María Teresa Rafaela of Spain

Dauphine of France (1726-1746)

Infanta Maria Teresa of Spain (María Teresa Antonia Rafaela; 11 June 1726 – 22 July 1746) was an Infanta of Spain by birth and was later the wife of Louis of France, Dauphin of France, son of King Louis XV. She died during childbirth aged 20, She gave birth to a daughter who died at two years of age leaving the Dauphine with no surviving descendants. She used the names "Marie Thérèse" (see right)

Infanta María Teresa of Spain
Maria Teresa with her younger sister
Dauphine of France
Tenure23 February 1745 – 22 July 1746
Born11 June 1726
Royal Alcazar, Madrid, Spain
Died22 July 1746 (aged 20)
Palace of Versailles, France
Burial6 August 1746
Royal Basilica, Saint Denis, France
SpouseLouis, Dauphin of France
IssueMarie Thérèse, "Madame Royale"
Full name
María Teresa Antonia Rafaela de Borbón y Farnesio
HouseBourbons of Spain (by birth)
Bourbons of France (by marriage)
FatherPhilip V of Spain
MotherElisabeth Farnese
SignatureInfanta María Teresa of Spain's signature

She was the second daughter of Philip V of Spain and Elisabeth Farnese. Baptised with the names María Teresa Antonia Rafaela, she was known as María Teresa. She was engaged to Louis Ferdinand, Dauphin of France, son of Louis XV of France. The official marriage took place at the Palace of Versailles on 23 February 1745. The marriage was an idea to try and better relations between France and Spain after Louis XV had not married Mariana Victoria of Spain, María Teresa Rafaela's older sister.

On 19 July 1746, Marie Thérèse Raphaëlle (as she was known in France) gave birth to a daughter before dying herself on 22 July at Versailles. The child died in 1748. Her husband married again to Princess Maria Josepha of Saxony and was the mother of Louis XVI of France. She was buried at the Royal Basilica of Saint Denis outside Paris.

Children

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  1. Marie Thérèse of France (19 July 1746 – 27 April 1748). Named after her mother, she died in infancy and was known simply as "Madame Royale".

Titles, styles, honours and arms

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Titles and styles

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  • 11 June 1726 – 23 February 1745 Her Royal Highness The Infanta Doña María Teresa Antonia Rafaela of Spain.
  • 23 February 1745 – 22 July 1746 Her Royal Highness the Dauphine of France (Son Altesse royale, "Madame la Dauphine".)

Other websites

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  Media related to Infanta Maria Teresa of Spain at Wikimedia Commons