▶️ King Louis XIV's Royal Wedding: A Historic Union on April 9, 1660

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 the Bourbon and Habsburg dynasties. This union was significant for several key factors:

1. Strategic Alliance: The marriage strengthened the alliance between France and Spain, which had been strained due to the Thirty Years' War. This alliance helped to solidify the future of the French monarchy and secured the borders of both nations.
2. Royal Family Connections: The marriage united the royal families of France and Spain, ensuring a lasting bond between the two powerful dynasties. This union also cemented the future of the French monarchy, as Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse went on to produce five children, ensuring the continuation of the Bourbon dynasty.
3. Cultural and Artistic Heritage: The wedding of Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse had lasting impacts on the cultural and artistic heritage of France and Spain. The couple's union fostered a rich exchange of artistic and cultural influences between the two nations, shaping the course of European art and architecture.
4. Historical Significance: The wedding marked a turning point in European history, as it solidified the alliances between major powers and set the stage for future conflicts and alliances. The marriage of Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse was a testament to the power of royal diplomacy and the strategic importance of alliances in shaping the course of history.

In summary, the wedding of King Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse of Austria was significant due to its strategic importance in securing alliances, its impact on the royal families and their cultural heritage, and its lasting influence on European history.

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

The Franco-Austrian alliance had significant impacts on the reign of King Louis XIV:

1. Strategic Alliance: The alliance between France and Austria, established in 1756, helped to counterbalance the power of Prussia and other European nations. This strategic partnership allowed both nations to coordinate their military efforts and share resources, which was crucial during the Seven Years' War.
2. Military Cooperation: The alliance led to significant military cooperation between France and Austria. During the Seven Years' War, both nations fought together against Prussia, with Austria contributing troops to the French army. This cooperation was instrumental in the war effort and helped to weaken the Prussian army.
3. Diplomatic Realignment: The alliance marked a significant diplomatic realignment in European politics. It brought together two traditional geopolitical rivals, France and Austria, in a common cause against their mutual enemy, Prussia. This shift in alliances had far-reaching implications for the balance of power in Europe.
4. Impact on the War of the Grand Alliance: The Franco-Austrian alliance played a crucial role in the War of the Grand Alliance (1689-1697). The alliance helped to block Louis XIV's expansionist plans and forced him to fight a nine-year-long, worldwide war, which was costly and draining for France.
5. Long-term Consequences: The alliance had long-term consequences for the reign of King Louis XIV. It marked a significant shift in the balance of power in Europe, and the alliance between France and Austria continued to influence European politics until the French Revolution.

In summary, the Franco-Austrian alliance had significant impacts on the reign of King Louis XIV, including strategic military cooperation, diplomatic realignment, and long-term consequences for European politics.

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

The Franco-Austrian alliance significantly impacted Louis XIV's military strategies during his reign:

1. Strategic Shift: The alliance marked a significant shift in Louis XIV's military strategies. Prior to the alliance, France had been focused on expanding its borders and gaining control over the Rhine region. The alliance with Austria allowed France to redirect its military efforts towards a more cooperative and strategic approach, focusing on countering the growing power of Prussia.
2. Military Cooperation: The alliance led to significant military cooperation between France and Austria. During the Seven Years' War, both nations fought together against Prussia, with Austria contributing troops to the French army. This cooperation was instrumental in the war effort and helped to weaken the Prussian army.
3. Impact on the War of the League of Augsburg: The alliance influenced Louis XIV's military strategies during the War of the League of Augsburg (1688-1697). Although the French won some major battles, Louis XIV was unable to break up the enemy coalition, and the final peace settlement was a barely disguised defeat for him. The war left France financially exhausted, and the aging king was not eager to start another conflict.
4. War of the Spanish Succession: The alliance had a significant impact on the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1713). France and Austria fought together against the British, Dutch, and other European powers. The war was the largest and costliest European war up to that time, and the cost of maintaining the huge war effort was crippling for France.

In summary, the Franco-Austrian alliance significantly influenced Louis XIV's military strategies, shifting his focus from expansionist efforts to a more cooperative and strategic approach. The alliance led to significant military cooperation and impacted the outcomes of major wars during his reign.

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

The wedding of King Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse of Austria, which took place on April 9, 1660, was a significant event in European history. This union marked the beginning of a lasting peace between France and Spain, which had been at odds for decades. The marriage was a strategic move to strengthen the bonds between the two nations and to secure the future of the French monarchy. The wedding was a grand affair, attended by dignitaries from across Europe, and marked the beginning of a long-lasting alliance between the two royal houses. The marriage produced five children, ensuring the continuation of the Bourbon dynasty. This significant event not only shaped the course of royal alliances but also had lasting impacts on the cultural and artistic heritage of France and Spain.

As we reflect on this pivotal moment in history, we are reminded of the importance of diplomacy and strategic alliances in shaping the course of nations. The wedding of King Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse of Austria was a testament to the power of diplomacy in bringing together two nations that had been at odds for so long. The marriage not only secured the future of the French monarchy but also marked the beginning of a lasting peace between France and Spain. This event serves as a reminder of the significance of international cooperation and the importance of working together to achieve common goals. As we move forward in our own times, we would do well to remember the lessons of history and the importance of building strong alliances to secure a brighter future for all nations.

what were the main reasons behind the choice of Saint Jean de Luz as the wedding location

The main reasons behind the choice of Saint Jean de Luz as the wedding location for King Louis XIV and Marie-Thérèse of Austria were:

1. Strategic Location: Saint Jean de Luz was situated near the border between France and Spain, making it a convenient location for the royal couple to meet and for the wedding to be held.
2. Peace Treaty: The wedding was part of the Treaty of the Pyrenees, a peace agreement between France and Spain, which aimed to put an end to decades of fighting.
3. Royal Residence: Louis XIV stayed at the residence of a wealthy sea merchant, Joannis Lohobiague, which was located in the town and offered ample space for the royal court to reside and prepare for the wedding.
4. Local Prosperity: Saint Jean de Luz was a prosperous town at the time, thanks to its maritime trade, whale hunting, and cod fishing, which made it an attractive location for the royal wedding.
5. Historical Significance: The town had a rich history, having been the site of numerous skirmishes between Spanish and French troops, and the royal wedding marked a significant turning point in the town's history.

These factors combined to make Saint Jean de Luz an ideal location for the royal wedding, which was a significant event in European history.