Marie Casimire Louise de la Grange d'Arquien

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Maria Kazimiera
Coronation	On February 2, 1676 in the Wawel Cathedral, Kraków, Poland
Parents	Henri de la Grange d'Arquien Francis de la Châtre
Consorts	Jan Sobiepan Zamoyski Jan III Sobieski
Children	with Jan III Sobieski Jakub Ludwik Sobieski Teresa Teofila Sobieska Adelaide Luise Sobieska La Mannone Sobieska Teresa Kunegunda Sobieska Aleksander Benedykt Sobieski Konstanty Władysław Sobieski Jan Sobieski
Date of Birth	June 28, 1641
Place of Birth	Nevers, France
Date of Death	January 1, 1716
Place of Death	Blois, France
Place of Burial	Wawel Castle, Cracow, Poland

Marie Casimire Louise de la Grange d'Arquien, in Polish: Maria Kazimiera, known also by the diminutive form "Marysieńka" (June 28, 1641, Nevers – January 1, 1716, Blois) was consort to King Jan III Sobieski, from 1674 to 1696.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Ancestors 3 Gallery 4 References 5 See also

[edit] Biography

She came to Poland at the age of 5 years as a lady in waiting to Ludwika Maria Gonzaga, the Queen of Poland from 1645 to 1672, wife and consort to two Polish kings — Władysław IV Waza and later his brother (who succeeded him) Jan Kazimierz. At the court she met Jan Sobieski, who arrived there in 1656, but she was first married to Jan "Sobiepan" Zamoyski in 1658. Zamoyski, however, died in 1665 and the widowed Maria Kazimiera eventually married Sobieski on the 14 July the same year. The couple had fourteen children together, but only four of them survived until adult age — Jakub, Aleksander, Konstanty and Teresa (who later became Kurfürstin of Bavaria and mother to Emperor Karl VII).

Jan Sobieski was elected King of Poland in 1672, not without the influence of his wife. As the Queen of Poland, Maria Kazimiera supported the proposed Polish–French alliance, while at the same time striving to gain privileges for her family from the French king Louis XIV.

The Royal Couple became famous for their love letters, most of which were written from 1665 to 1683, when they were parted either due to Jan Sobieski's military engagements or her travels to Paris. The letters give insight not only into the authentic feelings of the loving couple, but also their reflections on contemporary issues and difficulties, as well as down-to-earth matters concerning the royal household and little day-to-day decisions made by the monarch, who often consulted his wife about them. Published long after the death of both of them, they can be credited with popularizing the King's way of addressing the Queen by the very diminutive form of her first name — "Marysieńka". She is widely remembered and referred to in Poland that way.

[edit] Ancestors

Charles de La Grange d' Arquian of Montigny

Antoine de La Grange d'Arquien

Louise de Rochechouart of Boiteaux

Henri Albert de La Grange d'Arquien

Louis d' Ancienville of Révillon

Anne d'Ancienville

Françoise de La Platière of Epoisses

Maria Kazimiera

Jean de La Châtre of Bruillebault

Baptiste de La Châtre of Bruillebault

Madeleine de Cluys

Françoise de La Châtre

Bonaventure Lamy of Chasteauguillon

Gabrielle Lamy

Louise de La Marche[1]

[edit] Gallery

Queen Maria Kazimiera with Children.

John III Sobieski with his family.

Marysieńka as the penitent Magdalene.

St. Kazimierz Church established by the Queen.

[edit] References

• This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding Polish Wikipedia article as of 17 August 2006.

[edit] See also

• Marywil and Marymont, two places named after Marysieńka.
• Wilanów Palace

Marie Casimire Louise de la Grange d'Arquien Born: 28 June 1641 Died: 1 January 1716
Royal titles
Preceded by Eleonora Wiśniowiecka	Queen of Poland 1676-1696	Succeeded by Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth