Maria Teresa Rafaela of Spain
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Spanish House of Bourbon 1700-1833

Philip V Children    Louis I    Ferdinand VI    Charles III    Mariana Victoria, Queen of Portugal    Philip, Duke of Parma    Teresa, Dauphine of France    Infante Luis Antonio of Spain    Antonia, Queen of Sardinia Louis I Ferdinand VI Charles III Children    Infanta María Josefa of Spain    Maria Luisa, Holy Roman Empress    Felipe, Duke of Calabria    Charles IV    Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies    Infante Gabriel    Infante Antonio of Spain Grandchild of cadet line    Infante Pedro Carlos Charles IV Children    Charlotte, Queen of Portugal    Maria Amalia of Spain    Maria Luisa, Queen of Etruria, Duchess of Parma    Ferdinand VII    Carlos, Count of Molina    Maria Isabella, Queen of the Two Sicilies    Infante Francisco de Paula Grandchildren of cadet lines    Carlos, Count of Montemolin    Juan, Count of Montizón    Infante Fernando of Spain    Francis, Duke of Cadiz, King Consort of Spain    Infante Enrique, Duke of Sevilla    Infanta Maria Cristina    Infanta Amalia Philippina of Spain Ferdinand VII Children    Isabella II    Luisa Fernanda, Duchess of Montpensier Edit

María Teresa Rafaela de España, or in english Maria Teresa Antonia Rafaela of Spain (June 11, 1726 - July 22, 1746), was an Infanta of Spain and, by her marriage to Louis de France, was Dauphine of France.

Life

Born in Madrid, she was a daughter of King Philip V of Spain, and Elisabeth of Parma and thus an Infanta by birth. Prior to the marriage, the Spanish and French royal courts had been on poor terms: the Spanish had been greatly insulted by the French, when the engagement between Louis XV and Infanta Mariana Victoria of Spain, elder sister of Maria Teresa, had been rudely broken off in 1725 (Louis had instead married Maria Leszczyńska, and by her fathered the Dauphin, Louis-Ferdinand).

Marriage

The marriage was thus partially intended to heal the division between the two branches of the Bourbon family. Accordingly, Maria was married by proxy at Madrid on December 18, 1744 before her departure for France where on February 23, 1745, Maria married Louis-Ferdinand.

In France, her name was modified to Marie-Thérèse-Raphaëlle d’Espagne. As the Dauphine of France, she then took on the honorary style of address of Madame la Dauphine her husband was thus Monsieur le Dauphin indicating their status at court as the hiers to the throne.

The marriage began badly, when the Dauphin failed to consummate the marriage. This was a major embarrassment to Marie which undermined her position at court. Although she received some flattering descriptions, being noted as beautiful and dignified, some made negative remarks about her pronounced red hair. Very shy and distant and not interested in games, Maria preferred to remain most of the time in her apartments.

Finally, the marriage was consummated in September 1745, putting an end to all the gossip and insinuations. The couple became very close and mutually devoted, spending most of their time together. This was in strong contrast to the King, who had recently begun his famous affair with Madame de Pompadour. The Dauphin and Dauphine hated the royal mistress for the way she drew attention away from the King's wife, Queen Maria Leszczyńska. The Dauphine was also hostile to the King himself for not participating in Holy Communion and ignoring her.

Maria eventually became pregnant, being due to deliver in the beginning of July 1746. But the child, a girl, was not born until July 19, which exasperated the impatient Dauphin. The daughter, named Marie-Thérèse de France, died in April 1748. Her mother failed to recover from the childbirth and died three days later on July 22. Her death caused intense sorrow in the Dauphin, a sorrow which persisted even into his second marriage. The two were buried at the Royal Basilica at Saint Denis, a suburb of Paris.

Gallery

Young Maria Teresa while in Spain

Marie-Thérèse-Raphaëlle as the Dauphine

Marie-Thérèse-Raphaëlle some time before her death

Ancestors

Titles