The Abdication of Philip V

A small Spanish something today; a story of abdication told to me by a rather charming gentleman of Madrid who occasionally visits my salon, always clad in the finest silks. There is a little throne-hopping, an untimely death and a troublesome treaty, all the ingredients of a royal drama.

Philip V of Spain by Jean Ranc, 1723

On 14 January 1724, Philip V of Spain made a momentous decision when, without any prior clues as to his intention, he abdicated the throne. The crown of Spain passed to his 17 year old son, Louis.

Philip gave no reasons for his abdication but throughout his life had suffered from deep melancholia and episodes of depression. It may be that he was concerned at the mental problems he was experiencing and therefore decided to give up the throne rather than continue with the burden of rule. A second theory is that Philip was motivated by the tribulations of the French royal family, and saw a potential opportunity for expansion.

Louis I of Spain by Jean Ranc, 1724

The recent death of the regent Duke of Orléans had left the French throne with something of a headache, as Louis XV was still too young to rule. Philip himself believed that he might lay claim to the crown of France as a descendant of Louis XIV but could not do so whilst still ruling Spain, as the Treaty of Utrecht forbade a union between the two crowns. By abdicating the Spanish throne, Philip may have hoped that he could find a loophole in the treaty and become the next king of France.

Fate was to play a final twist on the Spanish king though as the newly enthroned Louis fell victim to smallpox on 31st August 1724, and Philip found himself once more sitting on the throne of Spain.

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

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The Lonely Life of Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans

Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans (Versailles, France, 11th December 1709 - Paris, France, 16th June 1742)

Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans by Jean Ranc, 1724

We have encountered many cultured, poised and very noble women here at the Guide yet our visitor today was known for being a little more earthy than some of her peers and fellow princesses. My own grandmother Gilflurt can be somewhat ribald yet even she never quite matched some of the more unusual behaviour of Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans, a young lady who lived a somewhat sad life.

Élisabeth d'Orléans was born to Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, and his wife, Françoise Marie de Bourbon. As the fifth of seven children, it was always supposed by her disinterested parents that she would make an uninspiring and unimportant dynastic marriage and her convent education was basic, focussing on making her a relatively useful wife. However, her father was regent ruler of France and when war broke out with Spain, King Philip V suggested that an admirable way to make peace might be through a series of alliance-building marriages.

Louis I of Spain by Jean Ranc, 1724

It was agreed that the 11 year old Élisabeth would marry Louis of Spain and the wedding took place by proxy in November 1721. Élisabeth left for Madrid immediately afterwards, taking with her an enormous dowry of 4 million livres but upon her arrival she was subject to a far from glowing welcome. Given the title of Princess of Asturias, she was not made welcome at the Spanish court and found herself mocked and gossiped about, her insular upbringing leaving her without friends or support. Still only a girl,  Élisabeth  lacked the emotional maturity to stand up to such bullying and instead began to behave increasingly bizarrely, displaying poor manners and hygiene and apparently appearing naked in front of people. She and Louis did not get on at all and went for long periods without seeing one another, often not speaking when they were together; perhaps unsurprisingly, there were no children from the marriage. 

Louis and Élisabeth became king and queen on 15th January 1724 yet the reign was a short one and Louis died of smallpox within the year. A widow at just 15, Élisabeth remained in Madrid after her husband's death yet found herself utterly isolated and eventually returned to France. The Spanish crown moved to have her marriage annulled and the unhappy young girl endured an isolated existance in Paris. She died at the age of just 32, lonely to the last.

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

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