Louise of Orléans
| Louise of Orléans | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Louise by Franz Xaver Winterhalter | |||||
| Queen consort of the Belgians | |||||
| Tenure | 9 August 1832 – 11 October 1850 | ||||
| Born |
3 April 1812 Palermo, Sicily | ||||
| Died |
11 October 1850 (aged 38) Ostend, Belgium | ||||
| Spouse | Leopold I of Belgium | ||||
| Issue | |||||
| |||||
| House | Orléans | ||||
| Father | Louis-Philippe I, King of the French | ||||
| Mother | Maria Amalia of the Two Sicilies | ||||
| Religion | Roman Catholic | ||||
| Signature |
 | ||||
Louise of Orléans (Louise-Marie Thérèse Charlotte Isabelle; 3 April 1812 – 11 October 1850) was a French princess who became the first Queen of the Belgians as the second wife of King Leopold I. She was also known as Louise-Marie.
Life
Born in Palermo, Sicily, on 3 April 1812, she was the eldest daughter of the future Louis-Philippe I, King of the French, and of his wife Maria Amalia of the Two Sicilies. As a child, she had a religious and bourgeoisie education thanks to the part played by her mother and her aunt, Princess Adélaïde of Orléans to whom she was very close. As a member of the reigning House of Bourbon she was entitled to the rank of a Princess of the Blood Royal.
Marriage
On 9 August 1832, the twenty year old Louise married King Leopold I of the Belgians, who was twenty two years her senior. Leopold had been widowed by his wife, Princess Charlotte of Wales after her death in childbirth in 1817. Since Leopold was a Protestant, they had both a Catholic and a Calvinist ceremony.
Children
Louise and Leopold had four children, including Leopold II of Belgium and Empress Carlota of Mexico. Although never faithful to Louise, Leopold respected her and their relationship was a harmonious one.
- Prince Louis Philippe, Crown Prince of Belgium (24 July 1833 – 16 May 1834)
- King Leopold II of Belgium (9 April 1835 – 17 December 1909)
- Prince Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders (24 March 1837 – 17 November 1905)
- His son succeeded Leopold II as Albert I of Belgium;
- Princess Charlotte of Belgium, (7 June 1840 – 19 January 1927), consort of Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico.
Louise was the 298th Dame of the Royal Order of Queen Maria Luisa on 10 February 1835. A devoted wife and loving mother, she was of a very shy nature and was often only seen in public when her husband forced her. She soon proved to be very popular at the Belgian court with her famous generosity and beauty. Queen Louise-Marie died of tuberculosis in Ostend on 11 October 1850.[1] She is buried beside her husband in Royal Crypt of the Church of Our Lady of Laeken.
Ancestry
Titles and Styles
- 3 April 1812 – 9 August 1830 Her Serene Highness Mademoiselle d'Orléans [Princess of the blood]
- 9 August 1830 – 9 August 1832 Her Royal Highness Princess Louise of Orléans
- 9 August 1832 – 11 October 1850 Her Majesty The Queen of the Belgians
Arms
 |
 |
Honours
-
.svg.png)
Belgium : Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold -
Spain : 298th Dame of the Order of Queen Maria Luisa - _-_ribbon_bar.png)
.
References
- ↑ King Leopold I, Monarchie.be, Retrieved 2 April 2016
Further reading
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Louise-Marie of France. |
- (in French) Mia Kerckvoorde (2002). Louise d’Orléans, reine oubliée, 1812-1850. Paris: Duculot. ISBN 2-8011-0949-5.
- (in French) Madeleine Lassère (2006). Louise, reine des Belges. 1812-1850. Paris: Perrin. ISBN 2-262-02366-2.
| Louise of Orléans Cadet branch of the House of Bourbon Born: 3 April 1812 Died: 11 October 1850 | ||
| Belgian royalty | ||
|---|---|---|
| New title | Queen consort of the Belgians 1832–1850 |
Vacant Title next held by Marie Henriette of Austria |