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On This Day in History: The Wedding of King Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse of Austria

April 9, 1660, marked a significant milestone in the history of European royalty as King Louis XIV of France married Marie-Thérèse of Austria, the daughter of King Philip IV of Spain. This union was a crucial moment in the complex web of alliances and rivalries between European powers, particularly the Bourbon and Habsburg dynasties. The lavish wedding ceremony, held at Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, was attended by dignitaries from across Europe, solidifying the alliance between France and Spain and cementing the future of the French monarchy.

As the sun rose over the City of Light, the majestic Sainte-Chapelle was transformed into a grand stage for the union of two powerful royal families. The marriage of Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse was a strategic move to strengthen the bonds between France and Spain, which had been strained due to the Thirty Years' War. The couple's union would go on to produce five children, ensuring the continuation of the Bourbon dynasty. This pivotal event in European history not only shaped the course of royal alliances but also had lasting impacts on the cultural and artistic heritage of France and Spain.

what were the key factors that made the wedding of King Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse so significant

The wedding of King Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse of Austria on April 9, 1660, was a pivotal moment in European history, marking a crucial alliance between France and Spain. The union of the two powerful royal families was a strategic move to strengthen their bonds and cement the future of the French monarchy. The lavish ceremony at Sainte-Chapelle in Paris was attended by dignitaries from across Europe, solidifying the alliance and ensuring the continuation of the Bourbon dynasty. The marriage was significant for several key reasons. Firstly, it brought together two powerful royal houses, the Bourbons of France and the Habsburgs of Spain, to forge a lasting alliance. This alliance was crucial in the complex web of European politics, particularly during the Thirty Years' War. Secondly, the marriage ensured the continuation of the Bourbon dynasty, as Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse had five children together. Lastly, the wedding was a grand spectacle that showcased the opulence and grandeur of the French monarchy, reflecting the cultural and artistic heritage of France and Spain.

how did the Franco-Austrian alliance impact the reign of King Louis XIV

The Franco-Austrian alliance had a significant impact on the reign of King Louis XIV. The alliance, established in 1756, marked a major diplomatic realignment for both France and Austria, as they shifted from being traditional geopolitical rivals to becoming allies. This alliance was crucial during the Seven Years' War, when France and Austria joined forces to fight their mutual enemy, Prussia. The alliance weakened after the war, but it was briefly revived during the Napoleonic Wars when Marie Louise, the daughter of Francis II, married Napoleon I and became Empress consort of the French. The alliance broke down again after Napoleon's defeat in the War of the Fifth Coalition in 1809. The Franco-Austrian alliance had significant implications for Louis XIV's reign. During his time, France and Austria were bitter enemies, repeatedly fighting wars against each other. The alliance marked a significant shift in their relations, as they began to work together to counterbalance the growing power of Prussia and other European powers. This alliance also contributed to the stalemated struggle of the War of the Grand Alliance, which lasted from 1689 to 1697 and was marked by a series of costly battles and sieges. Overall, the Franco-Austrian alliance played a crucial role in shaping the complex web of alliances and rivalries that defined European politics during the 17th and 18th centuries. It had significant implications for the reign of King Louis XIV, as it marked a major shift in the balance of power and influenced the course of European history.

how did the Franco-Austrian alliance affect Louis XIV's military strategies

The Franco-Austrian alliance had a significant impact on Louis XIV's military strategies during his reign. The alliance, which was first established in 1660, marked a major shift in the balance of power in Europe, as France and Austria, two traditional geopolitical rivals, joined forces to counterbalance the growing power of Prussia and other European powers.

Impact on Military Strategies

1. Strategic Realignment: The alliance led to a strategic realignment in Louis XIV's military strategies. He began to focus on the eastern frontier of France, where he could potentially gain territory from the Habsburgs and expand French influence in Europe.
2. Neutrality in the Great Turkish War: Louis XIV maintained a cautious neutrality during the Great Turkish War (1683-1699), which allowed him to take advantage of the conflict between the Ottoman Empire and the Holy Roman Empire to further French territorial interests. He encouraged the Ottomans to open a new front against the Habsburgs and massed troops at the eastern frontier of France, effectively preventing the Austrians from focusing on their own conflicts.
3. Expansion in Alsace and Southern Germany: Louis XIV used the opportunity to attack cities in Alsace and parts of southern Germany, which he was able to secure through the Truce of Ratisbon in 1684. This expansion further solidified French control over the region and protected France from foreign invasion.
4. Shift from the War of the League of Augsburg: The alliance also influenced Louis XIV's military strategies during the War of the League of Augsburg (1688-1697). He shifted his focus from the war in the west to the eastern frontier, where he could potentially gain more significant territorial gains.
5. War of the Spanish Succession: The alliance played a crucial role in the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1713), where France and Austria joined forces to counterbalance the growing power of Prussia and other European powers. This alliance led to the largest and costliest European war up to that time, with the French army growing to over 400,000 men.

In summary, the Franco-Austrian alliance significantly impacted Louis XIV's military strategies by shifting his focus to the eastern frontier, maintaining neutrality in the Great Turkish War, expanding French control in Alsace and southern Germany, and influencing the course of the War of the Spanish Succession.

The Albanian Royal Wedding of 1938

On 27 April 1938, King Zog I of the Albanians (né Amet Bej Zogu) married Countess Geraldine Margit Virginia Olga Mária Apponyi de Nagy-Appony in a grand ceremony at Tirana. The forty-two year-old groom was born on 8 October 1895 at Burgajet as the son of Xhemal Pasha Zogu (~1860-1911) and his second wife Sadijé Toptani Khanum (1876-1934; titled "Queen Mother of the Albanians" during her son's reign). The twenty-two year-old bride was born at Budapest as the daughter of Count Gyula Apponyi de Nagy-Appony (1873-1924) and his wife Gladys Virginia Steuart (1891–1947; married secondly to Gontran Girault). The union of the Albanian king and Hungarian countess brought an infusion of blue blood into the nascent royal family: Albania had only become a kingdom on 1 September 1928 when the then-President Amet Bej Zogu was proclaimed monarch as Zog I.

Due to their religious faiths, Zog being Muslim and Geraldine being Roman Catholic, the couple settled on a civil marriage. The wedding of the king and queen was recounted in detail by Gwen Robyns, the author of Geraldine of the Albanians - The Authorised Biography:

On the morning of the wedding Princess Geraldine woke at six o'clock despite the fact that she had not gone to bed until late and been given a sedative to make her sleep. Soon everyone was awake at the villa and emotions ran high as - typically Hungarian - first the grandmother, and then her mother and aunts, began to cry. 

Geraldine was astonishingly calm as she put on the pearl and diamanté embroidered wedding dress from Worth that had been selected for her. Again she had not been consulted, but the King's taste was so sensitive that its elegant lines flowed over her willowy figure.  

It was Madame Girault's romantic wish that she place the wedding veil on her daughter's head and then from a hidden box she disclosed the white gold chain with diamond cross that Geraldine had admired with the King. It was another touch of finesse that made this man so different. At the time it was reported that the bride was taller than the King, but this was merely the height of her coronet of orange blossom, an insignificant fact that still piques her to this day. 

As the wedding was to be a civil one only, it was held in the flower-decked hall of the palace. Followed by her six bridesmaids, all in white, Princess Geraldine entered the room to join the King who looked most impressive in his white uniform, his rows of decorations and his sabre. As Princess Geraldine took his arm the King placed on the fourth finger of her right hand a huge blue fourteen carat solitaire diamond ring to match the blue white one he had given her as an engagement ring. 

The King's witnesses were Count Ciano and Zog's Turkish brother-in-law, Prince Abid, the Albanian Minister to France. Representing the Queen was Count Charles Apponyi, her guardian and uncle, and Baron Frederick Vilany, Hungarian Minister to Italy. Her train was carried by the King's nephew, Tati. Helqmet Delvina, the white-bearded president of the two Houses of Parliament united the couple by reading from the civil code... 

The service lasted three minutes. The king then placed her trembling hand on his arm and led his bride to the balcony to greet the thousands milling in Skanderbeg Square. Again and again they returned to wave to the people who were overjoyed to see their monarch so relaxed and fulfilled. It seemed that a while new era of prosperity was dawning for this nation which had known only turbulence in the past. After this the King led her into the wedding reception, followed by her line of fluttering bridesmaids, the close family and the Court behind. They moved from salon to salon shaking hands and greeting guests. All the Queen remembers today of this part of her wedding was a sea of faces, so many loving faces, and the strange dream-like feeling of receiving reverences from her family... 

Queen Geraldine cut the three metre wide wedding cake with the King's sabre and her beloved brother Gyula, just fourteen years of age, made a speech. With the permission of the King, the Apponyi family had arranged to bring to Tirana one of the most famous gypsy orchestras from Budapest to play at the reception. They played Geraldine's favourite tunes until, to the horror of the King, his bride began to cry.

Antoinette de Szinyei-Merse, Geraldine's eventual lady-in-waiting and childhood friend, recalled in her 1940 book Ten Years, Ten Months, Ten Days the various guests who came from abroad to witness the wedding of the King of the Albanians and the Countess Apponyi: "From Hungary, the Duke and Counts Esterházy and Festetich, the Apponyis, Károlyis, Szapárys, Berchtolds, and Edelsheim, the baronial Inkeys and Urbáns. From other countries the Princesses Borghese and Radziwill, the Counts Seeherr-Thoss and Trautenberg, and a great many representatives of Central European aristocracy." The Italian royal family was represented by the Duke of Bergamo.

King Zog and Queen Geraldine on their wedding day

The newlyweds received a treasure-trove of wedding gifts. Admiral Horthy, Regent of Hungary, sent Geraldine a set of china for forty-eight persons that was created by the Herend factory. Baron Villány, the Hungarian Ambassador to Rome, gave the couple a coach complete with Hungarian harness and two silver pure-bred horses from the Hungarian State stud - a coachman was also included: he was to remain on as a part of Geraldine's staff. The German Führer sent the couple a scarlet Mercedes-Benz 540K; ironically, this gift would come in handy when the king and queen and their newborn son had to flee Albania in the vehicle in 1939 after the Italian invasion. The Turkish government sent twenty-four Oriental carpets. President Lebrun of France contributed a white Sèvres porcelain table-piece. Prime Minister Mussolini of Italy promised the king and queen the extravagant gift of a yacht (which had not been constructed in time for the royal nuptials). Lastly, King Zog gave his wife a plethora of jewellery: bracelets, diadems, necklaces, pearls, and solitaire diamonds.

The King and Queen of the Albanians

On 5 April 1939, the King and Queen welcomed the birth of their only child Crown Prince Leka, who was born at the Royal Palace in Tirana. Two days later on Good Friday, 7 April, Italian troops invaded the Kingdom of Albania: Zog and Geraldine dashed into exile with their son. The family first relocated to France, then to England, and then to Egypt, and finally to France. [After King Zog's death, Queen Geraldine and her son Leka and his family moved to Spain, then to South Africa, and then returned to Albania in 2002.]

Statue of King Zog in Tirana

Aged sixty-five, King Zog died at Paris on 9 April 1961. Zog and Geraldine had been married for twenty-three years. After the royal family was able to return to Albania, Queen Geraldine died at Tirana at the great age of eighty-seven, having lived through an unspeakable amount of unfortunate events. The king and queen rest in repose at the Royal Mausoleum in Tirana. 

Geraldine of Albania at the 1975 marriage of her son King Leka I to Queen Susan (née Cullen-Ward)

Crown Prince Leka (II) of the Albanians, King Zog and Queen Geraldine's only grandchild, is the current Head of House Albania. Together with his wife, Crown Princess Elia, the couple are dedicated to promoting the welfare of the people of their country. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess reside in Tirana at the Royal Court. 

The wedding of Crown Prince Leka and Crown Princess Elia of the Albanians Photograph (c) Seth B. Leonard

As we conclude our journey through the historic wedding of King Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse of Austria, we are reminded of the significant impact this union had on European history. The marriage, which took place on April 9, 1660, marked a crucial moment in the complex web of alliances and rivalries between European powers, particularly the Bourbon and Habsburg dynasties. This strategic alliance not only solidified the future of the French monarchy but also had lasting impacts on the cultural and artistic heritage of France and Spain. The union of these two powerful royal families was a testament to the power of royal diplomacy and the strategic importance of alliances in shaping the course of history.

The royal wedding of King Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse of Austria remains one of the most significant events in European history. The lavish ceremony, held at Sainte-Chapelle in Paris, was attended by dignitaries from across Europe, solidifying the alliance between France and Spain. The marriage of Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse was a strategic move to strengthen the bonds between France and Spain, which had been strained due to the Thirty Years' War. This union would go on to produce five children, ensuring the continuation of the Bourbon dynasty. As we reflect on this pivotal moment in history, we are reminded of the enduring legacy of the royal wedding and its lasting impact on European politics and culture.

what were the main challenges in planning the wedding of King Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse

The main challenges in planning the wedding of King Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse were:

1. Agreeing on the Location: The wedding was planned to be held at Saint Jean de Luz, a small fisherman village in the Basque Country, which was halfway between Versailles and Madrid. This location was chosen to satisfy both the French and Spanish royal families, who could not agree on whether the wedding should take place in Versailles or the Escorial Palace near Madrid.
2. Preparing the Royal Wardrobe: The wedding required elaborate and extravagant clothing for the royal couple. King Louis XIV, known as the "Sun King," had a large collection of wigs, and his wardrobe included golden silk suits embroidered with colorful flowers and peacock and ostrich feathers. Marie-Thérèse, the infanta of Spain, wore a deep blue velvet cape embroidered in gold to the wedding ceremony, and her most daring outfit was a dress she wore three days before the ceremony.
3. Logistical Challenges: The wedding involved a large number of guests and required extensive planning and coordination. The royal couple had to ensure that all the necessary arrangements were made, including accommodations, transportation, and entertainment for the guests. The wedding was also accompanied by lavish fireworks and dancing, which added to the complexity of the planning process.
4. Cultural and Diplomatic Considerations: The wedding was a significant diplomatic event, and both the French and Spanish royal families had to ensure that the ceremony and celebrations were conducted in a manner that maintained the dignity and prestige of their respective nations. The wedding was also an opportunity for the royal couple to showcase their cultural heritage, with the inclusion of Basque dancers and music in the celebrations.
5. Financial Constraints: The wedding was a costly affair, and the royal couple had to manage their finances carefully to ensure that the event was conducted within their means. The wedding required significant resources, including the hiring of numerous hairdressers, tailors, and other professionals to create the elaborate costumes and decorations.

These challenges highlight the complexity and grandeur of the wedding of King Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse, which was a significant event in European history.