Madame Thérèse, daughter of Louis XV
Thérèse-Félicité was born in Versailles on the 16th of May 1736, the ninth of the royal children. She was barely two when, with her sisters Victoire, Sophie and baby Louise, she left, never to return, for the Abbey of Fontevraud under the supervision of an under-governess.
Little Thérése did not adapt well to the humid climate of the Loire Valley. The Abbess of Fontevraud noted that she was often sick. At the end of September 1744, the princess's health deteriorated dramatically. This time is was not a mere cold, but the dreaded smallpox. She received full baptism then, with her nurse and a valet as godparents, and died on the next day, at the age of eight. She was buried in the crypt of the Abbey, among the Plantegenêts. Royal tombs, though not those of her family. Louis XV was then very sick, the country feared for his life and no one paid much attention to the death of one of the King's many daughters, exiled far from Paris.
I could not find any portrait of the Madame Thérèse. Indeed none may have been painted during her short life. So I will be content to post a picture of the funeral monument of Alénor d'Aquitaine at Fontevraud. The mighty Queen of France and England keeps the forgotten little princess company in her last earthly rest.
—————————————————————————————————
Links to the entire Daughters of Louis XV series:
Madame Elisabeth, Duchess of Parma
Madame Henriette
Madame Marie-Louise
Madame Adélaïde
Madame Victoire
Madame Sophie
Madame Thérèse
Madame Louise (Venerable Mother Thérèse de Saint-Augustin)
Posted by Catherine Delors at 2/20/2009 12:29 AM 
Categories: Madame Therese,Marie Leszczynska,Alienor d'Aquitaine,Louis XV
Tags: Madame Therese Marie Leszczynska Fontevraud Madame Sophie Louis XV Madame Victoire Madame Louise
Categories: Madame Therese,Marie Leszczynska,Alienor d'Aquitaine,Louis XV
Tags: Madame Therese Marie Leszczynska Fontevraud Madame Sophie Louis XV Madame Victoire Madame Louise
Poor little sweetheart, it's so sad. Almost as though she came and went without anyone really noticing. Thank you for honoring her memory, Catherine.
Reply to this
Very sad indeed, Lucy. I will dedicate another post on first Madame Louise, who also died as a child. And also of course on her sister of the same name, the last of the royal children.
Reply to this
That's so sad that there isn't even a portrait of her and that she wasn't properly mourned at the time of her passing. Thanks to your post we at least can honor her. Great post as always!
Reply to this
thank you for this sad but moving story. it is always good to keep someone's name alive.
Reply to this
Thank you, Amy and Penny!
Reply to this
I am amazed she were not yet baptized at the age of eight! Can you tell me which could the reason be?
Reply to this
Like her siblings she had been "ondoyee" (emergency christening that can be performed by any attendant) at birth, as was customary in 18th century France. That was (and still is) sufficient, from a Catholic standpoint, for a newborn or infant. However, at 8, she was old enough to receive Extreme Unction, and therefore a full baptism was required. If any reader knows the exact translation of "ondoyer" I welcome his or her help...
Reply to this
Great post Catherine, my question is why did she have to leave Versailles/ her family?
Love the picture of Alenor d' Aquitaine too.
Reply to this
Thank you, Felio. Yes, Alienor's monument is beautiful, quite worthy of the queen it commemorates. I love the fact that the pigments are still so vibrant. This is unusual for medieval statuary.
As for Therese and her three sisters, they were sent away only to save the costs their educations at Versailles would have entailed...
Reply to this