Marie Leszczyńska

This is the correct spelling of the surname in modern Polish; various other spellings are also used in English and French.

Marie Leszczyńska (Trzebnica, 23 June 1703 – Versailles, 24 June 1768) was a queen of France as wife of Louis XV. In France, she was referred to as Marie Leczinska. She was the longest serving Queen consort of France.

Background

Born Maria Karolina Zofia Felicja Leszczyńska h. Wieniawa, she was the second daughter of Stanisław Leszczyński and his wife Katarzyna Opalińska.

Marriage

Maria was on a list of 99 eligible European princesses to marry the young king. The marriage by proxy took place on 15 August 1725 in the cathedral of Strasbourg, Louis XV being represented by his cousin Louis d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans. She had nine children. Marie had a very close relationship to her children.

Issue

On 4 September 1725, she married Louis XV of France. They had eleven children:

Louise Élisabeth of France (14 August 1727 – 6 December 1759) married Philip, Duke of Parma and had issue.
Henriette of France (14 August 1727 – 10 February 1752) died unmarried.
Louise of France (28 July 1728 – 19 February 1733) died in childhood.
Louis, Dauphin of France (4 September 1729 – 20 December 1765) married Infanta Maria Teresa Rafaela of Spain; had issue then married Marie Josèphe of Saxony and had issue.
Philippe of France, Duke of Anjou (30 August 1730 – 17 April 1733) died in childhood.
Marie Adélaïde of France (23 March 1732 – 27 February 1800) died unmarried.
Victoire of France (11 May 1733 – 7 June 1799) died unmarried.
Sophie of France (17 July 1734 – 3 March 1782) died unmarried.
Stillborn Child  (28 March 1735 – 28 March 1735).
Thérèse of France (16 May 1736 – 28 September 1744) died in childhood.
Louise Marie of France (5 July 1737 – 23 December 1787) was a nun.

Queen

Queen Marie never managed to acquire any political influence. Marie was a devout Roman Catholic. She was also a great lover of music and painting and the protector of many artists. Marie died at Versailles on 24 June 1768, six years before her husband. Her family sincerely grieved her death. She was buried at the Basilica of St Denis, and her heart was deposed at the church of Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours in Nancy (Lorraine).

Category:1703 births
Category:1768 deaths
Category:Polish nobility
Category:House of Bourbon
Category:Kings and Queens consort of France
Category:Burials at the Basilica of St Denis