Marie Josèphe of Saxony facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marie Josèphe de Saxe |
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Marie Josèphe by Nattier
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| Dauphine of France | |||||
| Tenure | 9 February 1747 - 20 December 1765 | ||||
| Born | 4 November 1731 Dresden Castle, Dresden, Saxony |
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| Died | 13 March 1767 (aged 35) Palace of Versailles, France |
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| Burial | 22 March 1767 Cathedral of Sens, France |
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| Spouse | Louis, Dauphin of France | ||||
| Issue Detail |
Princess Marie Zéphyrine Louis Joseph, Duke of Burgundy Xavier, Duke of Aquitaine Louis XVI Louis XVIII Charles X Marie Clotilde, Queen of Sardinia Princess Élisabeth |
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| House | House of Wettin | ||||
| Father | Augustus III of Poland | ||||
| Mother | Maria Josepha of Austria | ||||
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Maria Josepha of Saxony (born November 4, 1731 – died March 13, 1767) was a Dauphine of France. She was the daughter-in-law of King Louis XV of France. Marie Josèphe, as she was known, became the mother of three future kings of France. One of them was Louis XVI, who lost his life during the French Revolution. Her youngest daughter, Princess Élisabeth, also died during the Revolution.
Her Early Life
Maria Josepha was born at Dresden Castle. Her father was Augustus III of Poland. She was named after her mother, Maria Josepha of Austria. Her mother was a first cousin of Maria Theresa of Austria. Maria Josepha was the eighth of fifteen children. She was the fourth daughter in her large family. Her oldest sister, Maria Amalia, married the future Charles III of Spain.
Marriage and Family Life
On February 9, 1747, Maria Josepha of Saxony married Louis of France. The Dauphin was the heir to the French throne. He had been married before to Maria Teresa Rafaela of Spain. Sadly, his first wife had died during childbirth in 1746. In France, the Saxon princess was known as Marie-Josèphe de Saxe.
The Dauphin was very sad about his first wife's death. However, he eventually grew to love Marie Josèphe. Like her husband, Marie Josèphe was a very religious person. She had eight children with the Dauphin. Her favorite child was Louis, Duke of Burgundy, who died at a young age. Marie Josèphe usually stayed out of politics. She only tried to get involved once, in 1762. She tried to save the Society of Jesus in France. But her efforts were not successful. The King had already decided to close the Society. This decision was influenced by the duc de Choiseul and Madame de Pompadour.
Later Years and Death
Her husband, the Dauphin, died in December 1765. After his death, Marie Josèphe became very sad. She remained in a deep depression for the rest of her life. Her health got worse. She died on March 13, 1767, from tuberculosis. She was buried at Sens Cathedral. Her heart was taken to the Basilica of Saint Denis.
Her Children
Marie Josèphe and the Dauphin had several children who survived infancy:
- Louis XVI of France (born August 23, 1754 – died January 21, 1793). He married Marie Antoinette and had children.
- Louis XVIII of France (born November 17, 1755 – died September 16, 1824). He married Princess Marie Joséphine of Savoy but had no children.
- Charles X of France (born October 9, 1757 – died November 6, 1836). He married Princess Maria Theresa of Savoy and had children.
- Marie Clotilde of France (born September 23, 1759 – died March 7, 1802). She married Charles Emmanuel IV of Sardinia but had no children.
- Élisabeth of France (born May 3, 1764 – died May 10, 1794). She never married.
Marie Josèphe also had other children who did not survive. These included several infants who died very young.
