Anne Marie Louise de Médicis

## Biography

"Anne Marie Louise de Médicis" par François de Troy, 1695

**Anne Marie Louise de Médicis** (Italian: Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici; born 11 August 1667) was a Tuscan princess from the illustrious reigning patrician Medici family of Florence whose origins began as a humble banking family but through a series of intelligent political and banking maneuvering the Medicis' assembled into one of the richest families in Europe to the point its banks were the largest of the 15th century. Anne became a Vasttairian princess through her marriage to François Auguste, Duc d'Orléans in the early months of 1682. Anne Marie Louise was known as a patron of the arts having ownership of various art collections commissioned by herself.

Anne Marie Louise was the only daughter of Cosimo III de' Medici, Granduca di Toscana and his first wife Marguerite Louise d'Angoulême. Her relation as the niece of Charles X & II was more reputably known due to the unfavourable state of her parents' marriage. By marriage to the Duc d'Orléans, François Auguste, Duc d'Orléans, she became the Duchesse d'Orléans and enjoyed a status similar to an Impératrice-Consort upon her husband's ascension to the role of Régent de l'Empire. She would use such a position to forward various musical arts throughout Paris.

## Early Life

### Birth and Family

Anne was an unwanted child, this manifested itself drastically when her mother made continuous attempts of terminating the pregnancy by means of horse riding. But despite her mother's efforts she was born on the 11th of August 1667 and shortly named Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici subsequently after her baptism her godfather was Cardinal Leopoldo de' Medici and her godmother who she was named after was Anne Marie Louise d'Angoulême, Duchesse de Montpensier. She was the second child and only daughter of Cosimo III de' Medici and Marguerite Louise d'Angoulême.

During Anne's early years, her parents' marriage was fraught with hostile circumstances, extending to a point of constant arguments and embarrassments. Their marriage ultimately ended in disaster after Anne's grandmother Vittoria della Rovere intervened numerous times to no avail, and in an act of anger her mother Marguerite Louise d'Angoulême departed from the Tuscan court permanently in 1674 to seek refuge in the court of her cousin François VI leaving the 7-year-old Anne without a mother figure.

### Education

It was Anne's grandmother Vittoria della Rovere who brought up her and her brothers; in accordance with Medici educational tradition, she received an education in the most prestigious and expensive manner in art, music, language, literature and mathematics. Through her education, Anne gained proficiency in speaking French, Spanish, Latin, and German and was regarded as an artistic young woman with a fine sense of taste.

### Marriage and Family

Anne Marie Louise was formally betrothed to François Auguste, Duc d'Orléans, son of the Vasttairian Emperor François VI & IV, and his consort, Marie-Thérèse d'Autriche. Regarding a French marriage, her father was skeptical, but under the diplomatic pressure and instability of Florence he was compelled to agree with such a match. A little less than a year later, now 14 years of age, Anne Marie Louise married the 18-year-old Duc d'Orléans. In the beginning of her marriage Anne remained optimistic and determined to have a happy marriage unlike her parents. Unfortunately, Anne's optimism came to no avail when little to a month into her marriage the Duc d'Orléans showed little to no interest in the 14-year-old Duchesse. Despite the couple's poor compatibility, Anne gave birth to a daughter Marie-Louise d’Orléans on the 15th of April 1683. It was noted that Anne was especially overjoyed with the arrival of her first child and spent every opportunity she could to be with her infant daughter. It was not too long into her marriage that Anne discovered her husband's various infidelities, in particular with Marie Antoinette de Rouvroy, Comtesse d'Oisy, who Anne despised. Despite the infidelities, Anne gave birth to a second child, a son on the 29th of November 1688. He was subsequently named François Charles d’Orléans, Duc de Chartres. Anne adored her newly born despite his sickness from birth. However, the Duc de Chartes soon died at the age of 1 as a result of poor health, which devastated Anne. Following the death of her son, her marriage broke into shambles, much like the marriage of her parents. The couple soon lived in separation where Anne found companionship with the Duchesse de Villeroy. Soon her inner circle grew to the Comtesse de La Tour-du-Pin, and the Duchesse de La Force.

## Adulthood

### Patronage of the Arts & Music

Anne Marie Louise was a known patron of various arts, often purchasing various Italian and French paintings in Renaissance and Baroque styles. Anne Marie held large collections of Italian arts, busts, paintings, and sculptures. Various painters, such as Nicolas de Largillière, François de Troy, Tommaso Costa, and Giovanni Stefano Danedi, received large amounts of funds and donations from the Duchesse d'Orléans. She promoted many musical composers throughout the 1680s, her favorite composers in particular were Heinrich Schütz and Molière. Through the 1680s and 1690s Anne spent nearly a fortune patronizing musicians and artists. She was known to have spent a majority of her time enjoying various balls, musical performances, and many other festivities. She often went to many operas where the comedies of Molière were performed. In 1691 she invited the priest Agostino Steffani a known Italian Polymath to Paris in order to educate her daughter. She further used her position as wife to the Régent de l'Empire to fund various fashion endeavors and the funding of costumes and props to poorer opera and comedy houses throughout France.

### Relationship with Marie-Louise d'Orléans

Upon the death of her only son, the Duc de Chartres, Anne Marie became much closer to her young daughter Marie-Louise d'Orléans to the point of lavishly spoiling her daughter. (To be completed)

## Issue

With her husband, François Auguste de Vermandois, she had two children, only one of whom survived infancy:

* Marie-Louise d’Orléans, Mademoiselle (15th April 1683 - present)
* François Charles d’Orléans, Duc de Chartres (29th November 1688 - 7th May 1690)

## Titles, Styles and Honours

* **11 August 1667 - 18 February 1682:** *Sua Altezza Serenissima,* Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici
* **18 February 1862 - present: Son Altesse Impériale:** *Son Altesse Impériale,* Madame la Duchesse d'Orléans