King Louis XV of France had a total of 21 children, divided into two distinct groups:
1. Legitimate Children:
- Louise Élisabeth (1727-1759): Known as Madame Infante after her marriage to Philip, Duke of Parma, she died of tuberculosis at the age of 32.
- Henriette (1727-1752): Twin sister of Louise Élisabeth, she also married Philip, Duke of Parma, but died of smallpox at the age of 24.
- Louis, Dauphin of France (1729-1765): The eldest son and heir to the French throne, he died of tuberculosis before his father, leaving his son Louis-Auguste (later King Louis XVI) to succeed Louis XV.
2. Illegitimate Children:
- Louis, Count of Artois (1757-1836): Father of future King Charles X of France, he was exiled during the French Revolution but returned to become King of France after the overthrow of Napoleon Bonaparte.
- Adélaïde (1759-1800): Known as Madame Adélaïde, she was a religious and deeply pious figure during her life.
- Victoire (1761-1807): Known as Madame Victoire, she shared her sister Adélaïde's religious views and lived with her in the Abbey of Notre Dame de Fontevraud.
- Sophie (1763-1782): Known as Madame Sophie, she was briefly associated with the French Revolution but later died of tuberculosis at the age of 18.
- Louise Marie (1764-1826): Known as Madame Louise, she followed a religious path and became a nun in the Abbey of Carmel.
What Happened to Them?
As mentioned above, some of Louis XV's children met untimely deaths due to illnesses such as tuberculosis and smallpox. Others, مثل لويس أوغوست (لويس السادس عشر) وكونت أرتوا (شارل العاشر) توليا العرش وخلفا جدهما لويس الخامس عشر.
The illegitimate children of Louis XV also played significant roles in French history, with the Count of Artois, Adélaïde, Victoire, Sophie, and Louise Marie facing exile during the tumultuous period of the French Revolution. The Count of Artois eventually returned to become King of France.