Clotilde of France
Marie Clotilde of France (23 September 1759 – 7 March 1802) was Queen of Sardinia as wife of Charles Emmanuel IV. She was the sister of Louis XVI. On 10 April 1808, Pope Pius VII, declared Queen Clodile a Venerable the causes of her beatification and canonization continue.
| Venerable Clotilde of France | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||
| Queen consort of Sardinia | |||||
| 16 October 1796 – 7 March 1802 | |||||
| Born | 23 September 1759 Palace of Versailles, France | ||||
| Died | 7 March 1802 (aged 42) Naples | ||||
| Burial | 11 March 1802 | ||||
| Spouse | Charles Emmanuel IV of Sardinia | ||||
| Issue | Margaret of Kells | ||||
| |||||
| House | Bourbon | ||||
| Father | Louis, Dauphin of France | ||||
| Mother | Maria Josepha of Saxony | ||||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism | ||||
| Signature |  | ||||
| Clotilde of France | |
|---|---|
 Queen Clotilde at prayer painted by Bernardino Nocchi, circa 1809 | |
| Queen of Sardinia and Laywoman | |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Major shrine | Church of Santa Caterina a Chiaia, Naples, Italy |
| Feast | 7 March |
| Attributes | Crown Rosary Imperial attire |
| Patronage | France |
Life
Baptied as Marie Adélaïde Clotilde Xavière, she was born at Versailles and known as Madame Clotilde. She was a daughter of Louis, Dauphin of France, only son of Louis XV with the popular Queen Marie Leczinska, and Maria Josepha of Saxony. Because she was overweight, Marie Clotilde was nicknamed Gros-Madame. She was raised with her sister Élisabeth.
Marriage
On 27 August 1775, Louis XVI had his sister Marie Clotilde married in Versailles to Charles Emmanuel, Prince of Piedmont, eldest son of Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia and of his wife Maria Antonia of Spain. Marie Clotilde had been taught Italian while at Versailles. In Savoy, jokes were made about her weight. Although the union was political, Marie Clotilde and Charles Emmanuel were devoted to each other. However they had no children.
In 1796, her husband became king. Marie Clotilde and her husband fled to Naples and lived as guests of the wealthy Colonna. Marie Clotilde died on 7 March 1802. Charles Emmanuel later abdicated on 4 June 1802 in favour of his younger brother, Victor Emmanuel. Marie Clotilde was buried in the Church of Santa Caterina a Chiaia in Naples.
Titles, styles, honours and arms
Titles and styles
- 23 September 1759 – 27 August 1775 Her Royal Highness Madame Clotilde, Grand daughter of France.
- 27 August 1775 – 16 October 1796 Her Royal Highness The Princess of Piedmont.
- 16 October 1796 – 7 March 1802 Her Majesty The Queen.
Clotilde Of France Media
Arms of Marie Clotilde of France (1759-1802), Queen of Sardinia
Clotilde and her elder brother Charles with a goat.
Clotilde by Joseph Ducreux, c. 1773.
Marie Clotilde of France (Madame Clotilde) with a guitar after François Hubert Drouais
Portrait of Clotilde by Johann Julius Heinsius, c. 1780
Clothilde of France
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References
- ↑ On the surname of the children of the King of France and of members of the French royal family: Diderot & d'Alembert Encyclopédie méthodique: Jurisprudence, Paris, 1786 [1], pp. 159-160 (French)
- ↑ Achaintre, Nicolas Louis, Histoire généalogique et chronologique de la maison royale de Bourbon, Vol. 2, (Publisher Mansut Fils, 4 Rue de l'École de Médecine, Paris, 1825), p. 168 [2]
Other websites
Media related to Marie Clotilde of France at Wikimedia Commons