European Royalty: The French Bourbons--Louis XV (1715-74)


Figure 1.--The young Louis XV is seen here about 1712-13 with his great garndfather King Louis XIV. Behind the King is Philippe d'Orléans, son of the King's brother who would become the Régent until his death in 1723. At right is the King of Spain, Philippe V, grand son of Louis XIV. During all his life, Louis XIV dreamt of unifying the crown of Spain and of France which lead to "War of the Spanish Succession". At left is Mme. de Ventadour, who cared for Louis XV, greatgrandson of Louis the XIV.

Louis XVI was born in 1710 at Versailles, the famed palace of Louis XIV. Both his father and grandfather died at an early age. Like his great grandfather, he became king at an very young age. He began his reign as "Louis the well beloved", but when he died he was unmourned. Louis' tutor Cardinal Fleury was to become his head of government. Neither Louis' education nor his character prepared the young king for the task of ruling France, This was critical at Louis XIV had centered French Government in the person of the king. A weak king meant a weak government. Serious failures in his upbringing and character prevented him from ruling effectively. He became king in 1715 when he was only 5 years old. Louis married Princess Maria Leczinska of Poland (1703-1768) in 1725. He was only 15 years old. This is one of many examples in history of the close historical ties between France and Poland. He was France's longest serving monarchs. The young king even after reaching his majority continued to rule through intermediaries. In 1744, he proclaimed that he would rule without a chief minister, but was too indolent and lacking in self-confidence to coordinate the activities of his secretaries of state and give firm direction on national policy. While his government degenerated into factions of scheming ministers and courtiers, Louis amused himself at court with a succession of mistresses, several of whom exercised considerable political influence. His ineffectual rule contributed to the decline of royal authority that led to disastrous 7 Years War in which France lost most of its overseas territories, including North America. In the later years of his reign, reforms was carried out that did greatly improve the judicial system, but apart from this, Louis XV's long reign was a decline in the crown's moral and political authority, and had seen great reverses in foreign and military affairs. The King died in 1774, generally hated by his subjects. Profligate spending during his reign in part added to the declining economic plight of the middle and working classes. It also led to the near bankruptsy of the treasury. Conditions in the kingdom left unattended contributed to the outbreak, under his successor his grandson Louis XVI, of the Great Revolution in 1789.

Parents

Louis XV's father was Duke Louis of Burgandy (1682-1712). The Duke's father was the Louis, Dauphin Louis (1661-1711) eldest son of King Louis XIV. Louis XV was thus the great grandson of Louis XIV. The Dauphin and Princess Marie-Therese of Spain (1638) had two other children, King Philip V of Spain (1683- ) and Charles Duke du Berry. The Dauphin married Mary Anne Christine of Bavaria. Louis's father the Duke of Burgandy died in 1712 only two years after his son's birth.

Louis XV's mother was Marie Adelaide of Savoie (1685- ). Her parents were Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia, Duke of Savoy (1666- ) and Anna Maria d'Orléans (1669- ).

Childhood

Louis was born at Versailles in 1710. Louis' childhood was deeply affected by the untimely death of his parents and only surviving brother. (Another source suggests that Louis was an only child.) in 1712, he became King at the age of 5 years on the death of Louis XIV (September 1, 1715). Until he attained his legal majority in 1723, France was governed by a regent, Philippe II, duc d'Orleans. I have no information at this time on Louis' childhood or how he was dressed as a boy.

Education

Louis' tutor Cardinal Fleury was to become his head of government. Neither Louis' education nor his character prepared the young king for the task of ruling France, This was critical at Louis XIV had centered French Government in the person of the king. A weak king meant a weak government.

Character

Louis was handsome and an imposing figure. He was also intelligent. This potential was spoiled by an inadequate education that taight him that he was the center of his country's life, but failed to inspire in him any real concern for the welfare of his subjects. Court life at Versailles served to emphasize his personal importance and cut him off from contact with his subjects. Boored by court life, Louis let his personal pleasure govern his life.

Marriage

Louis married Princess Maria Leczinska of Poland (1703-1768) in 1725. He was only 15 years old. This is one of many examples in history of the close historical ties between France and Poland. Her father was King Stanislaw Leczinski (1677- ). Her mother was Catherine Opalinski (1680- ).

Children

Louis and Maria had two children.

Princess Elizabeth

The oldest was a daughter Princess Elizabeth (1727-59). She married Duke Philip de Bourbon of Parma in 1739, the youngest son of Bourbon King Philip V of Spain, Loui's great uncle. Duke Philip and Elizabeth had three children: Isabella (1741- ), Duke Ferdinand (1751- ), and Maria Louisa (1751- ).

Dauphin Louis

Louis' secomd child was the Dauphin Louis (1729- ). Louis died before his father, but was the father of Louis XVI.

Mistresses

Marie-Anne de Mailly-Nesle duchess de Châteauroux was one of Louis' most important mistresses. After the death of the Marquis de la Tournelle (1740), his wife Marie-Anne became available. Louis noted her and was attracted. she became his mistress. But this was not just a personal relationship. Access to the King had political connotatins. This was especially important with Louis XV who did not take a great interest in governing. The Marshal de Richelieu who was close to Madame de Tencin, hoped to benefit. Marie-Anne replaced her sister, Madame de Mailly, as Lois 's principal mistress (1742). Two other sisters served as courtesans in Louis' court: Pauline-Félicité de Mailly (1712-41), countess of Vintimille, and Diane-Adélaïde de Mailly (1713-60), duchess of Lauraguais. Marie-Anne following Richelieu's insructions tried to interest the King in foreign affairs. She dragged him off to the French armies waging war. She also helped prepare the way for an alliance with Frederick II of Prussia (1744). Her influenced was affected when the King became ill at Metz. The affair ended abruptly when she also became ill and unexpectedly died (1744). A few month later, the King had a new mistress, the famed Madame de Pompadour.

Early Reign

The young king even after reaching his majority continued to rule through intermediaries. In 1744, he proclaimed that he would rule without a chief minister, but was too indolent and lacking in self-confidence to coordinate the activities of his secretaries of state and give firm direction on national policy. While his government degenerated into factions of scheming ministers and courtiers, Louis amused himself at court with a succession of mistresses, several of whom exercised considerable political influence. Louis was not completely passive; in 1748 he set up a system of secret diplomacy to advance France's interests, but neglected to inform his official ministers about it, throwing foreign policy into confusion.

7 Years War (1756-63)

Later, he concluded an alliance with Austria in 1756, and the two went to war with Great Britain and Prussia in the fateful Seven Years' War (1756-63), one of the most disatrous in French history. The War was actually precipitated with a young colonel in the Virginia militia, George Washington, chanced accross a French military force in thedisputed territory westof the Apalachens. Louis' commitments to the Austrians prevented him from concentrating on the colonial struggle with Britain and as a result, by 1763, France had lost to Britain almost all her colonial possessions in North America and India. Later, the failure of his secret diplomacy resulted in the near elimination of French influence in central Europe. The French defeat was so crushing that it stirred a desire for revenge, a major factor in Louis XV's grandson, Louis XVI's decission to support the colonists in the American Revolution.

The Arts

Louis took a great interest in the arts. He helped influence the decorative rococo style which in France in France is commonly referred tonas the "style Louis XV". Louis throughout his life was a patron of the arts and even dabled himself. The arts were in fact a major passion, in part because his interest in givernment was hardly intense. He took a special interest in the expansion and renovation of Versailles. [Hunter] The artistic styles of France set the standard for all of Europe. French kings considered the prestige flowing from artistic refinment as important. Beginning with Francis I, the monrchy supported the arts.

Later Years

In the later years of his reign, reforms was carried out that did greatly improve the judicial system, but apart from this, Louis XV's long reign was a decline in the crown's moral and political authority, and had seen great reverses in foreign and military affairs. The King died in 1774, generally hated by his subjects. Profligate spending during his reign in part added to the declining economic plight of the middle and working classes. It also led to the near bankruptsy of the treasury.

Succession

Louis XV also outlived his son, and was succeeded by his oldest grandson, Louis XVI. Conditions in the kingdom left unattended by Louis XV contributed to the outbreak, under his successor, of the Great Revolution in 1789.

Sources

Hunter, Penelope. "A Royal Taste: Louis XV, 1738," Metropolitan Museum Journal, Vol. 7 (1973), pp. 89-113.







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Created: July 18, 2003
Last updated: 11:25 PM 12/6/2007