Louis XV and Marie Lesczczynska and ten children. Of the two sons, only one survived. He was married at 15 to ensure the succession. His first wife died having given birth to a daughter (who could not inherit the throne). He was married off again six months later to Marie-Josèphe de Saxe.
The Dauphin and his second wife had 13 children. The eldest son* died at the age of 9 but the other three sons survived to adulthood, ensuring the line of succession.
The Dauphin died at the age of 36, making his second son, the Duke of Berry, heir to the throne.
Louis XV died at the age of 64. His 59 year reign had been the second longest in French history (Louis XIV had been king for 72 years).
His 19 year old grandson became Louis XVI. He had married Marie-Antoinette in the Chapel of Versailles four years earlier.
*The Dauphin’s eldest son was considered a marvellous heir to the throne. He was highly intelligent and clearly his parents’ favourite. Everyone considered he would make an excellent King. However it was not to be. When he was 8 he fell from a horse (apparently a large cardboard horse he had been given). He didn’t tell anyone about the fall for fear of getting the people with him into trouble. However when he started to limp, the doctors found a lump on his hip. They decided to operate but there was nothing they could do. His 6 year old brother the Duke of Berry (future Louis XVI) was brought from the childrens’ apartment to live with him. His health kept deteriorating and within a matter of months the doctors confirmed he had double tuberculosis (bone and lung). He knew he was dying and spent his last three months immersed in religion, piously exhorting his younger brother. It was hardly a fun place for the Duke of Berry who also had to watch his distraught mother in agony over the plight of her favourite son she called her “chou d’amour” (love cabbage). He died at the age of 9. Thirteen years later his brother who shared the last few months with him became King Louis XVI.
