Maria Teresa of Spain (1638–1683)

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Maria Teresa of Spain (1638–1683)

Queen of France . Name variations: Marie Theresa or Thérèse; Marie Therese of Austria; Marie-Thérèse of Spain; Maria Theresa; Maria Teresa; Marie-Theresa; Infanta of Spain. Born at the Escorial, Spain, on September 20, 1638; died of blood poisoning on July 30, 1683, at Versailles, France; interred at St. Denis; daughter of Philip IV (1605–1665), king of Spain (r. 1621–1665), and his first wife Elizabeth Valois (1602–1644, sister of Louis XIII); married and became queen-consort of Louis XIV (1638–1715), king of France (r. 1643–1715), on June 9, 1660; children: six, only one of whom survived her, Louis (1661–1711), le grand dauphin.

The year before the royal marriage between Louis XIV, king of France, and Maria Teresa of Spain in 1659, the 21-year-old Maria signed the Treaty of the Pyrenees, renouncing any claim to Spanish succession. The queen fell in love with her husband on their wedding night and remained so, but she was neglected by Louis for his many mistresses, including Louise de la Vallière , the Duchesse de Fontanges , and Olympia Mancini , Comtesse de Soissons. On Maria Teresa's death, the king was known to have said to his mistress, the Marquise de Maintenon , "This is the only time she has ever given me any trouble." He then married Mlle Maintenon.

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Maria Teresa of Spain (1638–1683)

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