Maria Theresa of Spain
1638 – 1683 · Generation XIV · Infanta · Spanish Habsburgs
Maria Theresa (1638 – 1683). Infanta. Married Louis in 1660. Daughter of Philip IV and Elisabeth of France; Queen of France as wife of Louis XIV. Heiress presumptive after her brother Balthasar Charles died in 1646, she was taught history and politics by her father. Her marriage to her double first cousin sealed the Treaty of the Pyrenees, under which she renounced her Spanish rights on condition of a dowry Spain never paid — the pretext for France’s War of Devolution. Louis was attentive at first but soon turned to Louise de La Vallière and then Madame de Montespan, whom she was forced to take as ladies-in-waiting; shy and devout, she retreated into her own circle and the Carmelite convent she founded in 1664. She bore the Grand Dauphin in 1661, but five of her six children died in early childhood. Regent during the Dutch War in 1672, she regained the king’s affection late in life, only to die in 1683 after an abscess was treated by bleeding. Her grandson became Philip V of Spain.
Place in the family
- Maria Theresa of Spain was a great-great-granddaughter of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.
- Maria Theresa of Spain was the younger of 2 children of Philip IV of Spain and Elisabeth of France, Queen of Spain recorded in this archive.
One of 7 people of Spanish Habsburgs (1500–1700) in this archive. The Madrid line, from the division of Charles V’s inheritance to the childless Charles II.
Line of descent: Rudolf I of Germany → Albert I of Germany → Albert II, Duke of Austria → Leopold III, Duke of Austria → Ernest, Duke of Austria → Frederick III, Holy Roman Emperor → Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor → Philip I of Castile → Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor → Philip II of Spain → Philip III of Spain → Philip IV of Spain → Maria Theresa of Spain.
Parents
- Philip IV of Spain (1605 – 1665)
- Elisabeth of France, Queen of Spain (1602 – 1644)
Siblings
- Balthasar Charles, Prince of Asturias (1629 – 1646)
- Margaret Theresa of Spain (1651 – 1673) (half)
- Charles II of Spain (1661 – 1700) (half)
Partners
- Married Louis XIV (1638 – 1715) in 1660
Life
- 1638 — Born
- 1660 — Married Louis
- 1683 — Died