Elisabeth-Charlotte, Duchess of Orléans: A Life in Letters and Intrigue

Tudors Dynasty

RedTop Media / Rebecca Larson

History

4.4 • 794 Ratings

🗓️ 2 February 2025

⏱️ 17 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Elisabeth-Charlotte, Duchess of Orléans, was a woman of sharp wit, unflinching honesty, and fierce independence. Married into the French royal family, she navigated the intrigues of Louis XIV’s court while maintaining a prolific correspondence that offers a rare, candid glimpse into 17th-century aristocratic life. In this episode, we explore her turbulent marriage, her fraught relationship with Madame de Maintenon, and the staggering 60,000 letters she left behind—an unparalleled chronicle of the grandeur, gossip, and political maneuvering of her time.

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Narrator: Rebecca Larson

Researched by: Emily Airey

Transcript

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0:28.7	the tudors dynasty podcast hello and welcome back to the show i'm your host rebecca larson
0:36.8	elizabeth charlotte duchess of orleans was Hello and welcome back to the show. I'm your host, Rebecca Larson.
0:54.2	Elizabeth Charlotte, Duchess of Orleans, was a remarkable woman whose life spanned the intricate corridors of European aristocracy, marked by political alliances, personal turmoil, and unflinching independence.
1:00.3	Born into a family of high rank, yet shaped by early family strife,
1:05.8	Elizabeth Charlotte carved a distinct place for herself in the annals of history,
1:14.3	through her extraordinary letters, offering unparalleled insight into the royal courts of 17th century Europe.
1:22.5	From her early days in Heidelberg to her turbulent marriage to Felipe the First Duke of Orleans and her complex relationship with the French monarchy, Elizabeth Charlotte's life was one of both
1:29.1	personal and political intrigue. Her candid, biting letters, which range from humorous
1:37.1	observations to sharp critiques of court life, continue to reveal the depth of her character,
1:44.1	offering us a rare window into the world
1:46.6	of Louis XIV's France and the tumultuous years of the raison.
1:54.8	Elizabeth Charlotte, Duchess of Orleans, was born on the 27th of May, 1652, to Charles Louis, Count Palatine, and Charlotte
2:05.6	of Hess Castle. Raised under the guidance of her Aunt Duchess Sophie of Hanover,
2:12.0	Electress of Hanover, and mother of King George I, she was granted a distinguished upbringing that would shape her
2:19.5	remarkable character. Elizabeth was the granddaughter of Frederick V and Elizabeth Stewart of England,
2:27.6	and great-grandmother of Marie Antoinette. Over the course of her life, she composed an extraordinary 60,000 letters,
2:39.8	far surpassing Voltaire, who wrote approximately 20,000, corresponding with the Royal Courts of
	...

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