more children followed. Maria Theresa managed to tolerate her husband's infidelities, which were prolonged. Her primary involvement in politics was acting as regent when her husband was away on military campaigns. Maria Theresa of Spain died at Versailles in 1683, survived by her husband the king and only one of her six children, Louis, who was to become Le Grand Dauphin.
French Monarch. Maria Theresa of Spain, daughter of King Philip IV of Spain and Élisabeth of France, was the result of generations of intermarriage between royal cousins. In 1658, negotiations began to arrange a marriage with her double first cousin Louis XIV. War with France had begun to wind down, and the marriage was a means to secure peace between Spain and France. After an initial marriage by proxy, she married Louis in June 1660 in France. She was fortunate to have her aunt Anne of Austria as her mother-in-law, as her aunt arranged a private consummation of the marriage and was a friend at the French court. Her first child Louis, le Dauphin, was born in 1661. Five more children followed. Maria Theresa managed to tolerate her husband's infidelities, which were prolonged. Her primary involvement in politics was acting as regent when her husband was away on military campaigns. Maria Theresa of Spain died at Versailles in 1683, survived by her husband the king and only one of her six children, Louis, who was to become Le Grand Dauphin.
Bio by: Anne Philbrick
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