Léopold Clément, Hereditary Prince of Lorraine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Léopold Clément |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hereditary Prince of Lorraine | |||||
Portrait by Pierre Gobert, c.1722
|
|||||
| Born | 25 April 1707 Château de Lunéville, Lorraine |
||||
| Died | 4 June 1723 (aged 16) Château de Lunéville, Lorraine |
||||
| Burial | Church of Saint-François-des-Cordeliers, Nancy, Lorraine | ||||
|
|||||
| House | Lorraine | ||||
| Father | Leopold, Duke of Lorraine | ||||
| Mother | Élisabeth Charlotte d'Orléans | ||||
Léopold Clément (born April 25, 1707 – died June 4, 1723) was a young prince. He was the Hereditary Prince of Lorraine, which meant he was next in line to rule the Duchy of Lorraine.
His father was the Duke of Lorraine, and his mother was from the House of Bourbon, a very important royal family in France. Léopold Clément became the "crown prince" or heir when his older brother, Louis, passed away in 1711. Sadly, Léopold Clément himself died at age sixteen in 1723 from smallpox. He was never married and had no children.
Contents
His Life Story
Early Years
Léopold Clément was born at the Château de Lunéville, a grand castle in Lorraine. His parents were Léopold, Duke of Lorraine and his wife, Élisabeth Charlotte d'Orléans.
He was the third son born to his parents. Sadly, many of his older brothers and sisters died young. His first older brother, also named Léopold, died when he was only eight months old.
A Difficult Time
In 1711, a serious illness called smallpox spread through Lunéville. This terrible disease took the lives of three of Léopold Clément's older sisters and brothers: Élisabeth Charlotte, Marie Gabrièle Charlotte, and Louis.
This smallpox outbreak was very widespread. It also affected other important royal families at the same time.
Becoming the Heir
After his older brother Louis died in 1711, Léopold Clément became the new Hereditary Prince. This meant he was now the official heir to the Duchy of Lorraine.
In 1722, he also became the heir to another area called the Duchy of Teschen. This land was given to his father as a way to make up for some family rights in Italy.
Plans for the Future
In 1723, Léopold Clément was sent to Vienna, a major city in Austria. He went there to continue his education under the care of Emperor Charles VI, who was his father's cousin.
Another important reason for his trip was to plan a special marriage. The idea was for Léopold Clément to marry Archduchess Maria Theresa. This marriage would have created a strong connection between his family (the House of Lorraine) and the powerful Habsburg family.
His Passing
Soon after, while at the Château de Lunéville, Prince Léopold Clément caught smallpox. He quickly passed away there. He was buried in the Ducal Crypt at the Church of Saint-François-des-Cordeliers in Nancy.
After his death, his younger brother, Francis Stephen, became the new Hereditary Prince. Francis Stephen later did marry Maria Theresa, just as had been planned for Léopold Clément. Maria Theresa went on to become a very famous ruler of Hungary and Bohemia.
Images for kids
-
Prince Leopold in 1710, portrait by Pierre Gobert.
See also
In Spanish: Leopoldo Clemente Carlos de Lorena para niños
