Moniek Bloks's Blog, page 62
December 27, 2023
Marie Thérèse of France – The only man in the family (Part seven)
Despite her deep unhappiness, Marie Thérèse continued to present herself as the perfect princess. To ease her suffering, her husband took her on a month-long tour of central France, where they were well-received all around. She later wrote to her uncle, “I have concluded that the Bourbons really are affirmed on the throne.”1
Then came the news that Napoleon had escaped from Elba. Her husband immediately departed with the army, while Marie Thérèse remained in Bordeaux, where she spoke to the soldiers every morning. Napoleon managed to enter Paris, and King Louis XVIII fled to Brussels. Marie Thérèse and her soldiers refused to leave. Napoleon knew that harming her would seriously damage his reputation, and he dispatched General Bertrand Clauzel to persuade her to leave. Marie Thérèse told him that she would never surrender. However, although the soldiers were willing to protect her, they had no taste for a civil war, and slowly, they began to dissent. She told them, “It is so cruel, after twenty years of exile and unhappiness, I will have to expatriate once again. I, nevertheless, will never cease to swear – I make this vow; For France! Because I am French! You are no longer Frenchmen! About-face! Withdraw!”2 She left the following day, praising the honour and bravery of the people of Bordeaux.
Back at the Tuileries, Napoleon reportedly said, “She is the only man in the family!”3 Marie Thérèse travelled to Paquillac, where she boarded an English ship. She returned to England in April 1815, where she learned that her husband had been taken prisoner. Luckily, he was released, and he made his way to Madrid. She wrote, “How happy I am! He has suffered greatly, but Heaven has taken pity on him and has returned him to us.”4 Then Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo and exiled for good.
Although the King hurried back to Paris, Marie Thérèse delayed her arrival for a few weeks. She was disgusted by her uncle’s behaviour, and the future was anything but secure. She stood by her uncle and had a say in the appointment of ministers. There were to be no Napoleonic nobles in her entourage. Marie Thérèse also ordered the removal of every single bee, eagle and ‘N’ from the royal palaces. She also ordered an inquiry into her brother’s death, as she needed closure once and for all.
Another issue needed to be addressed as well. As Marie Thérèse had not had any children with her husband, the succession now focussed on her brother-in-law, the Duke of Berry. He married Marie Caroline of Naples and Sicily in 1816 despite already having two daughters and a common-law wife. By the end of the year, Marie Caroline was pregnant. She gave birth to a baby girl the following July, but the little girl lived for just one day. In 1818, she gave birth to a son who lived for just a few hours. A healthy baby girl, Princess Louise, was born the following year.
Marie Caroline was pregnant for the fourth time when her husband was fatally stabbed as they left the opera. As he struggled to breathe, he told her, “Stay calm for the sake of the child you carry.”5 She sent for his common-law wife and their two daughters so they could say goodbye, and she assured her husband that she would care for them. The Duke of Berry died the following morning. Marie Thérèse tried to help the distraught Marie Caroline. On 29 September 1820, Marie Caroline gave birth to the long-awaited heir, Henry, and he was given the title Duke of Bordeaux.
Marie Thérèse reportedly sighed, “At last, I am resigned forever to remain childless.”6 However, a short while later, she believed herself to be pregnant at the age of 42. She was absolutely overjoyed with the prospect but was soon devastated when it became clear that she was not pregnant at all. Marie Thérèse now settled for the role of aunt for little Louise and Henry. She even purchased a chateau so that the children could breathe fresh air and a herd of cows so that they always had a fresh supply of milk.
On 16 September 1824, King Louis XVIII died after several weeks of illness. The new King was the Count of Artois, Marie Thérèse’s father-in-law, now King Charles X. And she and her husband were the new Dauphin and Dauphine of France.
Marie Thérèse continued to mother her niece and nephew, and she personally taught her nephew about his bloodline and the divine right of kings. She also hired tutors to teach them Italian, German and English. Even the younger members of the Orleans branch adored her. The Prince of Joinville later wrote, “I loved her dearly even then, that good kind Duchess! For she had always been good to us, ever since we were babies, and never failed to give us the most beautiful New Year’s gifts. My respectful affection deepened as I grew old enough to realise her sorrows and the nobility of her nature… She broke the ice by being the first to raise her glass to her lips when I had made her my queen.”7
The post Marie Thérèse of France – The only man in the family (Part seven) appeared first on History of Royal Women.
The Year of Marie Antoinette – Marie Thérèse, The only man in the family (Part seven)
Despite her deep unhappiness, Marie Thérèse continued to present herself as the perfect princess. To ease her suffering, her husband took her on a month-long tour of central France, where they were well-received all around. She later wrote to her uncle, “I have concluded that the Bourbons really are affirmed on the throne.”1
Then came the news that Napoleon had escaped from Elba. Her husband immediately departed with the army, while Marie Thérèse remained in Bordeaux, where she spoke to the soldiers every morning. Napoleon managed to enter Paris, and King Louis XVIII fled to Brussels. Marie Thérèse and her soldiers refused to leave. Napoleon knew that harming her would seriously damage his reputation, and he dispatched General Bertrand Clauzel to persuade her to leave. Marie Thérèse told him that she would never surrender. However, although the soldiers were willing to protect her, they had no taste for a civil war, and slowly, they began to dissent. She told them, “It is so cruel, after twenty years of exile and unhappiness, I will have to expatriate once again. I, nevertheless, will never cease to swear – I make this vow; For France! Because I am French! You are no longer Frenchmen! About-face! Withdraw!”2 She left the following day, praising the honour and bravery of the people of Bordeaux.
Back at the Tuileries, Napoleon reportedly said, “She is the only man in the family!”3 Marie Thérèse travelled to Paquillac, where she boarded an English ship. She returned to England in April 1815, where she learned that her husband had been taken prisoner. Luckily, he was released, and he made his way to Madrid. She wrote, “How happy I am! He has suffered greatly, but Heaven has taken pity on him and has returned him to us.”4 Then Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo and exiled for good.
Although the King hurried back to Paris, Marie Thérèse delayed her arrival for a few weeks. She was disgusted by her uncle’s behaviour, and the future was anything but secure. She stood by her uncle and had a say in the appointment of ministers. There were to be no Napoleonic nobles in her entourage. Marie Thérèse also ordered the removal of every single bee, eagle and ‘N’ from the royal palaces. She also ordered an inquiry into her brother’s death, as she needed closure once and for all.
Another issue needed to be addressed as well. As Marie Thérèse had not had any children with her husband, the succession now focussed on her brother-in-law, the Duke of Berry. He married Marie Caroline of Naples and Sicily in 1816 despite already having two daughters and a common-law wife. By the end of the year, Marie Caroline was pregnant. She gave birth to a baby girl the following July, but the little girl lived for just one day. In 1818, she gave birth to a son who lived for just a few hours. A healthy baby girl, Princess Louise, was born the following year.
Marie Caroline was pregnant for the fourth time when her husband was fatally stabbed as they left the opera. As he struggled to breathe, he told her, “Stay calm for the sake of the child you carry.”5 She sent for his common-law wife and their two daughters so they could say goodbye, and she assured her husband that she would care for them. The Duke of Berry died the following morning. Marie Thérèse tried to help the distraught Marie Caroline. On 29 September 1820, Marie Caroline gave birth to the long-awaited heir, Henry, and he was given the title Duke of Bordeaux.
Marie Thérèse reportedly sighed, “At last, I am resigned forever to remain childless.”6 However, a short while later, she believed herself to be pregnant at the age of 42. She was absolutely overjoyed with the prospect but was soon devastated when it became clear that she was not pregnant at all. Marie Thérèse now settled for the role of aunt for little Louise and Henry. She even purchased a chateau so that the children could breathe fresh air and a herd of cows so that they always had a fresh supply of milk.
On 16 September 1824, King Louis XVIII died after several weeks of illness. The new King was the Count of Artois, Marie Thérèse’s father-in-law, now King Charles X. And she and her husband were the new Dauphin and Dauphine of France.
Marie Thérèse continued to mother her niece and nephew, and she personally taught her nephew about his bloodline and the divine right of kings. She also hired tutors to teach them Italian, German and English. Even the younger members of the Orleans branch adored her. The Prince of Joinville later wrote, “I loved her dearly even then, that good kind Duchess! For she had always been good to us, ever since we were babies, and never failed to give us the most beautiful New Year’s gifts. My respectful affection deepened as I grew old enough to realise her sorrows and the nobility of her nature… She broke the ice by being the first to raise her glass to her lips when I had made her my queen.”7
Part eight coming soon.
The post The Year of Marie Antoinette – Marie Thérèse, The only man in the family (Part seven) appeared first on History of Royal Women.
December 26, 2023
Marie Thérèse of France – Mother of France (Part six)
Marie Thérèse still longed for one thing: a child. There were rumours that her husband was homosexual or that he had some kind of medical condition. Another rumour mentioned that Marie Thérèse had possibly been given a poison while in the Temple, which made her sterile.
(public domain)She was also deeply troubled by the continued rumours of her brother’s survival. Several pretenders came forward, but Marie Thérèse did not agree to meet with any of them because she knew there would be political consequences. Nevertheless, despite her own mental anguish, she maintained a steadfast image for her uncle, King Louis XVIII.
In 1807, Marie Thérèse took great personal risk as she nursed the fever-stricken Abbé Edgeworth, who had been with her father during his last hours until his death on 22 May 1807. Meanwhile, Napoleon was wreaking havoc, and injured soldiers arrived daily at Mitau. The Emperor of Russia soon informed them that no Bourbon would be safe anymore on the continent. The King of Sweden offered to grant them asylum, and King Louis XVIII and Marie Thérèse’s husband hurriedly boarded a frigate bound for Stockholm. They left their wives behind in Mitau.
Despite the offer of asylum, the King and the Duke wanted to go to England, where they felt they could gather more support for their cause. The Duke of Berry, Marie Thérèse’s brother-in-law, also arrived in Stockholm, and the three soon headed to England without having received formal permission to reside there from King George III. Upon arrival, they were told to go to Scotland, which they did not want to do. The Marquis (later Duke) of Buckingham eventually intervened and offered Gosfield Hall. They finally landed at Yarmouth on 2 December 1807 after the Duke of Orleans (later King Louis Philippe I), a good friend of the Prince of Wales (later King George IV), managed to secure permission for them to land. They received a warm welcome from the waiting crowd.
Marie Thérèse would have to wait until the following July when she and King Louis XVIII’s wife, Marie Joséphine, were escorted to England. They arrived at Gosfield Hall on 24 August 1808, and Marie Joséphine was already very ill with dropsy. The following April, they moved to Hartwell House, which soon became the court in exile with numerous émigrés living there. Marie Thérèse now lived surrounded by her family, although her father-in-law, the Count of Artois, was out enjoying the London life. She and her husband did visit him often, and she enjoyed living at Hartwell House.
In 1810, Marie Joséphine succumbed to her illness, Queen Louise of Prussia died, and Count Axel von Fersen was murdered. It was a challenging year for Marie Thérèse. The following year, the Prince of Wales, by then regent for his ailing father, granted them permanent asylum and allowances. Marie Thérèse became a favourite of his, and when he invited her, she always received a place of honour as befitting a King’s daughter.
As Napoleon’s limelight began to fade, Marie Thérèse was placed front and centre for the Bourbon cause. She also had more than one reason to be happy – she was finally pregnant for the first time after 13 years of marriage. Tragically, just a few months into her pregnancy, she had a miscarriage and withdrew to Bath for the summer to recuperate. In 1815, Napoleon abdicated and was exiled to the island of Elba. Marie Thérèse broke down in tears when she was told she would finally be returning to France. She told the King to go ahead and make a grand entrance, but he refused to go without her.
They returned to France, where Marie Thérèse was reunited with her childhood friend Pauline de Tourzel, now the Countess of Béarn. They entered Paris on 3 May to cries of “Vive le Roi!” Once at the Notre Dame, Marie Thérèse collapsed onto a prayer stool and cried. As they travelled to Paris, Marie Thérèse appeared rigid. She was spared the sight of the Temple, as it had already been torn down, but they did pass the Conciergerie, where her mother had spent her last days. Marie Thérèse ordered that a cypress tree and a weeping willow be planted at the site of the Temple. At the Tuileries Palace, Marie Thérèse was given her mother’s apartments.
Although her mood recovered over the following days, she could not reconcile herself with the nobility created by Napoleon and those who had benefitted from him. She also refused to recognise the Duke of Orleans, whose father she considered to be complicit in her parents’ death. He had married Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily, a daughter of Maria Carolina of Austria, who in turn was her mother’s sister. Out of respect for Maria Carolina, Marie Thérèse agreed to meet with Maria Amalia, and against all the odds, they became close friends. King Louis XVIII had to keep the Orleans family close and returned their income to them.
The King made Marie Thérèse the centre of the new court but became more critical of her in the process. He wanted her to dress less country and put on some rouge. Her general demeanour also displeased him, as he felt the French might feel more guilt. The court remained based at the Tuileries, which contained no happy memories for Marie Thérèse. Soon, she requested that her friend Pauline join her as she went to visit her parents’ grave – still at the Madeleine cemetery. Her memories began to overwhelm her in Paris, but the King either refused to do anything or he simply ignored her. She was eventually allowed to return to Versailles for a visit but returned to the Tuileries to stand by her uncle’s side.
On 21 January 1815, the bodies of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were interred at the Cathedral of Saint-Denis. Marie Thérèse spent the day in prayer, and the following day, she received a few locks of her mother’s hair and a ring.1
The post Marie Thérèse of France – Mother of France (Part six) appeared first on History of Royal Women.
The Year of Marie Antoinette – Marie Thérèse, Mother of France (Part six)
Marie Thérèse still longed for one thing: a child. There were rumours that her husband was homosexual or that he had some kind of medical condition. Another rumour mentioned that Marie Thérèse had possibly been given a poison while in the Temple, which made her sterile.
(public domain)She was also deeply troubled by the continued rumours of her brother’s survival. Several pretenders came forward, but Marie Thérèse did not agree to meet with any of them because she knew there would be political consequences. Nevertheless, despite her own mental anguish, she maintained a steadfast image for her uncle, King Louis XVIII.
In 1807, Marie Thérèse took great personal risk as she nursed the fever-stricken Abbé Edgeworth, who had been with her father during his last hours until his death on 22 May 1807. Meanwhile, Napoleon was wreaking havoc, and injured soldiers arrived daily at Mitau. The Emperor of Russia soon informed them that no Bourbon would be safe anymore on the continent. The King of Sweden offered to grant them asylum, and King Louis XVIII and Marie Thérèse’s husband hurriedly boarded a frigate bound for Stockholm. They left their wives behind in Mitau.
Despite the offer of asylum, the King and the Duke wanted to go to England, where they felt they could gather more support for their cause. The Duke of Berry, Marie Thérèse’s brother-in-law, also arrived in Stockholm, and the three soon headed to England without having received formal permission to reside there from King George III. Upon arrival, they were told to go to Scotland, which they did not want to do. The Marquis (later Duke) of Buckingham eventually intervened and offered Gosfield Hall. They finally landed at Yarmouth on 2 December 1807 after the Duke of Orleans (later King Louis Philippe I), a good friend of the Prince of Wales (later King George IV), managed to secure permission for them to land. They received a warm welcome from the waiting crowd.
Marie Thérèse would have to wait until the following July when she and King Louis XVIII’s wife, Marie Joséphine, were escorted to England. They arrived at Gosfield Hall on 24 August 1808, and Marie Joséphine was already very ill with dropsy. The following April, they moved to Hartwell House, which soon became the court in exile with numerous émigrés living there. Marie Thérèse now lived surrounded by her family, although her father-in-law, the Count of Artois, was out enjoying the London life. She and her husband did visit him often, and she enjoyed living at Hartwell House.
In 1810, Marie Joséphine succumbed to her illness, Queen Louise of Prussia died, and Count Axel von Fersen was murdered. It was a challenging year for Marie Thérèse. The following year, the Prince of Wales, by then regent for his ailing father, granted them permanent asylum and allowances. Marie Thérèse became a favourite of his, and when he invited her, she always received a place of honour as befitting a King’s daughter.
As Napoleon’s limelight began to fade, Marie Thérèse was placed front and centre for the Bourbon cause. She also had more than one reason to be happy – she was finally pregnant for the first time after 13 years of marriage. Tragically, just a few months into her pregnancy, she had a miscarriage and withdrew to Bath for the summer to recuperate. In 1815, Napoleon abdicated and was exiled to the island of Elba. Marie Thérèse broke down in tears when she was told she would finally be returning to France. She told the King to go ahead and make a grand entrance, but he refused to go without her.
They returned to France, where Marie Thérèse was reunited with her childhood friend Pauline de Tourzel, now the Countess of Béarn. They entered Paris on 3 May to cries of “Vive le Roi!” Once at the Notre Dame, Marie Thérèse collapsed onto a prayer stool and cried. As they travelled to Paris, Marie Thérèse appeared rigid. She was spared the sight of the Temple, as it had already been torn down, but they did pass the Conciergerie, where her mother had spent her last days. Marie Thérèse ordered that a cypress tree and a weeping willow be planted at the site of the Temple. At the Tuileries Palace, Marie Thérèse was given her mother’s apartments.
Although her mood recovered over the following days, she could not reconcile herself with the nobility created by Napoleon and those who had benefitted from him. She also refused to recognise the Duke of Orleans, whose father she considered to be complicit in her parents’ death. He had married Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily, a daughter of Maria Carolina of Austria, who in turn was her mother’s sister. Out of respect for Maria Carolina, Marie Thérèse agreed to meet with Maria Amalia, and against all the odds, they became close friends. King Louis XVIII had to keep the Orleans family close and returned their income to them.
The King made Marie Thérèse the centre of the new court but became more critical of her in the process. He wanted her to dress less country and put on some rouge. Her general demeanour also displeased him, as he felt the French might feel more guilt. The court remained based at the Tuileries, which contained no happy memories for Marie Thérèse. Soon, she requested that her friend Pauline join her as she went to visit her parents’ grave – still at the Madeleine cemetery. Her memories began to overwhelm her in Paris, but the King either refused to do anything or he simply ignored her. She was eventually allowed to return to Versailles for a visit but returned to the Tuileries to stand by her uncle’s side.
On 21 January 1815, the bodies of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were interred at the Cathedral of Saint-Denis. Marie Thérèse spent the day in prayer, and the following day, she received a few locks of her mother’s hair and a ring.1
Part seven coming soon.
The post The Year of Marie Antoinette – Marie Thérèse, Mother of France (Part six) appeared first on History of Royal Women.
December 25, 2023
Marie Thérèse of France – Survivor (Part five)
Every morning, Marie Thérèse swept her cell and quietly ate her breakfast. She read the books she had over and over again and spoke very little. She wrote, “My greatest unhappiness was that I could not obtain from them any news of my mother and aunt; I dared not ask about my uncles and my great-aunts, but I thought of them incessantly.”1 Meanwhile, her brother’s condition worsened. Marie Thérèse heard of her brother’s treatment and was outraged. “They had the cruelty to leave my brother alone; unheard of barbarity which has surely no other example! That of abandoning a poor child, only eight years old, already ill, and keeping him locked and bolted in, with no succour but a bill, which he did not ring, so afraid was he of the persons it would; he preferred to want for all, rather than ask anything of his persecutors.”2
On 8 June 1795, the boy King died at the age of 10. Once again, Marie Thérèse was left ignorant of all of this. In fact, there was some hope in the future for her. On 30 June, the republic government agreed in principle to release her to her Austrian family in exchange for nine French prisoners of war. They granted her a new companion in the form of Madame de Chanterenne, who finally managed to secure new books and clothing for her. In July, she was finally allowed in the gardens again and was granted her brother’s dog, Coco. Madame de Chanterenne broke the news of the fate of her father, mother, aunt and brother to her. Understandably, Marie Thérèse broke down in anguish.
Finally, at 11.30 p.m. on 18 December, half an hour before her birthday, Marie Thérèse hugged Madame de Chanterenne goodbye. As the clock struck midnight, Marie Thérèse left the Temple and was led to a waiting carriage. The now 17-year-old Princess emerged after over three years of imprisonment. The carriage reached Austria on 27 December, and on 2 January 1796, she met her aunt, Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria, whom she found difficult and repulsive.3 On 9 January, she arrived in Vienna, taking the same road her mother had taken in the opposite direction many years before.
At the Hofburg, she was met by her first cousins, Emperor Francis II and his wife, Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily. She was to stay in the Hofburg for now, but her family was already arguing over who she would marry. Was it to be Archduke Charles or the Duke of Angoulême? Meanwhile, Marie Thérèse began writing letters, something which had long been denied her. She also refused to wear Austrian court dress and continued to wear black mourning clothes, much to the Emperor’s dismay.
As for her marriage, she believed that it was her parents’ wish that she would marry the Duke of Angoulême, and she wrote to her uncle, “You have chosen the Duc d’Angoulême for my husband; I accept with all my heart, and I prefer this establishment to all, even an imperial crown if it is offered… I accept, then, with the greatest joy, my cousin Angoulême… I very much desire that this marriage happens quickly.”4 She began writing to the Duke of Angoulême, who was living in Scotland at that time. Nevertheless, the Emperor remained convinced that he could persuade her to marry the Archduke instead. When she was finally able to receive some of her late father’s money, she could try to choose her own path in life.
In 1799, Marie Thérèse finally made her parents’ wish come true. She travelled to Mitau to marry her cousin. On the outskirts of Mitau, she met her uncle and threw herself at his feet with the words, “I see you at last. I am so happy. Here is your child; please be my father.”5 Her future husband also shyly kissed her hand; they had not seen each other in ten years. In Mitau, she was reunited with many familiar faces, and she finally felt some sense of being home again. On 10 June 1799, the wedding took place in a makeshift chapel at Mitau Castle. She wore diamonds that had been gifted to her by Emperor Paul I of Russia. As a wedding ring, she received her father’s ring, which he had removed on the scaffold. It had the initials M.A.A.A, which stood for “Marie Antoinette Archduchesse d’Autriche.” The bride and groom cried “tears of joy.”6
As King Louis XVIII and his wife, Marie Joséphine of Savoy, were largely estranged, the new Duchess of Angoulême was to be the first lady of the court in exile at Mitau. Marie Thérèse hoped to conceive a child quickly, but the court rituals at Mitau gave her very little time with her new husband. Marie Thérèse wrote long letters, did needlework, frequently took walks, and soon grew unhappy. In early 1801, Emperor Paul demanded that the King leave Mitau immediately as he had grown tired of the scheming. Marie Thérèse promptly sold the diamonds given to her by the Emperor and proclaimed that she would follow her uncle wherever he would go.
Napoleon allowed the family to settle in Warsaw for now if her uncle would abandon his title and go by the title “Come de L’isle.” By then, her husband was with the army, so she travelled with her uncle to Warsaw. He would join them there several weeks later. Emperor Paul was assassinated not much later, but his son showed little interest in the Bourbon cause. The family was well received in Poland, no doubt helped by the fact that the exiled King was a descendant of the Polish King Stanisław Leszczyński. During this time, her beloved dog Coco died in an accident, leaving her devastated.
In 1804, the King of Prussia, terrified of Napoleon, ordered the Bourbons to leave Warsaw. Queen Louise of Prussia managed to persuade the Emperor of Russia to allow them to return to Mitau. Marie Thérèse arrived in Mitau in April 1805 and promptly wrote to the Empress Maria Feodorovna, “Madame, my sister and cousin… The moment when, thanks to the friendship of your august son, I am at last reunited with my husband, with my uncle, is that which I chose to thank Your Imperial Majesty.”7
Part six coming soon.
The post Marie Thérèse of France – Survivor (Part five) appeared first on History of Royal Women.
The Year of Marie Antoinette – Marie Thérèse, Survivor (Part five)
Every morning, Marie Thérèse swept her cell and quietly ate her breakfast. She read the books she had over and over again and spoke very little. She wrote, “My greatest unhappiness was that I could not obtain from them any news of my mother and aunt; I dared not ask about my uncles and my great-aunts, but I thought of them incessantly.”1 Meanwhile, her brother’s condition worsened. Marie Thérèse heard of her brother’s treatment and was outraged. “They had the cruelty to leave my brother alone; unheard of barbarity which has surely no other example! That of abandoning a poor child, only eight years old, already ill, and keeping him locked and bolted in, with no succour but a bill, which he did not ring, so afraid was he of the persons it would; he preferred to want for all, rather than ask anything of his persecutors.”2
On 8 June 1795, the boy King died at the age of 10. Once again, Marie Thérèse was left ignorant of all of this. In fact, there was some hope in the future for her. On 30 June, the republic government agreed in principle to release her to her Austrian family in exchange for nine French prisoners of war. They granted her a new companion in the form of Madame de Chanterenne, who finally managed to secure new books and clothing for her. In July, she was finally allowed in the gardens again and was granted her brother’s dog, Coco. Madame de Chanterenne broke the news of the fate of her father, mother, aunt and brother to her. Understandably, Marie Thérèse broke down in anguish.
Finally, at 11.30 p.m. on 18 December, half an hour before her birthday, Marie Thérèse hugged Madame de Chanterenne goodbye. As the clock struck midnight, Marie Thérèse left the Temple and was led to a waiting carriage. The now 17-year-old Princess emerged after over three years of imprisonment. The carriage reached Austria on 27 December, and on 2 January 1796, she met her aunt, Archduchess Maria Elisabeth of Austria, whom she found difficult and repulsive.3 On 9 January, she arrived in Vienna, taking the same road her mother had taken in the opposite direction many years before.
At the Hofburg, she was met by her first cousins, Emperor Francis II and his wife, Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily. She was to stay in the Hofburg for now, but her family was already arguing over who she would marry. Was it to be Archduke Charles or the Duke of Angoulême? Meanwhile, Marie Thérèse began writing letters, something which had long been denied her. She also refused to wear Austrian court dress and continued to wear black mourning clothes, much to the Emperor’s dismay.
As for her marriage, she believed that it was her parents’ wish that she would marry the Duke of Angoulême, and she wrote to her uncle, “You have chosen the Duc d’Angoulême for my husband; I accept with all my heart, and I prefer this establishment to all, even an imperial crown if it is offered… I accept, then, with the greatest joy, my cousin Angoulême… I very much desire that this marriage happens quickly.”4 She began writing to the Duke of Angoulême, who was living in Scotland at that time. Nevertheless, the Emperor remained convinced that he could persuade her to marry the Archduke instead. When she was finally able to receive some of her late father’s money, she could try to choose her own path in life.
In 1799, Marie Thérèse finally made her parents’ wish come true. She travelled to Mitau to marry her cousin. On the outskirts of Mitau, she met her uncle and threw herself at his feet with the words, “I see you at last. I am so happy. Here is your child; please be my father.”5 Her future husband also shyly kissed her hand; they had not seen each other in ten years. In Mitau, she was reunited with many familiar faces, and she finally felt some sense of being home again. On 10 June 1799, the wedding took place in a makeshift chapel at Mitau Castle. She wore diamonds that had been gifted to her by Emperor Paul I of Russia. As a wedding ring, she received her father’s ring, which he had removed on the scaffold. It had the initials M.A.A.A, which stood for “Marie Antoinette Archduchesse d’Autriche.” The bride and groom cried “tears of joy.”6
As King Louis XVIII and his wife, Marie Joséphine of Savoy, were largely estranged, the new Duchess of Angoulême was to be the first lady of the court in exile at Mitau. Marie Thérèse hoped to conceive a child quickly, but the court rituals at Mitau gave her very little time with her new husband. Marie Thérèse wrote long letters, did needlework, frequently took walks, and soon grew unhappy. In early 1801, Emperor Paul demanded that the King leave Mitau immediately as he had grown tired of the scheming. Marie Thérèse promptly sold the diamonds given to her by the Emperor and proclaimed that she would follow her uncle wherever he would go.
Napoleon allowed the family to settle in Warsaw for now if her uncle would abandon his title and go by the title “Come de L’isle.” By then, her husband was with the army, so she travelled with her uncle to Warsaw. He would join them there several weeks later. Emperor Paul was assassinated not much later, but his son showed little interest in the Bourbon cause. The family was well received in Poland, no doubt helped by the fact that the exiled King was a descendant of the Polish King Stanisław Leszczyński. During this time, her beloved dog Coco died in an accident, leaving her devastated.
In 1804, the King of Prussia, terrified of Napoleon, ordered the Bourbons to leave Warsaw. Queen Louise of Prussia managed to persuade the Emperor of Russia to allow them to return to Mitau. Marie Thérèse arrived in Mitau in April 1805 and promptly wrote to the Empress Maria Feodorovna, “Madame, my sister and cousin… The moment when, thanks to the friendship of your august son, I am at last reunited with my husband, with my uncle, is that which I chose to thank Your Imperial Majesty.”7
Part six coming soon.
The post The Year of Marie Antoinette – Marie Thérèse, Survivor (Part five) appeared first on History of Royal Women.
December 24, 2023
Marie Thérèse of France – A lone Princess (Part four)
Marie Thérèse’s father was executed the following day without seeing his family again to spare them the agony. “Shouts of joy” reached the ears of Marie Antoinette and Madame Elisabeth, the latter of whom exclaimed, “The monsters! They are satisfied now!”1 Marie Antoinette was unable to speak, but she, Elisabeth and Marie Thérèse curtsied deeply for the new – titular – King – the seven-year-old King Louis XVII. She wrote, “My father had, in fact, ordered Cléry to return to my unhappy mother his wedding ring, adding that he parted from it only in parting with life; he also gave him a packet of my mother’s hair and ours, saying they had been so dear to him that he had kept them till the last instant.”2
On 3 July 1793, Louis Charles was forcibly separated from his family. He “flung himself into my mother’s arms, imploring not to be taken from her”, wrote Marie Thérèse.3 Marie Antoinette refused to give him up, telling the guards they would have to kill her first. After being threatened that all would be killed, Marie Antoinette dressed him and handed him over. Louis Charles “kissed us all very tenderly and went away with the guards, crying his heart out.”4
Marie Antoinette was separated from Marie Thérèse and Elisabeth the following month. Marie Thérèse later wrote, “My aunt and I asked at once to go with my mother, but this mercy was not granted to us. While she was making up a parcel of her clothes, the municipals never left her; she was obliged to even dress herself before them. They asked for her pockets, which she gave them; they searched them and took all that was in them, although there was nothing of importance. They made a packet of these articles and said they should send it to the revolutionary tribunal, where it would be opened before her. They left her only a handkerchief and a smelling-bottle in the fear that she might be taken faint.”5
She added, “My mother, after tenderly embracing me and telling me to have courage, to take good care of my aunt, and to obey her as a second mother, repeated to me the same instructions that my father had given me; then throwing herself into my aunt’s arms she commended her children to her. I answered nothing, so terrified was I at the idea that I saw her for the last time; my aunt said a few words to her in a low voice. Then my mother went away without casting her eyes upon us, fearing no doubt that her firmness might abandon her.”6 Marie Thérèse and Elisabeth cried themselves to sleep for several days. They were searched every day and were no longer permitted to walk along the tower galley.
As Marie Antoinette’s trial began, Marie Thérèse was also questioned. She was first taken downstairs to her brother’s cell and was briefly able to hug him. Marie Thérèse held her ground against the questioning, although she “wept with indignation.”7 When she was returned to the cell, her aunt Elisabeth was taken down to be questioned as well. Not much later, Marie Antoinette’s trial began, ending with her execution on 16 October 1793. However, Marie Thérèse and Elisabeth were not informed of her death, and Marie Antoinette’s letter did not reach them.
Life in the Temple continued on, although they often lacked basic necessities. On 9 May, just as they were going to bed, officials ordered Elisabeth to come downstairs. Marie Thérèse wrote, “My aunt kissed me and told me to be calm for she would soon return. ‘No, citoyenne, you will not return,’ they said to her; ‘ take your cap and come down.’ They loaded her then with insults and coarse speeches; she bore it all with patience, took her cap, kissed me again, and told me to have courage and firmness, to hope always in God, to practise the good principles of religion given me by my parents, and not to fail in the last instructions given to me by my father and by my mother.”8
Marie Thérèse was now alone, separated from her brother by walls. Just two hours later, Elisabeth was brought before the Revolutionary Tribunal and was accused of having participated in the secret councils of Marie Antoinette and of having entertained correspondence with internal and external enemies, among other things. After her interrogation, she was brought to a cell. She was tried the following morning, and she and 24 others were declared guilty as charged. She was condemned to death by guillotine the next day. Marie Thérès wrote about her, “She was a princess worthy of the blood of which she came. I cannot say enough of the goodness that she showed to me, which ended only with her life. She considered me and cared for me as her daughter, and I, I honoured her as a second mother and vowed to her all those feelings. It was said that we resembled each other in the face: I feel that I have her nature; would that I might have all her virtues and rejoin her someday, also my father and mother, in the bosom of God, where, I doubt not, they are now enjoying the reward of a death so meritorious.”9
Marie Thérèse was not informed that her aunt had been executed, and she continued asking for her aunt and her mother.
The post Marie Thérèse of France – A lone Princess (Part four) appeared first on History of Royal Women.
The Year of Marie Antoinette – Marie Thérèse, A lone Princess (Part four)
Marie Thérèse’s father was executed the following day without seeing his family again to spare them the agony. “Shouts of joy” reached the ears of Marie Antoinette and Madame Elisabeth, the latter of whom exclaimed, “The monsters! They are satisfied now!”1 Marie Antoinette was unable to speak, but she, Elisabeth and Marie Thérèse curtsied deeply for the new – titular – King – the seven-year-old King Louis XVII. She wrote, “My father had, in fact, ordered Cléry to return to my unhappy mother his wedding ring, adding that he parted from it only in parting with life; he also gave him a packet of my mother’s hair and ours, saying they had been so dear to him that he had kept them till the last instant.”2
On 3 July 1793, Louis Charles was forcibly separated from his family. He “flung himself into my mother’s arms, imploring not to be taken from her”, wrote Marie Thérèse.3 Marie Antoinette refused to give him up, telling the guards they would have to kill her first. After being threatened that all would be killed, Marie Antoinette dressed him and handed him over. Louis Charles “kissed us all very tenderly and went away with the guards, crying his heart out.”4
Marie Antoinette was separated from Marie Thérèse and Elisabeth the following month. Marie Thérèse later wrote, “My aunt and I asked at once to go with my mother, but this mercy was not granted to us. While she was making up a parcel of her clothes, the municipals never left her; she was obliged to even dress herself before them. They asked for her pockets, which she gave them; they searched them and took all that was in them, although there was nothing of importance. They made a packet of these articles and said they should send it to the revolutionary tribunal, where it would be opened before her. They left her only a handkerchief and a smelling-bottle in the fear that she might be taken faint.”5
She added, “My mother, after tenderly embracing me and telling me to have courage, to take good care of my aunt, and to obey her as a second mother, repeated to me the same instructions that my father had given me; then throwing herself into my aunt’s arms she commended her children to her. I answered nothing, so terrified was I at the idea that I saw her for the last time; my aunt said a few words to her in a low voice. Then my mother went away without casting her eyes upon us, fearing no doubt that her firmness might abandon her.”6 Marie Thérèse and Elisabeth cried themselves to sleep for several days. They were searched every day and were no longer permitted to walk along the tower galley.
As Marie Antoinette’s trial began, Marie Thérèse was also questioned. She was first taken downstairs to her brother’s cell and was briefly able to hug him. Marie Thérèse held her ground against the questioning, although she “wept with indignation.”7 When she was returned to the cell, her aunt Elisabeth was taken down to be questioned as well. Not much later, Marie Antoinette’s trial began, ending with her execution on 16 October 1793. However, Marie Thérèse and Elisabeth were not informed of her death, and Marie Antoinette’s letter did not reach them.
Life in the Temple continued on, although they often lacked basic necessities. On 9 May, just as they were going to bed, officials ordered Elisabeth to come downstairs. Marie Thérèse wrote, “My aunt kissed me and told me to be calm for she would soon return. ‘No, citoyenne, you will not return,’ they said to her; ‘ take your cap and come down.’ They loaded her then with insults and coarse speeches; she bore it all with patience, took her cap, kissed me again, and told me to have courage and firmness, to hope always in God, to practise the good principles of religion given me by my parents, and not to fail in the last instructions given to me by my father and by my mother.”8
Marie Thérèse was now alone, separated from her brother by walls. Just two hours later, Elisabeth was brought before the Revolutionary Tribunal and was accused of having participated in the secret councils of Marie Antoinette and of having entertained correspondence with internal and external enemies, among other things. After her interrogation, she was brought to a cell. She was tried the following morning, and she and 24 others were declared guilty as charged. She was condemned to death by guillotine the next day. Marie Thérès wrote about her, “She was a princess worthy of the blood of which she came. I cannot say enough of the goodness that she showed to me, which ended only with her life. She considered me and cared for me as her daughter, and I, I honoured her as a second mother and vowed to her all those feelings. It was said that we resembled each other in the face: I feel that I have her nature; would that I might have all her virtues and rejoin her someday, also my father and mother, in the bosom of God, where, I doubt not, they are now enjoying the reward of a death so meritorious.”9
Marie Thérèse was not informed that her aunt had been executed, and she continued asking for her aunt and her mother.
Part five coming soon.
The post The Year of Marie Antoinette – Marie Thérèse, A lone Princess (Part four) appeared first on History of Royal Women.
December 23, 2023
Book News Week 52
Book news week 52: 25 December – 31 December 2023
Royal Mysteries of the Tudor Period
Hardcover – 30 December 2023 (US)
Power and Representation in Byzantium: The Forging of the Macedonian Dynasty (Studies in Byzantine Cultural History)
Hardcover – 29 December 2023 (US & UK)
Queen Victoria After Albert: Her Life and Loves
Kindle Edition – 28 December 2023 (US)
The post Book News Week 52 appeared first on History of Royal Women.
Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII’s Queens Exhibition
The National Portrait Gallery has announced a new exhibition – Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII’s Queens.
The new exhibition will chronicle the representation of the six Queens: Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr, through the works of Hans Holbein and photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a publication, Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII’s Queens, written by the curator, Dr Charlotte Bolland. It will include essays from Professor Suzannah Lipscomb, Dr Nicola Clark, Brett Dolman, Dr Alden Gregory, Benjamin Hebbert, Dr Nicola Tallis and Dr Valerie Schutte.
Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII’s Queens will run from 20 June 2024 until 8 September 2024.
The post Six Lives: The Stories of Henry VIII’s Queens Exhibition appeared first on History of Royal Women.
