# Marie Thérèse of France > French Madame Royale (1778–1851) **Wikidata**: [Q659488](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q659488) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Thérèse_of_France) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/marie-therese-of-france # Marie Thérèse of France ## Summary Marie Thérèse of France was a French aristocrat born in 1778 who held the title of Madame Royale, making her the eldest daughter of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. She survived the French Revolution and later became Duchess of Angoulême after marrying Louis Antoine, Duke of Angoulême, becoming a significant figure in the French royal family during the Bourbon Restoration period. ## Biography - Born: December 19, 1778 (some sources indicate January 1, 1778) - Nationality: France - Known for: Being the eldest daughter of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, surviving the French Revolution, and serving as Madame Royale - Field(s): Aristocracy, Royal Family - Death: October 19, 1851 (some sources indicate January 1, 1851) ## Contributions Marie Thérèse of France contributed significantly to French royal history as the eldest daughter of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, experiencing the trauma of the French Revolution firsthand. She survived the imprisonment of the royal family during the revolution and later played a role in the Bourbon Restoration as Duchess of Angoulême. Her life represented the continuity of the French monarchy through one of its most turbulent periods, and she became known as "The Modern Antigone" for her resilience through the tragic loss of her family during the revolution. ## FAQs **Who were Marie Thérèse of France's parents?** Marie Thérèse of France was the eldest daughter of King Louis XVI of France and Queen Marie Antoinette. She was born into the French royal family as Madame Royale, the traditional title for the eldest daughter of the French king. **What happened to Marie Thérèse of France during the French Revolution?** During the French Revolution, Marie Thérèse of France was imprisoned along with her family. She was the only immediate member of the royal family to survive the revolution, experiencing the execution of both her parents and the death of her brother in prison. **What title did Marie Thérèse of France hold after marriage?** After marrying Louis Antoine, Duke of Angoulême, Marie Thérèse of France became the Duchess of Angoulême. She was also known by the aliases Marie-Thérèse Charlotte, Duchess of Angoulême and Duchesse d'Angoulême. **How long did Marie Thérèse of France live?** Marie Thérèse of France lived from December 19, 1778 (or January 1, 1778 according to some sources) until October 19, 1851 (or January 1, 1851 according to some sources), making her approximately 72-73 years old at the time of her death. ## Why They Matter Marie Thérèse of France matters as a crucial link in French royal history, representing the survival of the Bourbon dynasty through the catastrophic events of the French Revolution. Her experience as the sole survivor of the immediate royal family during the revolution made her a symbol of endurance and continuity for the monarchy. Her later role during the Bourbon Restoration helped maintain the legitimacy of the royal claim, and her life story embodies one of the most dramatic transitions in French history from absolute monarchy to republic and back again. Her survival and resilience through the execution of her parents and brother marked her as a significant historical figure who witnessed and lived through the transformation of France from the Ancien Régime to the modern era. ## Notable For - Being the eldest daughter of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette - Surviving the French Revolution while her entire immediate family perished - Serving as Madame Royale, the traditional title for the eldest daughter of the French king - Becoming Duchess of Angoulême through marriage to Louis Antoine - Being known as "The Modern Antigone" for her tragic losses during the revolution - Representing the continuity of the French royal family through the revolutionary period - Having extensive identification across multiple databases and catalog systems (with over 49 sitelinks) - Being the subject of numerous biographical entries and historical documentation ## Body ### Early Life and Royal Status Marie Thérèse of France was born on December 19, 1778 (with some sources indicating January 1, 1778) as the eldest daughter of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. As Madame Royale, she held the traditional title given to the eldest daughter of the French king, making her a central figure in the French royal family hierarchy. Her birth into the Bourbon dynasty positioned her as a significant member of European nobility during one of the most tumultuous periods in French history. ### Revolutionary Period and Survival The French Revolution dramatically altered Marie Thérèse's life when she was still young. Along with her parents and younger brother Louis Charles (the Dauphin), she was imprisoned during the revolutionary period. Unlike her parents, who were executed (Louis XVI in 1793 and Marie Antoinette later that same year), and her brother who died in prison in 1795, Marie Thérèse was the only immediate member of the royal family to survive the revolutionary period. This traumatic experience shaped her entire life and earned her the sobriquet "The Modern Antigone" due to her suffering through the loss of her entire immediate family. ### Marriage and Later Titles Following her release from imprisonment, Marie Thérèse married Louis Antoine, Duke of Angoulême, thereby becoming the Duchess of Angoulême. This marriage connected her to the broader Bourbon family and secured her position within the royal lineage. Her various aliases included Marie-Thérèse Charlotte, Duchess of Angoulême, Duchesse d'Angoulême, and Marie Thérèse Charlotte, Madame Royale, reflecting her multiple titles and positions within the French aristocracy. ### Role in the Bourbon Restoration After the fall of Napoleon and the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, Marie Thérèse played an important role in the renewed royal court. As the Duchess of Angoulême and the only surviving child of Louis XVI, she represented the continuity of the legitimate royal line. Her presence served as a living connection to the pre-revolutionary monarchy and helped legitimize the restored Bourbon rule. ### Historical Significance and Legacy Marie Thérèse of France's historical significance extends beyond her royal status to encompass her role as a witness and survivor of one of history's most dramatic political upheavals. Her life bridged the gap between the Ancien Régime and the modern French state, making her a crucial figure for understanding the transition period. Her survival of the revolution while losing her entire immediate family made her a symbol of both tragedy and resilience in French royal history. ### Documentation and Recognition Marie Thérèse of France is extensively documented across multiple international databases and catalog systems, with identification numbers in systems such as VIAF (119064332), Library of Congress (n50082074), and various national libraries. Her biographical information appears in numerous scholarly sources, with over 49 sitelinks connecting to different language versions of her biography. This extensive documentation reflects her continued importance in historical scholarship and royal genealogy. ### Death and Final Resting Place Marie Thérèse of France died on October 19, 1851 (with some sources indicating January 1, 1851), having lived through the revolutionary period, the Napoleonic era, and the Bourbon Restoration. Her death marked the end of the direct line of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, concluding a significant chapter in French royal history. Images of her final resting place at Kostanjevica crypt document the physical legacy of this remarkable survivor of the French Revolution. ## References 1. Integrated Authority File 2. BnF authorities 3. Source 4. LIBRIS. 2004 5. International Standard Name Identifier 6. Virtual International Authority File 7. CiNii Research 8. SNAC 9. Find a Grave 10. The Peerage 11. Collective Biographies of Women 12. Genealogics 13. Dictionary of Women Worldwide 14. FemBio database 15. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013