Marie-Thérèse’s Bed

Anne of Austria had been delighted to welcome Marie-Thérèse as the new Queen of France.  She took her niece under her wing to teach her the ropes.  Marie-Thérèse had an early victory when she gave birth to a healthy son.  Unfortunately she did not have the intelligence of her aunt/mother-in-law.  It soon became evident she lacked the wit and social graces which were so much a part of Louis’ life.  For example, she had two left feet when it came to dancing, one of Louis’ great talents.

Anne_of_Austria_with_Queen_Marie_Thérèse_by_André_Simon_Renard_de_Saint (1)
Anne of Austria with Queen Marie-Thérèse

She did not speak French well and spent most of her time with her entourage consisting of Spanish ladies companions, monks and dwarves. 

This self-effacing queen endured Louis XIV’s many affairs and resulting children.  She was certainly already accustomed to unusual domestic situations.* 

In her forties she was delighted that Louis XIV started paying her a little more attention, even though she knew it was at the instigation of Mme de Maintenon, his new “favourite”. 

Queen’s bed at Chateau de Chambord

 

*Her own father had married his niece.  In the typical Spanish tradition, Marie-Thérèse’ brother Baltasar was supposed to marry their cousin.  When Baltasar died shortly before his seventeenth birthday, their father Philip IV decided he would marry his niece instead.  Marie-Thérèse’ was eleven at the time and her new stepmother was fifteen.