Elizabeth Charlotte, Madame Palatine

**Princess Elisabeth Charlotte** (; known as **Liselotte von der Pfalz**, 27 May 1652 – 8 December 1722), was a German princess and the wife of Philippe of France, Duke of Orléans, younger brother of Louis XIV. She is best known for her vast correspondence detailing the court of her brother in law. She was referred to at court as simply _Madame_, as well as _La Palatine_ and the _Princess Palatine_ (_Princesse Palatine_)

## Biography

Elisabeth Charlotte was born at the Heidelberg Castle as the only daughter of Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine and Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel. In childhood she was known as _Liselotte_. She grew up at the court of her aunt and would remain in contact with her aunt all her life.

On 16 November 1671, she was married by proxy at Metz. In order to marry she had to convert to Roman Catholicism. Elisabeth Charlotte would be very close to her two stepdaughters Marie Louise and Anne Marie. Her husband was gay but the couple still had three children but one died in infancy. After the birth of their daughter Élisabeth Charlotte, the couple mutually agreed to cease conjugal relations. Philippe turned to his lovers, and Elisabeth Charlotte to her writing.

After her husband's death, Elisabeth Charlotte feared that the king would send her to a convent but he insisted she stay at Versailles. Elisabeth Charlotte died at the age of seventy on 8 December 1722 at Saint-Cloud. She was buried at the Royal Basilica of Saint Denis.

## Children

1. Alexandre Louis d'Orléans, Duke of Valois (2 June 1673 – 16 March 1676) died in infancy;
1. Philippe d'Orléans (Later "Regent of France" for Louis XV (2 August 1674 – 2 December 1723) married Françoise Marie de Bourbon, _Légitimée de France_ and had children (descendants include Louis Philippe I);
1. Élisabeth Charlotte d'Orléans (13 September 1676 – 24 December 1744) married Léopold of Lorraine, Duke of Lorraine and had children (descendants include Marie Antoinette.)

## Titles and Styles

- **27 May 1652 – 16 November 1671** _Princess Palatine Elisabeth Charlotte_, Countess Palatine of Simmern.
- **16 November 1671 – 9 June 1701** _Her Royal Highness_ Madame, Duchess of Orléans.
- **9 June 1701 – 8 December 1722** _Her Royal Highness_ Madame, Dowager Duchess of Orléans.

## Further reading

- _Life and letters of Charlotte Elisabeth, Princess Palatine and mother of Philippe d'Orléans, régent de France 1652 - 1722_, compiled, translated, and gathered from various published and unpublished, Chapman & Hall, London, 1889.
- _A woman's life in the court of the Sun King : letters of Liselotte von der Pfalz, 1652–1722, Elisabeth Charlotte, Duchesse d'Orléans_, translated by Elborg Forster, Johns Hopkins University Press, 1984.

## Infobox (royalty)

- **name**: Elisabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate
- **succession**: Duchess of Orléans
- **reign**: 16 November 1671 – 9 June 1701
- **reign-type**: Tenure
- **image**: The Duchess of Orléans by Rigaud.jpg
- **caption**: The Duchess of Orléans by Rigaud
- **birth place**: Heidelberg Castle, Heidelberg
- **death place**: Château de Saint Cloud, France
- **issue-link**: #Children
- **house**: House of Wittelsbach (_by birth_)
House of Orléans (_by marriage_)
- **burial place**: Basilica of Saint Denis, Royal Basilica, Saint Denis, France
- **burial date**: 10 December 1722
- **spouse**: Philippe, Duke of Orléans, Philippe of France
- **full name**: Elisabeth Charlotte
- **father**: Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine
- **mother**: Landgravine Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel, Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel
- **issue**: Alexandre Louis, Duke of Valois
Philippe, Duke of Orléans, Regent of France
Élisabeth Charlotte d'Orléans, Élisabeth Charlotte, Duchess of Lorraine
- **signature**: Signature of Madame, Duchess of Orléans.jpg
- **religion**: Calvinism
Roman Catholicism