The Short Political Career of Queen Marie Leszczyńska

Marie Leszczyńska (Maria Karolina Zofia Felicja Leszczyńska; Trzebnica, Poland, 23rd June 1703 – Versailles, France, 24th June 1768)

Marie Leszczyńska by Jean-Marc Nattier, 1748

Although we have previously welcomed Marie Leszczyńska to the salon, she was very much there as one of a pair, celebrating her wedding to King Louis XV of France. Today, however, I would like to take the focus away from her nuptials and look instead at her less than successful political career, where she tried to join the movers and shakers of the Bourbon court.

Not long after she became the Queen Consort of France, Marie made her first tentative steps into court politics when she prevailed upon her husband to find a cabinet position for Louis Henri de Bourbon, Duke of Bourbon, Prince de Condé and the man who had brokered her marriage to the king. The appointment was not successful and ended with the Duke leaving the court to retire to his country estate.

After that Louis refused to grant his wife any further political influence and eventually she was completely sidelined and devoted her time to pastimes and philanthropy. Removed from political manoeuvring and with her husband seeking companionship elsewhere, Marie was left with no choice but to find other ways to pass her time, which she did happily, spending her 96,000 livres pension at the gambling table and occasionally representing the king at formal ceremonies that he was unable to attend.

Although she would later dip her toe into the waters of court intrigue again when her widowed son needed to find a second wife, the queen was not destined to be a political force. Hugely popular with the people of France she  instead concentrated on other aspects of life, taking rewards from faith and family.

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

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The Death of Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great (Stettin, Pomerania, 2nd May 1729 – Saint Petersburg, Russia, 17th November 1796)

I received a missive of late from a gentleman of the continent who wishes to remain nameless as is his mysterious right. He has enjoyed my posts charting the final days of some historical names and asked whether I might do something similar for Catherine the Great. I am always happy to set quill to paper in response to a request so today I present the last days of Catherine II, Empress and Autocrat of all the Russias.

Empress Catherine the Great by Fyodor Rokotov, 1763

By 1796, Catherine had known a life of immense successes both personal and professional. Powerful, respected and influential, her reign had spanned more than a quarter of a century and her place in history was assured. By now aged 67 her health was beginning to weaken yet she remained a vibrant and committed ruler, as involved in the affairs of state as she ever had been.

On 15th November 1796 she retired to bed and slept through the night, rising early as was her routine and settling with her usual cup of coffee. she passed the time of day with her maid, Maria Perekusikhina, even commenting on the excellent night's sleep she had enjoyed! Alone, Catherine went through to her study to begin the business of the day and settled with her correspondence, a regular habit for the Empress. That done, at just after 9.00am she went to her dressing room to perform her toilette and it was here that she suffered a serious and, ultimately, fatal stroke.

When Catherine did not leave her closet for some time, her chamberlain, Zakhar Zotov, opened the door a little to enquire as to her wellbeing and found her collapsed on the floor. Her pulse and breathing were so weak as to be barely noticeable and her face was tinged purple, the Empress insensible and, within minutes of her discovery, unconscious. At Zotov's instruction, servants were summoned to lift Catherine and carry her to the bedroom, making her as comfortable as they were able. Within the hour Dr John Rogerson arrived and performed an examination that resulted in the diagnosis that she had suffered a stroke. 

The Scottish physician made fruitless efforts to revive his patient and as the day progressed she slipped from unconsciousness into a coma from which she would never awake, experiencing seizures and spasms throughout. On 17th November the Empress of Russia received the last rites, finally taking her final breath at 9.45pm whilst surrounded by her dearest friends.

Catherine the Great was prepared for her magnificent funeral by her closest attendants. She was dressed in silver brocade, her crown placed on her head as befitted an Empress whilst Antonio Rinaldi was summoned to prepare a chamber of mourning. Here she was placed in state on 25th November for a period of official mourning. As the court and people paid their respects, Catherine the Great was laid to rest at the Peter and Paul Cathedral in Saint Petersburg, her reign finally at an end.

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

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Cynicism and Success: Frederick I of Württemberg

Frederick I William Charles of Württemberg (Friedrich I Wilhelm Karl von Württemberg; Treptow an der Rega, Poland, 6th November 1754 – Stuttgart, Germany, 30th October 1816)

Frederick I of Württemberg by Johann Baptist Seele

Not so long ago we met Charlotte, Princess Royal, and briefly encountered her husband, Frederick I of Württemberg. A few salon visitors sent me a missive to ask about Frederick so I thought now was the time to reinforce the chaise longue and meet the last Duke of Württemberg, the man whom Napoleon elevated to king. Noted for his enormous bulk, Frederick stood at 6'11" with a weight of approximately 440lbs, so he was certainly not an easy man to miss!

Long before he became the giant of his portraits, Frederick was born the son of Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg, and Sophia Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt. He was nephew to the ruler of Württemberg, Charles Eugene, and since Charles had no heir, Frederick was prepared from childhood to rule the Duchy. The marriage of Frederick's sister, Sophie Dorothea, and Tsesarevich Paul of Russia strengthened ties between Württemberg and Russia and Empress Catherine II appointed Frederick as Governor-General of Eastern Finland, a valuable grounding for his future role.

Frederick I of Württemberg by Georg Friedrich Erhardt 

At the age of 25, Frederick married Duchess Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. Though the couple had four children their marriage was deeply troubled and during a visit to Russia in 1786, Augusta fled from her husband, requesting sanctuary from the Empress. Amid allegations of domestic abuse and rumours that her husband indulged in affairs with young gentlemen at court, Augusta's request for protection was granted by the Empress and Frederick was told to leave Russia. Within two years Augusta would be dead and it was almost a decade before Frederick remarried, taking as his second wife Charlotte, Princess Royal.

In 1797 Frederick became Duke of Württemberg, a role he enjoyed until 1800 when the French army marched in the Duchy and Frederick and Charlotte escaped to Vienna, where they began territorial negotiation with the Duke eventually awarded the title of Elector of Württemberg. Although he and Napoleon were far from fond of one another, Frederick recognised that the Emperor would be a valuable ally and supplied him with troops in return for territory and the title of King of Württemberg, his coronation taking place on 1 January 1806. To further ensure the commitment of both sides, Frederik's daughter married Napoleon's son and the newly-crowned king became a valuable asset to the French, able to broker negotiations with his father-in-law, George III, and an assortment of European leaders.

Mindful of the way the wind was blowing as the years rolled on, in 1813 Frederick abandoned his alliance with Napoleon and joined the allies. At the Congress of Vienna he was confirmed as king and allowed to keep the territories he had gained throughout his years as Napoleon's ally despite the fact that he was far from a popular ruler in many of these lands. His position secure, he remained on the throne until his death the following year, a cynical and successful leader to the end.

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

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