Maria Theresa of Spain was the Queen of France from 1660 to 1683 as the wife of King Louis XIV. She was a pious and virtuous woman who saw five of her six children die in early childhood. She was often neglected by her husband and overshadowed by his many mistresses. She died at the age of 44 due to complications from an abscess on her arm. This article will explore the cause and circumstances of her death, as well as her legacy.
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The Infanta of Spain
Maria Theresa was born on September 10, 1638 at the Royal Monastery of El Escorial in Spain. She was the daughter of King Philip IV of Spain and his first wife Elisabeth of France, who died when Maria Theresa was six years old. She was also an Archduchess of Austria as a member of the Spanish branch of the House of Habsburg.
She grew up in the strict and solemn Spanish court, where she received a religious education and learned to speak Spanish, French, Italian, and Latin. Her father remarried when she was 12, but she did not get along well with her stepmother. She preferred to keep to herself with a few companions and was not interested in fashion or wit.
The Queen of France
In 1660, Maria Theresa married her double first cousin Louis XIV, the King of France, as part of a peace treaty between Spain and France after many years of war. They were both 22 years old and had never met before their wedding. Maria Theresa made her husband promise to never spend a night away from her, but this did not stop him from having numerous affairs throughout their marriage.
Maria Theresa had to adapt to the very different French court, which was lively, innovative, and extravagant. She was helped by her aunt Anne of Austria, who was also the mother of Louis XIV and the regent of France until he came of age. Anne was delighted to have another Spanish woman at court and often prayed and visited convents with her.
Maria Theresa gave birth to six children, but only one survived to adulthood: Louis, the Grand Dauphin, who was the heir apparent to the French throne. She suffered several miscarriages and stillbirths, which took a toll on her health and morale. She also had to endure the humiliation of seeing her husband flaunt his mistresses in public, such as Louise de La Vallière, Madame de Montespan, and Madame de Maintenon.
The Death of Maria Theresa
In July 1683, Maria Theresa developed an abscess on her left arm, which became infected and caused sepsis, a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body’s response to infection causes injury to its own tissues and organs. She suffered from high fever, chills, pain, and delirium. She received medical treatment from several doctors, but none could save her.
She died on July 30, 1683 at the Palace of Versailles, surrounded by her husband, her son, and some courtiers. Her last words were reportedly “Since I am going to die, I want to die as a queen.” Her husband was deeply saddened by her death and said “This is the first trouble she has ever given me.” He wore black for eight months in mourning and ordered a lavish funeral for her at the Basilica of St Denis, where she was buried.
The Legacy of Maria Theresa
Maria Theresa was not a politically influential queen, but she was a loyal and devoted wife who supported her husband’s reign. She was also a loving mother who cared for her children and prayed for their souls. She was admired for her piety and virtue by the French people, who called her “the good queen” or “the peaceful queen”.
She also had a lasting impact on the history of Europe through her descendants. Her grandson Philip V inherited the Spanish throne in 1700 after the death of her half-brother Charles II, who died without heirs. This sparked the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714), which established the House of Bourbon as the new ruling dynasty of Spain. The House of Bourbon still reigns in Spain today with some interruptions.
Maria Theresa’s other descendants include kings and queens of France, Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, Parma, Sardinia, Savoy, Poland-Lithuania; emperors and empresses of Austria-Hungary; princes and princesses of Monaco; dukes and duchesses of Lorraine; grand dukes and grand duchesses of Tuscany; electors and electresses of Bavaria; margraves and margravines of Baden; landgraves and landgravines of Hesse-Kassel; counts and countesses palatine; as well as many other nobles across Europe.
Maria Theresa’s life was marked by tragedy and sorrow, but she also left a remarkable legacy that shaped the history of Europe for centuries.
