Maria Theresa of Spain Biography

Maria Theresa of Spain was an ‘infanta’ of Spain and Portugal by birth and Queen of France by marriage. She was also the Archduchess of Austria as she belonged to the House of Habsburg, one of the most influential royal houses of Europe. A very pious and warm-hearted lady, Maria Theresa married her cousin King Louis XIV of France. Their marriage ended the thirty-year-long war between Spain and France. As a result of the marriage, Theresa became the Queen of France, leaving behind her claim to the Spanish throne which she held as an heir for a brief period of time in the 1650s. Maria Theresa was someone who was always respected for her kind and timid nature. Despite being a queen, she lived a sad life. She lost her mother at a young age and had a lonely childhood. After marrying King Louis XIV, she faced disloyalty from her unfaithful husband. She also lost all her children, except her eldest son, within a brief period of their birth. Maria Theresa was never a woman hungry for power and wealth. Despite being one of the most powerful figures in the royal family and in the French court, she never showed any interest in governance.