Wedding of Louis and Maria
Theresa
Dual Cypher of King
Louis XIV & Queen Marie
Thérèse
Louis XIV encouraged Catholic
missions through the creation of the
Paris Foreign Missions Society
negotiations in 1709 and 1710. France retained Île-Saint-Jean and Île Royale, and Louis acquired a few minor European
territories, such as the Principality of Orange and the Ubaye Valley, which covered transalpine passes into Italy. Thanks to Louis,
his allies the Electors of Bavaria and Cologne were restored to their prewar status and returned their lands.[102]
Louis and his wife Maria Theresa of Spain had six children from the marriage contracted
for them in 1660. However, only one child, the eldest, survived to adulthood: Louis, le
Grand Dauphin, known as Monseigneur. Maria Theresa died in 1683, whereupon Louis
remarked that she had never caused him unease on any other occasion.
Despite evidence of affection early on in their marriage, Louis was never faithful to Maria
Theresa. He took a series of mistresses, both official and unofficial. Among the better
documented are Louise de La Vallière (with whom he had five children; 1661–1667),
Bonne de Pons d'Heudicourt (1665), Catherine Charlotte de Gramont (1665), Françoise-
Athénaïs, Marquise de Montespan (with whom he had seven children; 1667–1680), Anne
de Rohan-Chabot (1669–1675), Claude de Vin des Œillets (one child born in 1676),
Isabelle de Ludres (1675–1678), and Marie Angélique de Scorailles (1679–1681), who died at age
19 in childbirth. Through these liaisons, he produced numerous illegitimate children, most of
whom he married to members of cadet branches of the royal family.
Louis proved relatively more faithful to his second wife, Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de
Maintenon. He first met her through her work caring for his children by Madame de Montespan,
noting the care she gave to his favourite, Louis Auguste, Duke of Maine.[103] The king was, atfirst, put off by her strict religious practice, but he warmed to her through her care for his
children.[103]
When he legitimized his children by Madame de Montespan on 20 December 1673, Françoise
d'Aubigné became the royal governess at Saint-Germain.[103] As governess, she was one of very
few people permitted to speak to him as an equal, without limits.[103] It is believed that they were
married secretly at Versailles on or around 10 October 1683[104] or January 1684.[105] This
marriage, though never announced or publicly discussed, was an open secret and lasted until his
death.[106]
Louis was a pious and devout king who saw himself as the head and protector of the
Catholic Church in France. He made his devotions daily regardless of where he was,
following the liturgical calendar regularly.[107] Under the influence of his very religious
second wife, he became much stronger in the practice of his Catholic faith.[108] This
included banning opera and comedy performances during Lent.[108]
Towards the middle and the end of his reign, the centre for the King's religious
observances was usually the Chapelle Royale at Versailles. Ostentation was a
distinguishing feature of daily Mass, annual celebrations, such as those of Holy Week, and
special ceremonies.[109] Louis established the Paris Foreign Missions Society, but his
informal alliance with the Ottoman Empire was criticised for undermining
Christendom.[110]
Louis generously supported the royal court of France and those who worked under him. He brought the Académie Française
under his patronage and became its "Protector". He allowed Classical French literature to flourish by protecting such writers as
Molière, Racine, and La Fontaine, whose works remain influential to this day. Louis also patronised the visual arts by funding and
commissioning artists such as Charles Le Brun, Pierre Mignard, Antoine Coysevox, and Hyacinthe Rigaud, whose works became
Personal life
Marriages and children
Piety and religion
Patronage of the arts