Marie Casimire Louise de La Grange d'Arquien

Marie Casimire
Queen consort of Poland Grand Duchess consort of Lithuania
Tenure	1676–1696
Coronation	2 February 1676
Spouse	John Zamoyski John III Sobieski
Issue
Jakub Ludwik Sobieski Teresa Teofila Sobieska Adelaide Luise Sobieska La Mannone Sobieska Teresa Kunegunda Sobieska Aleksander Benedykt Sobieski Konstanty Władysław Sobieski Jan Sobieski
Father	Henri de la Grange d'Arquien
Mother	Françoise de la Châtre
Born	June 28, 1641(1641-06-28)
Died	January 1, 1716(1716-01-01) (aged 74)
Signature

Marie Casimire Louise de La Grange d'Arquien, in Polish: Maria Kazimiera, known also by the diminutive form "Marysieńka" (June 28, 1641, Nevers – January 1, 1716, Blois) was consort to King John III Sobieski, from 1674 to 1696.

Biography

She came to Poland at the age of five years as a lady in waiting to Marie Louise Gonzaga, the French-born Queen of Poland from 1645 to 1672, wife and consort to two Polish kings — Władysław IV Vasa and later his brother (who succeeded him) John II Casimir Vasa. At the court she met John Sobieski, who arrived there in 1656, but she was first married to Jan "Sobiepan" Zamoyski in 1658. Zamoyski, however, died in 1665 and the widowed Marie Casimire eventually married Sobieski on the 14 July the same year. The couple had fourteen children together, but only four of them survived until adult age — Jakub, Aleksander, Konstanty and Teresa (who later became Kurfürstin of Bavaria and mother to Emperor Karl VII).

Queen Marie Casimire on horseback.

John Sobieski was elected King of Poland in 1672, not without the influence of his wife. As the Queen of Poland, Marie Casimire supported the proposed Polish–French alliance, while at the same time striving to gain privileges for her family from the French king Louis XIV.

The Royal couple became famous for their love letters, most of which were written from 1665 to 1683, when they were parted either due to John III Sobieski's military engagements or her travels to Paris. The letters give insight not only into the authentic feelings of the loving couple, but also their reflections on contemporary issues and difficulties, as well as down-to-earth matters concerning the royal household and little day-to-day decisions made by the monarch, who often consulted his wife about them.^[1] Published long after the death of both of them, they can be credited with popularizing the King's way of addressing the Queen by the very diminutive form of her first name — "Marysieńka". She is widely remembered and referred to in Poland that way.

Ancestors

Charles de La Grange d' Arquian of Montigny

Antoine de La Grange d'Arquien

Louise de Rochechouart of Boiteaux

Henri Albert de La Grange d'Arquien

Louis d' Ancienville of Révillon

Anne d'Ancienville

Françoise de La Platière of Epoisses

Marie Casimire Louise de la Grange d'Arquien

Jean de La Châtre of Bruillebault

Baptiste de La Châtre of Bruillebault

Madeleine de Cluys

Françoise de La Châtre

Bonaventure Lamy of Chasteauguillon

Gabrielle Lamy

Louise de La Marche[2]

Gallery

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  Queen Marie Casimire with Children.

• 

  John III Sobieski with his family.

• 

  Marysieńka as the penitent Magdalene.

• 

  The Queen's Chinese Palace.

References

1. ^ (English) "Astrea and Celadon, or the letters of Jan Sobieski and Marysieńka". wilanow-palac.art.pl. http://www.wilanow-palac.pl/astrea_and_celadon_or_the_letters_of_jan_sobieski_and_marysienka.html. Retrieved 2011-11-03. 
2. ^ Geneall.fr

This article incorporates information from the revision as of 17 August 2006 of the equivalent article on the Polish Wikipedia.

External Links

Maria Kazimierza de la Grange d'Arquien at the Wilanow Palace Museum

See also

• Marywil and Marymont, two places named after Marysieńka.
• Wilanów Palace

Marie Casimire Louise de La Grange d'Arquien Born: 28 June 1641 Died: 1 January 1716
Royal titles
Preceded by Eleonora Maria of Austria	Queen consort of Poland Grand Duchess consort of Lithuania 1676–1696	Succeeded by Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth

Persondata
Name	Marie Casimire Louise De La Grange D'arquien
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	28 June 1641
Place of birth
Date of death	1 January 1716
Place of death