Marguerite Louise d'Orléans (28 July 1645 – 17 September 1721) was Grand Duchess of Tuscany, as the wife of Grand Duke Cosimo III de' Medici. Deprived of her lover, Charles V of Lorraine, Marguerite Louise despised her husband and his family, whom she often quarrelled with and falsely suspected of attempting to poison her. Marguerite Louise reconciled with the Medici on more than one occasion, however, only to promptly resume hostilities.
Having become Grand Duke of Tuscany upon his father's death, in 1670, Cosimo III, under the sway of his mother, Vittoria della Rovere, refused to grant Marguerite Louise entry to the Privy Council. Thus without political influence, Marguerite Louise sorted the education of her eldest son, Grand Prince Ferdinando. Two more children followed: Anna Maria Luisa, Electress Palatine, and Gian Gastone, the last Medici Grand Duke of Tuscany.
In June 1675, Marguerite Louise was allowed to return to France to live in a convent in Paris. She was a daughter of Gaston de France, Duke of Orléans. Although the contract, banned her from leaving the convent, Marguerite Louise often went to her cousin Louis XIV's court at Versailles. She was at the centre of many scandals at the convent, including an attempt to burn it down, which greatly irritated her husband, who, despite the separation, took great interest in Marguerite Louise's life. While still technically married, Marguerite Louise had several affairs.
Questions and Answers
Q: Who was Marguerite Louise d'Orléans?
A: Marguerite Louise d'Orléans (28 July 1645 – 17 September 1721) was Grand Duchess of Tuscany, as the wife of Grand Duke Cosimo III de' Medici. She was also a daughter of Gaston de France, Duke of Orléans.
Q: What were her relations with her husband and his family like?
A: Marguerite Louise despised her husband and his family, whom she often quarrelled with and falsely suspected of attempting to poison her. Despite this, they reconciled on more than one occasion, only for hostilities to resume shortly afterwards.
Q: How did Cosimo III respond when Marguerite Louise wanted to join the Privy Council?
A: Upon becoming Grand Duke of Tuscany upon his father's death in 1670, Cosimo III refused to grant Marguerite Louise entry to the Privy Council under the sway of his mother Vittoria della Rovere.
Q: What role did she play in the education of her eldest son?
A: Without political influence due to being denied access to the Privy Council, Marguerite Louise sorted out the education of her eldest son Grand Prince Ferdinando.
Q: How many children did she have?
A: Marguerite Louise had three children - Grand Prince Ferdinando, Anna Maria Luisa Electress Palatine and Gian Gastone who became the last Medici Grand Duke of Tuscany.
Q: Where did she go when allowed by leave from Italy?
A: In June 1675, Marguerite Louise was allowed to return to France where she lived in a convent in Paris.
Q: What kind of scandals occurred while she stayed at the convent?
A: While staying at the convent there were several scandals including an attempt to burn it down which greatly irritated her husband despite their separation.
