Marie Josèphe de Saxe

Portrait de Marie Josèphe de Saxe, Madame la Dauphine de France, in Versaille, par Anne Baptiste Nivelon, and After Jean-Marc Nattier, vers 1764.

## Biography

### Full Name

Marie Josèphe Caroline Éléonore Françoise Xavière de Saxe

### Born

November 4, 1731, Dresde, l'Électorat de Saxe

### Spouse

Louis de France, Dauphin de France †
(m. 1747 died; 1765)

### Issue

Marie-Zéphyrine de France †
Xavier de France †
Louis-Auguste de France †
Louis Stanislas de France, Dauphin de France
Charles de France, Duc de Bourgogne
Louis-Joseph de France, Duc de Mercœur
Clotilde de France
Élisabeth de France

### Siblings

Frédéric de Saxe †
Joseph de Saxe †
Frédéric IV de Saxe †
Marie-Amélie de Saxe †
Marie-Marguerite de Saxe †
Marie-Anne de Saxe, Électrice Consort de Bavière
François-Xavier de Saxe
 Charles-Christian de Saxe
 Christine de Saxe
Marie-Élisabeth de Saxe
Albert de Saxe-Teschen, Palatin de Hongrie
Clément Wenceslas de Saxe, Environ Archevêque de Trèves
Cunégonde de Saxe

### Signature

La signature de la dauphine c. 1750

**Marie Josèphe Caroline Éléonore Françoise Xavière de Saxe, La Grande Dauphine de France** (German: *Maria Josepha Karolina Eleonore Franziska Xaveria von Sachsen; 4 November, 1731 - Present*) was the fifth daughter and ninth child of **Auguste III de Pologne**, previous Roi de Pologne et Grand-duc de Lituanie, and Prince-électeur de Saxe til his death in 1763, and his wife, **Marie-Josèphe d'Autriche**. Marie Josèphe was wed to **Louis de France**, Dauphin de France, first son of **Louis XV** styling her *Madame la Dauphine* till her husbands death in 1765. She mothered eight of the Dauphins children, and ostensibly outlived three.

## Début de la vie

Marie Josèphe Caroline Éléonore Françoise Xavière de Saxe was conceived on a resplendent saturated fall on the 4th of November, 1731 in the Castle Dresden. She was the fifth daughter and ninth child of Frédéric-Auguste de Saxe (Auguste III), first in line for the Électorat de Saxe; and his bride, Marie-Josèphe d'Autriche, daughter of **Joseph I**, Empereur du Saint-Imperium, Roi de Bohême et archiduc d'Autriche. Prior to her birth her patrilineal grandfather, Frédéric-Auguste I (Auguste II), the then Prince-électeur de Saxe, was abdicated as the Roi de Pologne by **Stanislas I Leszczynski** in 1704. Due to that, the toddler years of Marie were much overshadowed by what would come of the **War of the Polish Succession**, declared on the 10th of October, 1733 after her grandfathers death on February 1st the same year.

The war would go on til' a month and some days afore Marie Josèphe's 4th name day, on the 3rd of October, 1735. Marie-Josèphe's grandfather had been elected King of Poland in 1697 thanks to the support of the Emperor and the Tsar of Russia . He had been dethroned by King Charles XII of Sweden in 1704 . The King of Sweden had replaced the Saxon king with a Polish nobleman devoted to him, Stanislas Leszczynski , father of the future Queen of France Marie Leszczynska. Stanislas was quickly driven out by Russian troops; Marie Josèphe's grandfather regained his throne and died in 1733 . Stanislas, who in the meantime had become the father-in-law of the King of France, then claimed the Polish throne. So did the son of the deceased king, father of Marie Josèphe. The two claimants were elected by rival factions, which triggered the War of the Polish Succession . Defeated, pursued by the henchmen of Marie Josèphe's father who tried to assassinate him, Stanislas returned to France after an epic crossing of the European continent. Subtle diplomatic negotiations ended the war by reshaping the map of Europe. Stanislas received as compensation and for life the duchies of Lorraine and Bar , while Frederick Augustus II of Saxony retained under the name of Augustus III the throne of Poland which his father had held under the name of Augustus II. There remained a serious dispute between the Leszczynski family and the house of Saxony. As a result, her father was crowned Auguste III, Roi de Pologne, supplementally carrying the title Prince-électeur de Saxe, just as his father did. Though her father now ruled the neighboring Polish lands East of Saxony, Marie Josèphe remained in Dresden with her mother and siblings where she would reside until her expected coming of betrothal. Frankly, it took the doted little princess no time to find comfort as she aged, having impressively jolted right through the beginning stages of her edifications. Tutors already then spoke highly of her, expecting she'd be no trouble to those that she may come to meet, or to wherever her future residence may be. The astounding words would genuinely follow her like a beam of light, being that she veraciously lived such compliments throughout her earliest years, even into her adolescence, making for a magnificent bride.

### Une famille unie

While indisputably being apart of an immense family, there was still abundance of great affection spread about, she was simply attached to her parents, clung to her mother till her own departure, noting in her diary that she could not understand how anyone could dislike their life-giver. While having the ability to create a bond tough as chains with everyone within her family, she still engendered favorites such as her brother **François-Xavier de Saxe*,*** supporting him as the one true successor of the Kingdom of Poland, after their father. She had François-Xavier join along side her when she set for France, hoping it'd assist him in succeeding in his future election. Though, *'Xavier'* was deemed unworthy as he was considered incapacitated due to the poor inculcation by his governor at a young age. He would still benefit off of his sisters munificence and would go on to prove his competence after being appointed regent over the Kingdom of Saxony from 1763 to 1768, during the reign of their nephew **Frédéric-Auguste III de Saxe**. However, Marie Josèphe would estrange Xavier, causing the two to quarrel and be at odds for some time, till their reconciliation just months after their mutual isolation, in which they would rewind customarily exchanging letters.

While François-Xavier was the main pioneer in her childhood and onward, she had a saccharine and memorable relationship with her younger sister **Christine de Saxe**, who tragically did not have a fortunate chance of alliance as her other sisters did due to being crippled at an adolescent age. Christine traveled to France in 1762 where the two sisters rekindled for some time, and just a year later entered thanks to Louis XV, the Cathédrale de Remiremont, she was later elected Abbesse in 1773 on the death of **Charlotte de Lorraine**. There was also her elder sister **Marie-Amélie de Saxe** whom she did not have the delectation of knowing by oneself due to her sudden marriage to Charles, Roi de Naples et de Sicile in 1738 while Marie was just 7 years old. Charles would later become **Charles III, Roi d'Espagne** in 1759 with Marie-Amélie as his consort till her death in 1760. Marie Josèphe, not knowing her as well as she had wished, was still distraught and opposed Charles after learning of her sisters distaste for him due to his negative drive after his ascension to the Spanish throne. Withal, she adored her uncle **Moritz de Saxe**, for making her betrothal to Louis, Dauphin de France most possible, climbing himself through popularity as the Maréchal de France, he was appointed the position in 1747. He too was another she regularly communicated with till his retirement to the Champord Castle in 1748, after tranquility was concluded in Aachen that same year on October 18th. Marie Josèphe tried her utmost to send letter to him once every few weeks, though she'd later learn he would have died in 1750 from a fever, she did not take this very well.

## Betrothal et Handover

On 1746 Marie Thérèse Raphaëlle, Dauphine de France, Louis, Dauphin de France's first wife died giving birth to their first child, Marie Thérèse de France. Inconsolable widower of his first wife, the 17-year-old dauphin married a second time only with the greatest reluctance. The King of Spain proposed his youngest sister, Louis XV, whose mother Marie-Adélaïde de Savoie had been the delight of the court, inclined for a princess of this house: Éléonore or Marie-Louise de Sardaigne.

The Marshal of Saxe—who gave France victories and an avenue bearing his name —was an adulterine half-brother of the King of Poland (and, therefore, a “  *left-hand*  ” uncle of Marie-Josephe) . He had put himself in the service of France. Crowned with the laurels of victor of the Battle of Fontenoy , he knew how to rely on the good dispositions of the Marquise de Pompadour, royal favourite, and was able to make his interests and those of his house prevail. Saxony-Poland was opposed to France during the War of the Austrian Succession which devastated Central Europe for 7 years, the Saxon marriage would allow a reconciliation between Saxony-Poland and France. France, an ally of Poland, would regain its influence in eastern Europe dominated by Austria and Russia, which was becoming a great power.

As for the favorite, she rightly thought that by favoring this marriage, she would avoid on the part of the new Dauphine the snubs to which the preceding one had subjected her. The second runner-up could only be grateful to her for her "elevation" and would be a support in this court where the favorite encountered so much hostility and... competitors. However, the marriage of the Dauphin Louis and Marie-Josèphe posed a thorny problem. The remarriage of her only son with a princess of Saxony could only be felt as an additional humiliation by the queen of France who was already cowering on the wounds caused by her marital disappointments. He could only upset Stanislas, grandfather of the Dauphin, who, still lively at 70, spent peaceful days in Lunéville and Commercy. Also the procession which led Marie-Josèphe from Strasbourg to Versailles carefully avoided Lorraine and Barrois, passing through Franche-Comté, which lengthened the journey accordingly. The young princess did not receive a warm welcome from her pious mother-in-law or her very young husband.

### Cérémonies et les Dauphines Bracelet

A Musical Fete given by Cardinal de La Rochefoucauld for the Dauphin's wedding was depicted in a painting by Giovanni Paolo Panini . It was then a question of influencing the policy of the Holy See, which was more favorable to the House of Austria. As for King Louis XV sole master since the death of Cardinal de Fleury and struggling with the War of the Austrian Succession, he had also just imposed a new favorite whose social origins greatly upset the court. Madame Lenormant d'Étiolles, pretty, ambitious and a friend of the philosophy of the Enlightenment, was certainly very rich but she was not noble. So the king granted her, before returning to the battlefield, a title which allowed her to be officially presented to the court. Thus Madame d'Étiolles entered the palace and into history as Marquise de Pompadour . The favorite having had to suffer the insults of the deceased Dauphine, a Infanta of Spain, haughty and rigorous who, with the Dauphin and her sisters, had nicknamed her "  *Maman Whore*  ", took advantage of her influence over her royal lover to favor a less proud princess who could only be grateful to her for her " elevation ".

At the age of 15, Marie-Josèphe became, after the queen, the most important woman in the most brilliant court, but also the most gossipy in Europe, and joined a torn family.

Eventually all obstacles were removed and the Duke of Richelieu, a confidante of Louis XV, traveled to Dresden to escort the well-prepared 16-year-old Maria Josepha to France. The Saxon princess was given the task of expressing her gratitude to Madame de Pompadour for her support with the marriage project. On February 9, 1747, her marriage to the Dauphin took place. Shortly thereafter, she had to show a lot of tact. Court etiquette obligated her to wear a portrait of her father in her bracelet at the subsequent celebrations.

## Dauphine de France

### Marriage and Hardship

At the time of the marriage, the Dauphin was still grieving for his Spanish wife. This grief was very public on the part of the Dauphin but Maria Josepha was praised greatly for conquering the heart of the Dauphin "petit à petit". Having grown to be greatly beloved by the the Royal family, Marie-Josèphe was availed in gaining a relationship with Louis, though, it would later take a turn after, Marie-Therese de France, first daughter of Louis and his late bride, Marie Thérèse Raphaëlle, died on 1748. Marie who too was distraught, hung portraits of the princess above their bed around mourning time, this drew Louis to the Saxon princess. From that point on, the Dauphine became proximate with people such as Madame Henriette, who wanted to witness the marriage prosper, Madame de Pompadour, who Louis and the rest of the Bourbon dynasty didnt precisely agree with having around, though, she played a large part in the marriage of the Dauphin and Dauphine, and of course Louis XV. Marie-Josèphe ineluctably became the matriarch to the divided family. Separating the petty discordances between her husband, mother-in-law, the mesdames, and Louis XV.

Undeniably being the glue, they had no cull but to respect her. Marie-Josèphe, in endeavor to obtain the entirety of the dauphins heart had major support from her belle-sœur, Madame Henriette, second child and daughter of Louis XV. The two grew incredibly fond of one another expeditiously, And the Dauphine was always perpetually grateful for Madame Henriette for her generous attempts. Initially her belle-mère, Marie Leszczyńska, did not accept the conception of her presence at the French court due to her dislike for the Saxon princess' father Auguste III for abdicating her own father Stanislas Leszczynski from the Polish throne, simply *la Reine de France* was bigoted through internal unrest. After negotiation, fortunately for Marie-Josèphe, Marie Leszczyńska could not out weigh Madame de Pompadour. Truth be told, the marriage was a well produced political affair to open serene space after extensive turmoil. This sudden disrelish was washed once Marie Josèphe wore a bracelet of Stanislas Leszczynski instead of Auguste III (it was French tradition for the bride to wear a bracelet bearing the image of her father). Instead, the Dauphine thought it respectful to take the moment to descry Stanislas as her Grand-père, this action shocked the court and as a result gained Marie-Josèphe favoritism.

## Maternité

The peregrination of motherhood began precarious with Marie-Josèphe, having started off with two devastating stillborn sons, the first on 1748, and the second on 1749, though, on August 26th, 1750 determinately, the dolphin couples first child and daughter Marie-Zéphirine de France was conceived, making her the 'Madame Royale' at the time. They deemed themselves auspicious loving on the little princess throughout her infancy, though upon her birth she was diagnosed with Peritonitis, this caused her to have convulsions throughout her life resulting in much hassle with the couple, this caused them to immediately baptize her. Just two years later Marie-Josèphe was expecting yet again, though unfortunately, the daughter still birthed. The following year the Dauphine revealed she was with child again and afterwards remained heavily supervised considering her precedent history with conception, and successfully, on an Autumn September, during its 8th day in 1753, Xavier Marie Joseph de France was born. But with light shadows follow, the dolphin couple were not ones to be free of distress, throughout Xaviers life Madame la Dauphine alongside nurses struggled immensely keeping le Duc d'Aquitaine's health stable. On February 22nd, 1754' while Xavier Marie Joseph was just 5 months and a fortnight old, he died of the whooping cough, 6 months before Louis-Auguste's birth in August 23rd, the same year.

The Saxon princess grew neglectful, leaving much of the work to the nurses as she saw out isolating herself from communication due to loss. Distraught, she prayed herself through her sleepless nights at the Dauphins side, though, prayer could not put these occurrences to a halt. On September 2nd, 1755 while Marie Josephe was 8 months pregnant with Louis Stanislas de France, Madame Royale, Marie-Zéphirine died at 5 years old due to convulsions by her medical condition Peritonitis. 2 months later, on November 17th, Louis Stanislas Xavier de France was born, precisely 24 years and 7 days after his mother, the Scorpio prince was favored over his older brother Louis-Auguste throughout their adolescence, simply cause of 'Auguste's' queer curiosities, it was said it was often discussed amongst the Monseigneur le Dauphin et Dauphine that Louis Stanslas would make a for a better dauphin upon the coming of their ascension to the French throne. On a dark midnight of August, Friday the 13th, 1756, the 4 month pregnant dauphine would've fell into an affrighting 5 hour labor til' the fetus' abstraction, the unnamed son was deemed a stillbirth upon birth. On October 9th 1757, Marie- Josephe de Saxe conceived yet another son, baptizing him Charles-Philippe, granting him the denomination of Comte d'Artois, later adopting the Duchy de Bourgogne. Following him, the favorite of the royal bunch, Louis-Joseph-Xavier-François de France, Comte de Toulouse and later Duc de Mercœur, or as Marie Josephe called him 'Chou d'amour. Was born on the 13th of September, 1758.

    In all veracity, Madame la Dauphine deeply adored all of her children but the ability to connect as one customarily would is majority slim, and following the deaths and stillbirths she took Monsieur de Toulouse as a sense of freedom, La Dauphin de France was said to have not let him from her side, and if possible, was rare in most cases. Though in the middle of his infancy, she announced the establishment of yet another bundle of joy, this took away most of their time due to her expected quantity of rest and nutritional consumption, but with what the princess had she took. And on September 23rd, 1759, the Dauphine determinately brought forward a daughter into the face of the court after 4 years since the death of the Madame Royale, Marie-Zéphyrine. Baptized Marie Adélaïde Clotilde Xaviere de France, on October 19th, 1761, the day after the baptism of her brother Louis-Auguste. Madame Clotilde, Madame - and even Gros-Madame is one to utilize as an example of La Dauphines mothering, she despised the upcoming lethal flood of court gossip and did anything she could to abolish some of courts unsavory conversation about Clotilde, well, when apprised. A couple years afterwards, in 1762, Marie-Josèphe unfortunately carried another stillborn son, losing him just 3 months into pregnancy after a carriage ride to Paris. Following just 2 years past, on May 3rd, 1764, Monseigneur le Dauphin et Dauphine conceived their last child, and daughter, Elisabeth Philippe Marie Hélène de France, known as Madame Elisabeth. By this point Madame la Dauphine was 33 and Le Dauphin, 35, having already conceived a set of children, though, with uncertainties, the dolphin couple would later call it quits to continue the expansion of their family. Just a year after Marie-Josèphes retirement from conseption, in 1765, her 3rd eldest child and 2nd son, Louis-Auguste died from Tuberculosis.

### *Chou d'amour*

On 1767 while Louis-Joseph-Xavier François was just 9 years of age, he fell from a horse causing a terrorizing amount of pain to the prince, he was noted to have limped and hissed in reoccurring pain since the incident, and when asked who caused this, he always concealed so that whomever does not receive penalization. The Comte de Toulouse from that point forward repined to the dauphin et dauphine and his governess till an examination was scheduled in which they'd find a tumor as a result. Marie-Josèphe, in shock after constant events of loss circumventing her, would abide by any treatment that may return her favorite to his highest self. Monsieur de Toulouse was painfully operated on and Pompignan's account of the operation brings out the courage of the prince:

> *“He (the little Comte de Toulouse) wanted to see the instruments that would be used. He considered them, handled them with admirable coolness, and quietly abandoned himself to the preparations and the rigors of the operation. Sieur Andouillet opened the tumor with all possible lightness and promptness. The incision was terrible and very painful. She opened her thigh almost entirely three fingers deep. He uttered only one or two cries, and endured the rest of the operation without complaining. No sooner had he been dressed than he resumed the air of gaiety that was natural to him, and sat up in his bed. bed, as if he had only a slight indisposition. "*
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Since the procedure, Madame la Grand Dauphine customarily checked up on Louis-Joseph-Xavier, consistently growing paranoid of what may transpire to him. On multiple occasions Marie-Josèphe was frantic with worry after Monsieur de Mercœur obtained a minor injury such as scrapping his leg, though if empathetic, no one could incriminate her.

### La prochaine Dauphine; Antoinette et Pétronille

        Postmortem of the Dauphines husband, herself and Louis XV became much more attached considering Marie-Josèphe took the late Madame de Pompadours apartments. Louis often visited Marie and discussed the espousement of her eldest son, Louis-Auguste, Dauphin de France. **Marie Anoinette**, Archiduchesse d’Autriche, daughter of **François I** du Saint-Imperium, and his spouse, **Marie-Thérèse d'Autriche**, Roi de Hongrie et de Bohême, Duchesse de Milan, de Brabant, de Limbourg et de Luxembourg et Archiduchesse d'Autriche, was suggested though delayed upon Marie-Josèphes wishes, simply because she was not impressed. The negotiation with Vienna involving Louis-Auguste, Dauphin de France would open and reclose til' his death on 1765. Due to this, Louis Stanislas de France, second son of Marie-Josèphe would take the designation as Dauphin de France, Austria remained following behind the offer, though the mourning Marie declined the entirety of the conception to Louis XV til' its fall through within the following days. However, France fixated North-East of Austria, as the daughter of **Catherine II**, Impératrice de Russie, **Anne Pétronille de Russie**, Grande-Duchesse de Russie remained unwed. La Grande Dauphine was much more in favor with this idea, she argued both of their benefits finding Anne Pétronille most fit.

## Guerre de Sept Ans

    In the 1750s, a reversal took place: Saxony forged an alliance with France with Austria against Prussia and the United Kingdom. On August 29th, 1756, l'électorat de Saxe was invaded by the troops of **Frédéric II, Roi de Prusse et Électeur de Brandebourg** known as Frédéric le Grand, as the first act of the Seven Years' War in Europe. The Saxon army was quickly defeated (Pirna, October 14th), and the country was occupied. While the elector and his minister Heinrich von Brühl withdrew to Poland, which remained neutral, Marie-Josèphe d'Autriche remained in Dresden and tried to resist the encroachments of the occupying power. Saxony was ravaged by the Prussian armies which took the royal family hostage despite the protests of the European courts, the king's daughters being *Reine Consort de Naples* and *Dauphine de France.* Her daughter more Western of her, Marie-Josèphe, Dauphine de France sent letter in lemon upon receiving news:

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>     *" Mutter, how I wish this un-fathomable news that I've just received were erroneous. It's truly a dagger to my ability to repose easily. Your wellbeing and my geschwister are enlisted into my prayers. Additionally, Myself and schwester Marie-Amélie de Saxe are leagued in support of the riots for your liberation. In the most truest mindset, this will be a rigid excursion to victory. - Friedrich der Große von Preußen ist George II hetzen. "*
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La Dauphine's mere, Auguste's wife, Marie-Josèphe, died the following year in 1757, a victim of mistreatment received from the Prussians. The news did not weigh easy on Marie-Josèphe in France as she adored the presence of her mere, the idea of her family in captivity under Frédéric le Great left her frightened.

Frédéric II de Prusse had previously occupied Dresden in 1756 during his Invasion of Saxony, which had triggered the outbreak of war. In 1759 it had been taken back by Austria-led forces. Frédéric-Auguste now targeted it in an attempt to reassert control over Saxony where he had expansionist territorial ambitions alongside his successor Frédéric-Christian, the two would lead on the Siege of Dresden where Saxony redeemed Dresden from Prussian grip, this siege went on from the 13th–22nd in July of 1760.

    Frédéric-Auguste III de Saxe died suddenly on the 5th of October in 1763 in Dresden just three years after his triumph, his fate similiar to his wives, apoplexy, suggested due to involvement in the Seven Years' War. His son Frédéric-Christian, of delicate health, succeeded him in Saxony but died on December 17th, 1763, leaving the throne to Frédéric-Augustus III, aged only 13.

The Dauphine de France had just given birth to her last child with the Dauphin Louis, Madame Elisabeth 5 months before recieving news of her Peres death, supplementally 6 years after her meres death due to similar cause. Marie-Josèphe stressed the Seven Years' war and how the Siege of Dresden left her with sleepless nights. She mourned her Pere and Frère for months afterwards.

## Le mort du Dauphin

Very pious and devout, Louis prepares for death. He regrets that, because of his illness, part of the Court is retained in Fontainebleau. Louis XV, his father tries to reassure him; to forget the tragedy, Louis XV carried out astronomical calculations with his friend the scholar Cassini de Thury and tried to put on a good face. November 13th, 1765, the Dauphin, at worst, asks to receive the last rites. On December 19th, the doctors condemn his door to relatives. Dauphin Louis died of tuberculosis at the age of 36 on December 20th, 1765, at eight twenty-three minutes in the morning, attended by his friend Cardinal Paul d'Albert de Luynes, Archbishop of Sens, and his wife Marie-Josèphe. According to the last wishes of the prince, his remains were buried in the cathedral of Sens, while his heart was taken to Saint-Denis.

His wife, who watched over Louis was again confronted with her husband's illness, for weeks she was bedbound, but after much prayer, herbal teas, and customary examinations had a swift recovery. Indeed, during military maneuvers, le dauphin caught cold and contracted tuberculosis. After nursing him day and night through his illness, afterwards, a widow, scrupulously followed the marital instructions in terms of the education of their children, which was not necessarily judicious insofar as she herself had very good ideas that she sacrificed. The death of her husband struck her like a cold war and ultimately *La Grande Dauphine* grew bleary. Father-in-law and daughter-in-law always had a good relationship and often spent time together. The apartments of the Dauphine were the same ones that Madame de Pompadour had occupied and therefore were close to those of Louis XV as he grew pity.

Similar to who preceded Marie-Thérèse d’Espagne, Marie-Adélaïde de Savoie, Dauphine de France, Duchesse de Bourgogne, wife of Louis de France, son of Louis de France, dit Monseigneur, ou le Grand Dauphin, and grandson of Louis XIV. She carried the title of Dauphine beyond the departure of her husband. Devastating, Marie-Josèphe struggled difficultly, refusing to eat and instead feeding her meals to her pets in her apartments. Marie-Josèphe noted in her diary:

> *" In devastating times like these I optate I had the caring arms of Madame Henriette to bury myself in, She would mourn this moment just as I am and would insure my mind free of L'obscurité. To cerebrate that now the two companions are once again at each others sides in the heavens above, watching carefully at my every movement. "*
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## Madame la Grande Dauphine

### *La triste Pepa*

The Dauphin having died prematurely, Marie-Josèphe de Saxe did not become Reine de France. On the contrary, the ordeals having not spared her, *La triste Pepa*, as her father-in-law the king nicknamed her. In 1765, Louis-Auguste also died. Louis XV would therefore be directly succeeded by his 2nd grandson Louis Stanislas de France. In 15 years of marriage, Marie-Josèphe, also proud of her role as dauphine and mother of the future king, never failed to express her attachment to France.

After mourning for more than half a year, La Grande Dauphine was faced with uncountable amounts of portraits of her late husband due to her idea of plastering them throughout her apartments. After mourning for more than half a year, La Grande Dauphine was faced with uncountable amounts of portraits of her later husband, due to her conception of hanging him throughout her dormitories, doing this because the phrenic idea of living without Louis, horrified her. Her adoring nature simply made the posture more gloomy, for others, it was almost as if a carriage was creaking sluggishly to its demise.

Marie-Josèphe relucted to eat and took on frangible health, having taken ill state multiple times since the Dauphins death while grounding the dreary absence of her enfants, dormitories

### Une adoption royale; Streusel

Anon enough the dauphine would adopt a male Pomeranian pup by the name of Streusel, becoming Marie's companion at an instant rate he is never of distant from her side, in most cases, he is seated with her during couvert licking from her plate and cutlery.

### Décès de Marie Leszczyńska, et appartements

Marie-Josèphe dreaded this moment after the death of her husband, finding the rest of her surviving placidity with *la famille royale déchirée*. The death of the Polish queen in France, was diminishing, while they couldn't originally come to terms due to the resultants of the War of the Polish Succession, the two were synonymous. In addition, they were extraordinary mothers and carried very similar certainties, in hopes that their nurturing will make for a prevailing France.

After Louis, Dauphin de France's death in 1765 Marie-Josèphe took Madame de Pompadours rooms to remain close with the king. Though, this did not last after Marie Leszczyńska's death when Louis; *le bien-aimé* invited *Madame de Berry* to court which resulted in Madame la Grand Dauphines relocation to the deceased queens rooms. This did not exactly sit firmly with Marie-Josèphe as she could not understand Louis XV's need to always indulge in promiscuous acts so soon after his wifes death. Usually, the Saxon princess condones, though in the given case she joined alongside *Les Mesdames* in courtly gossip of *la Maîtresse en titre* and joined in battle to push effort of returning the kings durable state.

### L’Ordre des Dames chevalières de la Cordelière

Renowned for her intelligence, her gentleness and her uprightness, *Madame la Grande Dauphine* prospered this piety from her belle-mère, the late Reine de France, Marie Leszczyńska after having partaken in the charities the years prior. Marie-Josèphe, who was pious, wished to often spread enlightenment, and to indulge in the good acts of charity. This was nonelective amongst her daughters, Marie-Zéphyrine de France till; 1755, Madame Clotilde et, Madame Élisabeth, who recieved well inculcation. They often brought fortune to *la malheureux* alongside their esteemed mere, aiding gifts of prayer, nourishment, and routine supplies, this was regularly expected of princesses their stature. The dauphine inscribed during this time:

> *" Mes filles, Madame Clotilde et Madame Élisabeth travelled to le quartier de Notre-Dame for philanthropy, one could call me prideful, another arrogant, mes filles are suiting to be marvelous women to France. L’Ordre des Dames chevalières de la Cordelière is genuinely a piety of God's craftsmanship, originally, I was casted a participator to the sisterhood, showcasing my pious dues and contribution to my duties, now I am operating the fine organization and its infrastructures. As le soleil and la lune battle in the la mer du ciel I grow excited to catch a glimpse of courts purest acts, with more of it to be seen as mesdames across the enclosure are honorably stepping up to this pious task. "*
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During her time in the order she took note of many noble women and their conditioning, hiring those she knew would genuinely instaurate the court to glory, Marie herself, believed that one could not prevail successfully until lightened, insinuating that the act of genuineness carries your imagery. In no time l'Ordre burgeoned, with her belle-fille, Marie Thérèse de Savoie, Duchesse de Bourgogne, appointed Chancelière it hosted many women throughout nobility who sought the kindness of public services, exceptionally luxuriating under Marie Thérèse's governance.

## *Je vous salue*, Louis XVI

### Mère du roi

*'La reine qui n'a jamais été'* (The queen who never was)

## Attributs de Marie Josèphe

### Personnalité

Marie had the faculty to handle what others could not, keeping her process of thinking as immeasurable as possible, for that, she gained much respect at the court of Versailles.

## Titres et Styles

### Titres

* **4 November, 1731 - 9 February 1747** Son Altesse la Duchesse
* **17 January, 1734 - 5 October 1763** Son Altesse la Princesse de Pologne et Princesse de Lituanie
* **9 February 1747 – 20 December 1765** Son Altesse Royale la Dauphine de France
* **20 December 1765 – Present** Son Altesse Royale la Grande Dauphine de France et, Son Altesse la Princesse de Pologne

## Issue

* Stillborn son ( 1748 );
* Stillborn son ( 1749 );
* Marie-Zéphyrine ( 1750 - 1755 ) *known as Madame Royale*  ;
* Stillborn daughter ( 1752 );
* Xavier-Marie, Duc de \_ ( 1753 - 1754 );
* Louis-Auguste, Duc de \_, then Dauphin de France ( 1754 - 1765 );
* Louis-Stanislas, Duc de \_, then Dauphin de France ( 1755 );
* Stillborn son ( 1756 );
* Charles-Philippe, Comte d'Artois, then Duc de Bourgogne ( 1757 ) married Marie Thérèse de Savoie ( 1756 ) in 1773 ;
* Louis-Joseph-Xavier François, Comte de Toulouse, then Duc de Mercœur ( 1758 );
* Marie-Clotilde , *known as Madame* - and even Gros-Madame - ( 1759 );
* Stillborn son ( 1762 );
* Élisabeth , *known as Madame Élisabeth* ( 1764 - 1794 ).