The Numerous Children of Lorraine

 The numerous children of the Noailles-family or even the constant pregnancies of Marie Leszczynska has attracted its fair share of attention, the equally impressive feat of Élisabeth-Charlotte d'Orléans is rarely touched upon.

Élisabeth-Charlotte was the only daughter born to the marriage of Philippe d'Orléans and Elizabeth-Charlotte of the Palatinate. For years, her parents searched for a marriage that would be suitable for a young lady of her rank; after all, her half-sisters had married a king and a reigning duke. Yet as she grew older and older, the political map of Europe made it impossible to find a similar mate for the young Élisabeth-Charlotte. Eventually, the choice fell on Leopold of Lorraine - a match which the bride's mother termed "meh". It was neither glorious nor beneath her daughter as it neither gained nor cost her anything.

The couple married in 1698 when the bride was 22 and the bridegroom 18 years of age. While the court might have snickered at the less than brilliant match, the two would happen to be particularly well-suited. Shortly afterwards, Élisabeth-Charlotte fell pregnant with her first child. Over the next twenty years, Élisabeth-Charlotte would give birth to fourteen children:

• Léopold
• Élisabeth-Charlotte
• Louise Christine
• Marie Gabrielle Charlotte
• Louis
• Josèphe Gabrielle
• Gabrielle Louise
• Léopold-Clément
• François III Étienne
• Élénore
• Élisabeth-Thérèse
• Charles-Alexandre
• Anne Charlotte
• Unnamed female

Tragically, only six would survive into adulthood. Added to that was the numerous miscarriages suffered by the Duchesse de Lorraine; while she gave birth fourteen times, she had been pregnant nineteen times. Of the ducal children, the following died prematurely:

• Léopold - 1 year
• Élisabeth-Charlotte - 11 years
• Louise Christine - 1 month
• Marie Gabrielle Charlotte - 9 years
• Louis - 7 years
• Josèphe Gabrielle - 3 years
• Gabrielle Louise - 3 years
• Élénore - under one year
• Unnamed female - likely stillborn or died shortly after birth

The year 1711 would be particularly deathly for the family. No fewer than three children (Élisabeth-Charlotte, Marie Gabrielle Charlotte and Louis) all died within the same period of 12 months. Their deaths were attributed to an outbreak of smallpox. The little Élisabeth-Charlotte was the first to catch the dreaded disease which was quickly spread to her two siblings. Even though the girl was just 11 years of age, she had already been the cause of considerable political considerations. Her father preferred an ecclesiastical career for her as the Abbess of Remiremont; however, Louis XIV was concerned at the lack of a male heir  to the duchy of Lorraine and wished to keep Élisabeth-Charlotte out of the convent in case she would have to assume the ducal crown - a potentiality in which the king made it very clear that he was willing to back his niece. Sadly, neither Leopold nor Louis were to have their way - Élisabeth-Charlotte was long dead before any agreement could be made.

Élisabeth-Charlotte

One can only feel for the parents; at this point in time, the Duchesse de Lorraine had given birth ten times but only two children remained alive. Over the years, more would follow but only few would go on to have their own lineages:

Léopold-Clément

Léopold-Clément managed to survive the turmoil of infancy and was immediately trained for the army. By 1721, he reached his majority and was officially proclaimed heir to the duchy of Lorraine. He attended the coronation of Louis XV and was intended to set out for Vienna when he caught smallpox. The disease killed him in a few days - he was just 16 years old and had not married.

The duchesse de Lorraine with
either Léopold-Clément or 
François Étienne

François III Étienne

François inherited his brother's position as heir of the duchy at a time when the Duc de Lorraine was turning towards the Emperor rather than the king of France. This would have enormous influence on the future of François. By far the most famous member of the brood, François would later make a very illustrious marriage: Maria Theresia of Austria. He would become Holy Roman Emperor as well as king of Austria and Bohemia. This would make him the father of none other than Marie Antoinette.

Élisabeth-Thérèse

Élisabeth-Thérèse was born in the very year which saw three of her siblings die - 1711. Yet, she herself managed to escape contagion and even survive infancy. She was briefly considered as a bride for Louis XV but was passed over; instead, she was married to Charles-Emmanuel III of Sardinia. This, in turn, would make Élisabeth-Thérèse a queen. She gave birth to four children before dying at the age of 29 following her latest childbirth.

Élisabeth-Thérèse

Charles-Alexandre

With François poised to become Duc de Lorraine, another vocation needed to be found for Charles-Alexandre. He would eventually became governor of the Austrian Netherlands; this position as well as his marriage would prove just how far towards to Emperor the house of Lorraine had turned. He would marry Marie-Anne of Austria with whom he had children.

This marriage into the very royal family of the Emperor was likely due to the snubbing of Élisabeth-Thérèse. It was seen as an affront by Élisabeth-Charlotte that her own daughter - and a great-granddaughter of France - was passed over for an entirely unknown Polish princess.

Anne Charlotte

As the last daughter of an impoverished ducal house, Anne Charlotte was almost certainly destined for the church from an early age. She would become the Abbess of Remiremont like so many other daughters of Lorraine had been before her. Thus becoming a nun, she would never marry - she died at 59.

While the ducal remained very much attached to one another, the decision of Leopold to engage in an affair was a blow to his wife. Élisabeth-Charlotte chose to willfully ignore the affair which was carried on with a lady of her own household - a decision which earned her the respect of both their small court and her people. Nevertheless, her letters betray the heat-ache she felt at this infidelity.

It is hardly a wonder if the health of Élisabeth-Charlotte - both physically and mentally - was worn down after two decades of constant childbirth and loss of children. Yet, she managed to outlive her husband by a whole fifteen years. She would even act as regent while her son was underage; few could have known it, but Élisabeth-Charlotte was to be the last Duchesse de Lorraine, as the duchy would merge with the French crown.