Louis Dauphin of France was the first son of Queen Marie Lesczynska and King Louis XV of France. He was born on the 4th of September 1729 at the Palace of Versailles located in Paris, France. Louis had three sisters who are older than him and one younger brother who died at a young age. He was baptized by Cardinal Armand de Rohan as an infant.
On the 27th of April 1737, when Louis was already 7 years of age, he was given the names Louis Ferdinand during his public baptism. Louis, Duke of Orleans, and the Dowager Duchess of Bourbon, the widow of Louis III, were his godparents. Jean-Francois Boyer was the preceptor, the Count of Muy was named the under-governor, and the Duke of Chatillon was named his governor.
The Married Life And Children Of Louis Dauphin Of France
Louis Dauphin of France and King Philip V of Spain’s daughter, Maria Teresa Rafaela, tied the knot on the 13th of December 1744. This wedding was held in Madrid, Spain by proxy on the 18th of December 1744 and was personally celebrated on the 23rd of February 1745 at Versailles in Paris, France.
The couple had a happy married life. However, Louis’ wife died on the 22nd of July 1746 several days after she gave birth to Princess Marie Therese of France, their only child, and daughter.
However, Louis Dauphin Of France had the obligation to produce an heir to his French throne so he had to remarry as soon as possible. He was married for the second time to Maria Josepha of Saxony, daughter of Frederick Augustus II, King of Poland, and Prince-Elector of Saxony.
The marriage was held by proxy at Dreson on the 10th of January 1747. A second ceremony took place on the 9th of February 1747 at Versailles in Paris. After having two stillborn sons, the couple was blessed with a daughter they named Marie Zephyrine.
It was on the 13th of September 1751 when Louis Joseph of France, Duke of Burgundy was born, but sadly he died in March 1761 when he was almost 10 years of age. There was another stillborn daughter in the year 1752. It was in 1753 when the couple had Xavier of France, Duke of Aquitaine only to die a year after. Louis XVI was born in the year 1754 who married Archduchess Marie Antoinette of Austria. However, he died by execution on the 21st of January 1793.
It was on the 17th of November 1755 when Louis’ wife gave birth to Louis XVIII of France who later on tied the knot with Princess Marie Josephine of Savoy. She passed away on the 16th of September 1824.
Louis Dauphin of France and Maria Josepha of Saxony had two stillborn sons once again. It was on the 9th of October 1757 when they had their youngest son, Charles X of France who got married to Princess Marie Therese of Savoy. Sadly the princess passed away on the 6th of November 1836.
The couple had two other daughters. Marie Clotilde of France who was happily married, and Elisabeth of France died unmarried.
The Death Of Louis Dauphin Of France
Louis Dauphin of France passed away on the 20th of December 1765 at Fontainebleau. He was only 36 years of age and suffered from tuberculosis. He was never crowned as the king with his father still bearing the title at the time. Louis-Auguste, his eldest, became Dauphin of France after his death. It was in May 1774 when Louis Auguste was officially crowned as Louis XVI.
The Legacy Of Louis Dauphin Of France
Despite passing away before he was named the King of France, the three sons of Louis Dauphin of France ruled the country: Louis XVI, Louis XVIII, and Charles X.