Princess Palatine 1652-1722

Duchess of Orléans 1652-1722

Second wife of Monsieur, brother of Louis XIV, the Princess of the Palatinate, known as Princess Palatine, remains, along with Saint-Simon, the best surviving source of information on life at Versailles. She died in 1722, leaving behind her some 90,000 letters. Combining commentary on the mores of the royal court with descriptions of major events and lively anecdotes, these letters paint an intimate picture of life at the palace. As mother of the future regent, Princess Palatine’s letters refrain from criticising Louis XIV, whom she admired.

Full name
Elisabeth Charlotte of Bavaria

Title
Princess palatine, daughter of France by marriage and duchess of Orléans

Life at Court
From 1671 to 1722
Reign of Louis XIV

Ses traces à Versailles

Elizabeth-Charlotte of Bavaria, often referred to as “Liselotte” or “La Palatine”, was a German princess of Protestant upbringing. In 1671 she married Monsieur, the King’s brother, and was obliged to convert to Catholicism. She took up residence in the Court and became an astute observer of goings-on at the palace.

An avid letter-writer, her correspondence covers the great events of the day as well as the more mundane aspects of life at court. From her desk in the Palais-Royal the Château de Saint-Cloud or the Palace of Versailles, she brought her famously sharp nib to bear on the main characters in the continual drama that was life in the court.

She was a particularly fierce critic of Madame de Maintenon, whom she called the “king’s whore,” but displayed a faithful admiration, even love, for Louis XIV.

Her letters, closely scrutinised by Superintendent of Post M. de Torcy, spread a less than flattering image of the royal court throughout Europe.

Between 1674 and 1676, despite her husband’s acknowledged preference for male company, she gave birth to three children. One, Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, would serve as regent for Louis XV.

Her correspondence in French and German, of which only a tiny part survives, is widely considered to be among the best contemporary accounts of the Grand Siècle. She died at Saint-Cloud in December 1722.