Élisabeth Charlotte d'Orléans facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Élisabeth Charlotte d'Orléans
Élisabeth Charlotte as Venus about to bind the wings of Cupid by Pierre Gobert
Duchess of Lorraine
Reign	13 October 1698 – 27 March 1729
Princess of Commercy
Reign	1737 - 23 December 1744
Born	13 September 1676 Château de Saint Cloud, France
Died	23 December 1744(1744-12-23) (aged 68) Château de Commercy, France
Burial	Église Saint-François-des-Cordeliers, Nancy, France
Spouse	Leopold, Duke of Lorraine
Issue	Léopold, Hereditary Prince of Lorraine Louis, Hereditary Prince of Lorraine Léopold Clément, Hereditary Prince of Lorraine Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor Elisabeth Therese, Queen of Sardinia Prince Charles Alexander Anne Charlotte, Abbess of Essen
Full name Élisabeth Charlotte d'Orléans
Father	Philippe of France
Mother	Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate
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Élisabeth Charlotte d'Orléans (born September 13, 1676 – died December 23, 1744) was a French princess. She was the niece of King Louis XIV of France. Élisabeth Charlotte became the wife of Leopold, Duke of Lorraine.

Later, she served as the regent (a ruler for a young or absent monarch) of Lorraine. After her husband passed away, she was given the title Princess of Commercy. One of her children was Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor. He was also the father of the famous Marie Antoinette. Élisabeth Charlotte also helped with the building of the Château de Lunéville. She also introduced a famous architect, Germain Boffrand, to the royal courts.

Her Family and Early Life

Élisabeth Charlotte was born at the Château de Saint-Cloud in France. Her father was Philippe, Duke of Orléans. Her mother was Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate. Her father was the only brother of King Louis XIV of France. This made Élisabeth Charlotte the king's niece.

As a princess, she was called Her Royal Highness. When she was born, she had the special title Mademoiselle de Chartres. Later, after her older half-sisters got married, she became known as Madame Royale. This title was given to the highest-ranking unmarried princess in France.

Her Royal Marriage

There were many ideas for who Élisabeth Charlotte should marry. Some suggested Joseph Clemens of Bavaria, but she said no. Other names included William III of England and Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor. Even the Pope suggested Joseph I. Her cousin, Louis, Grand Dauphin, was also considered.

Finally, Élisabeth Charlotte married Leopold, Duke of Lorraine on October 13, 1698. The wedding took place at the Palace of Fontainebleau. This marriage was part of a peace agreement called the Peace of Ryswick. The agreement stated that the Duchy of Lorraine, which France had controlled, would be returned to Leopold. So, Élisabeth Charlotte's marriage helped to make this peace treaty official. Her family also received a large sum of money, 900,000 Livres, as a dowry.

Everyone thought this marriage would be unhappy. But surprisingly, it turned out to be full of love and happiness. Élisabeth Charlotte was a very caring mother. She had thirteen children, but only five lived to be adults. Sadly, three of her children died within one week in May 1711. They caught smallpox at the Château de Lunéville.

Becoming Regent of Lorraine

Élisabeth Charlotte's husband, Leopold, died in 1729. After his death, she became the Regent of Lorraine. This meant she ruled Lorraine until her son, Francis Stephen, was old enough to take over. Francis Stephen had been educated in Vienna. He returned to Lorraine in 1737, and his mother's time as regent ended.

Élisabeth Charlotte tried to arrange a marriage for her youngest child, Anne Charlotte. She hoped Anne Charlotte would marry King Louis XV. But this plan did not work out. She then tried to arrange a marriage for Anne Charlotte with her cousin, Louis, Duke of Orléans. However, he refused the idea.

Her Later Years

Élisabeth Charlotte could not stop her son from giving up the Duchy of Lorraine. He gave it to Stanisław Leszczyński when he married Maria Theresa of Austria. Maria Theresa was an important princess from the House of Habsburg. After this, Élisabeth Charlotte moved to the Château d’Haroué in nearby Commercy. This castle became her own special principality. She lived there during her later years as a widow.

Élisabeth Charlotte died from a stroke on December 23, 1744. She was sixty-eight years old. She passed away just one week after her daughter-in-law and a grandchild. She was the last of her siblings to die. She had also outlived ten of her thirteen children. Nine months after her death, her son Francis Stephen became the Holy Roman Emperor.

She was buried in the special chapel for the Dukes of Lorraine. This chapel is in the Saint-François-des-Cordeliers church in Nancy.

Her Children

Élisabeth Charlotte and Leopold had thirteen children:

• Léopold, Hereditary Prince of Lorraine (born 1699 – died 1700). He died as a baby.
• Élisabeth Charlotte of Lorraine (born 1700 – died 1711). She died from smallpox.
• Louise Christine of Lorraine (born 1701 – died 1701). She died as a baby.
• Marie Gabrièle Charlotte of Lorraine (born 1702 – died 1711). She died from smallpox.
• Louis, Hereditary Prince of Lorraine (born 1704 – died 1711). He died from smallpox.
• Joséphine Gabrièle of Lorraine (born 1705 – died 1708). She died as a baby.
• Gabrièle Louise of Lorraine (born 1706 – died 1710). She died as a baby.
• Léopold Clément, Hereditary Prince of Lorraine (born 1707 – died 1723). He never married.
• Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor (born 1708 – died 1765). He married Maria Theresa of Austria and had children.
• Eléonore of Lorraine (born 1710 – died 1710). She died as a baby.
• Elisabeth Therese of Lorraine (born 1711 – died 1741). She married Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia and had children.
• Charles Alexander of Lorraine (born 1712 – died 1780). He married Maria Anna of Austria and had children.
• Anne Charlotte of Lorraine (born 1714 - died 1773). She never married.

Images for kids

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  Proxy marriage of the Duke of Lorraine and Élisabeth Charlotte by an unknown artist

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  The Château de Commercy where she died in 1744

See also

In Spanish: Isabel Carlota de Borbón-Orleans para niños