Louis, Grand Dauphin
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Louis the Grand Dauphin (le Grand Dauphin in French) (1 November 1661 - 14 April 1711) was the eldest son and heir of King Louis XIV of France and Queen Maria Theresa of Spain. Born heir apparent to the King of France, Louis was styled "dauphin" from the day of his birth. It was foretold at his birth that he would be 'son of a king, father of a king, but never a king' before he died.
Louis' paternal grandparents were Louis XIII of France and Anna of Austria. His maternal grandparents were Philip IV of Spain and Elisabeth of France. Elisabeth was a younger sister of Louis XIII, while Philip IV was a brother of Anna of Austria; thus, Louis' parents were double-first-cousins to each other.
Louis was called le Grand Dauphin because of his large physical size (grand in French means large). Louis did not play an important part in French politics but due to being Louis XIV's heir was constantly surrounded by cabals battling for future prominence. His involvement in international politics was limited to a bit-player in the War of the Spanish Succession, in which he gave up his rights to the Spanish throne (as inherited from his mother) in favour of his second son, Philippe, duc d'Anjou Philip V of Spain
Apart from ensuring the continuance of the senior French Bourbon line (Louis XV was his grandson) and the establishment of the Spanish Bourbon dynasty (through Anjou), he engaged in more leisurely pursuits and was esteemed for his magnificent collection of art at Versailles and his private establishment at Meudon. It was said that he hunted all wolves to extinction in the Île-de-France. He died of natural causes in 1711 at the age of fifty, predeceasing his father. It could be said that the prophecy was fulfilled.
Louis was wed to Maria Anna of Bavaria; their children included:
- Louis, Duke of Burgundy, father of Louis XV of France
- Philip, duc d'Anjou, later King of Spain
- Charles, duc de Berry, Alençon and Angoulême, also Count of Ponthieu (b.1686-d.1714).
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