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La Victoire de Samothrace, Unknown, 190 BC
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The Queen's Apartments

Versailles

17th century

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The Queen's apartments were home to 3 consecutive queens - Maria-Theresa (Louis XIV's wife), Marie Leszczyńska (Louis XV's wife) and Marie-Antoinette (Louis XVI's wife).

Their proximity to other public rooms in the palace highlights how closely the King and Queen lived amidst the court's drama and intrigue.

19 royal children were born here, in public, to make sure the heir was legitimate.

2 queens also died here - Maria-Theresa and Marie Leszczyńska.

The queen's position could be a very lonely one, as kings essentially married to forge political alliances and produce male heirs.

Louis XIV wed Maria-Theresa when they were both 22.

She was the daughter of the King of Spain and had a claim to the Spanish throne.

Intensely devout, she had little interest in the French court and suffered through many of the king's numerous public affairs - including with Louise de La Vallière, Madame de Montespan, the Duchess of Fontanges and Madame de Maintenon.

When she died at age 44 Louis XIV remarked : "This is the only trouble she has caused me".

Louis XV married Maria Leszczyńska when he was 15 and she was 22.

A poor Polish princess, she was also deeply devout and remained uninvolved in court politics.

Louis XV, on the other hand, had many high-profile affairs, including the Marquise de Pompadour and Madame du Barry.

Marie-Antoinette, in contrast to her predecessors, was far less discreet.

She married Louis XVI she was 15 and he was 16.

As the daughter of the powerful Holy Roman Emperor, she was initially well-received, but her extravagant spending and perceived disconnection from the common people soon made her a target of public hatred.

This growing animosity played a significant role in fueling the French Revolution.

Curious to learn more?

Follow up with the A.I :

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La Joconde, de Vinci (1519)

Next:

The Hall of Mirrors

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