Since many readers find their way to this site while searching for information on the children of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, I thought I would do a post just about them. Above is their oldest daughter, Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte, known as "Madame Royale," born in front of the entire court on December 19, 1778.
Here is Madame Royale with the first Dauphin, Louis-Joseph, born in 1781.
Madame Royale as a small child. She was called "Mousseline la Sérieuse" because of her serious expression.
Madame Royale at about the age of twelve.
Madame Royale, the "Orphan of the Temple" at seventeen years old, dressed in mourning for her family.
Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte, the Duchesse d'Angouleme, in her late thirties.
This picture is almost always said to be Louis-Charles, the second son of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. Others, including myself, believe it to be the Dauphin Louis-Joseph, who died in June 1789 at the age of seven of tuberculosis. Louis-Joseph was slender, frail and delicate, with chestnut hair and ethereal blue eyes, like his mother's. Louis-Charles was robust and husky, like his papa; a "peasant child," his mother described him. He had blonde hair and was very mischievous.
A portrait of Louis-Charles, the "peasant child," later Louis XVII, who was so tormented in the Temple prison, after being torn from his mother's arms.
Louis-Charles, the second dauphin, born on Easter Sunday in 1785. Marie-Antoinette called him her "chou d'amour." History records that he died of neglect and tuberculosis in the Temple prison in June of 1795. His parents had been killed. His sister Madame Royale was in the room upstairs but not allowed to see him or even sit near him when he was sick and dying. She was not permitted to view his corpse or pray by his body. Very bizarre, to say the least.
The Dauphin Louis-Charles, Louis XVII. One can see the fear and confusion in the once cheerful little countenance, having witnessed the mob screaming for his mother's entrails. He was one of many, many French children who would suffer unspeakably during the Revolution.
Below is the baby Madame Sophie, who was born in 1786 and lived for not quite a year.
23 comments:
+JMJ+
Elena, that sad picture of Louis-Charles makes me misty every time I see it! As if the murders of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette were not evil enough, their children had to be made to suffer as well. We know that the adult were sustained by their mature faith until the end, but for the children, the confusion must have been worse than the tortures.
Yes, what they did to the children was inexcusable.
I feel as the first poster does. It brings such a tear in my heart. But I am so grateful for this information being made available in such a respectful and informative manner.
Thank you again for a wonderful posting.
Thank you, Glenna. The victimization of small children on the path to freedom and democracy is largely forgotten.
For some reason i was drawn to search for information on Marie Antoinette. I came across your web sight and was very infactuated by the pictures. This is my first time searching for this information and i would like to say that the pictures you posted was incredible. Just by looking in their eyes, it tells you a story. Thank You. Maggie
Thank you, Maggie!
These photos do break the heart, especially those of Louis-Charles. I read a reading by a Christian writer recently, and he said that all those who had a direct hand in destroying the royal family were dead within a short time period. God is just.
It is my great hope and trust that this sweet family are all together now...
They break my heart, too, Sunny Skies, which is why I do try to keep their memory alive and educate people about the truth of their lives. I have no doubt that they are now all together in Heaven.
Beautiful children! I always enjoy reading and re-reading your posts on this tragic royal family. It's very refreshing to finally see them given a respectful and sympathetic treatment.
@ "Mousseline la Sérieuse":
"mousseline", is that not a textile stuff (the Swedish word "muslin" going presumably back to it is such)?
Do you think the Italian surname Mussolini stems from same word?
I don't know enough Italian but yes in French "mousseline" means "muslin."
Wiki:
"La mussolina è la versione più leggera di un tessuto di mussola, quella finissima viene chiamata pelle d'uovo."
Having read the entire history of the French Royal Family.. it left me bewildered and numb how people can be so devious, mean and without feelings.. Those poor children.. however, believe it or not.. we are still looking into it.. we discovered based of family tree research that a so called family who used to live in the Seychelles Islands and now residing in Australia has got connection to a family member born in the "Palais Royal". Most of the her sibblings have left this world now but my mother-in-law lives in Brisbane, Australia at the age of 84. It would surely be nice just to find out if her DNA has anything to do with what her family tree history reveals. I'm married to her daughter who has a striking resemblance of the lat Queen Marie-Antoinette when she was around 13years old.
Thanks anyway... great history..
sorry.. needed to say.. cruelty against children back in those days were horrible.. those poor children no matter how rich or poor.. they did not deserve such treatment!!!
Hopefully those who performed those awful things are in the deepness of purgatory and never get to see the light...
As if the murders of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette were not evil enough, their children had to be made to suffer as well.
Reminds of Communism.
Hopefully those who performed those awful things are in the deepness of purgatory and never get to see the light...
Would that make it Purgatory or Hell?
This is without a doubt the worst case of child abuse and torture I've ever read. I can't imagine what these little angels had to endure. My faith that they have been long reunited in heaven is what keeps me from really breaking down.
Thank you for posting these wonderful pictures..reading what they had to endure brought tears to my eyes, I would recommend reading the biography of Mary Antoinette by Antonia Fraser
Thank you, although I would recommend Nesta Webster 2 volume bio over Antonia Fraser's.
World, cruelty is thy name.
Never heard the legend about Marie Therese being exchanged with a half sister, after being freed from the temple? Fascinating really.
I wonder why Louis Charles was tortured in prison, while his sister was treated quite "well". As she writes in many letters she had someone taking care of her and bringing her books, things to do and even toys.
She was officially released in change of French prisoners in Austria. But why torture and abandon until death her brother, instead of "using" him like that too, wouldn't he be more "value" ?
Sorry for talking like that, of course I'm aware they were children and what happened to them and their family was too much, too horrible, really. Just trying to think about it in a cold rational way.
It is actually irrational to think "in a cold rational way".
It makes one forget all the real motives of all the other more normal people who do not do that.
Now, there are two things to consider here: Louis XVII was first heir to throne, then legally and legitimately king. Marie Thérèse could not have been Queen anyway. AND: even cynic people have sometimes just enough disgust at their own cynicism not to push it further than necessary, and they had all been raised under L'Ancien Régime, with an ideal of deference towards ladies.
Louis Charles it is not simple killed kid. He was "simbol","innocent cristian childe" "victim agnes", for satanist - revolutioners, and his death - is "special magician act"...
Poor Little Prince...
Thank you very much for talking about my sweetest ancestor. She was the best great, great, great, great grand maman one could ever have.
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