| Elisabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 The Duchess of Orléans byRigaud | |||||
| Duchess of Orléans | |||||
| Tenure | 16 November 1671 – 9 June 1701 | ||||
| Born | (1652-05-27)27 May 1652 Heidelberg Castle,Heidelberg | ||||
| Died | 8 December 1722(1722-12-08) (aged 70) Château de Saint Cloud,France | ||||
| Burial | 10 December 1722 Royal Basilica, Saint Denis, France | ||||
| Spouse | Philippe of France | ||||
| Issue Detail | Alexandre Louis, Duke of Valois Philippe, Duke of Orléans, Regent of France Élisabeth Charlotte, Duchess of Lorraine | ||||
| |||||
| House | House of Wittelsbach (by birth) House of Orléans (by marriage) | ||||
| Father | Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine | ||||
| Mother | Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel | ||||
| Religion | Calvinism Roman Catholicism | ||||
| Signature |  | ||||
Princess Elisabeth Charlotte[1] (German:Prinzessin Elisabeth Charlotte von der Pfalz; known asLiselotte von der Pfalz, 27 May 1652 – 8 December 1722), was a German princess and the wife ofPhilippe of France, Duke of Orléans, younger brother ofLouis XIV. She is best known for her vast correspondence detailing the court of her brother in law. She was referred to at court as simplyMadame, as well asLa Palatine and thePrincess Palatine (Princesse Palatine)
Elisabeth Charlotte was born at theHeidelberg Castle as the only daughter ofCharles I Louis, Elector Palatine andCharlotte of Hesse-Kassel.[2] In childhood she was known asLiselotte. She grew up at the court of her aunt and would remain in contact with her aunt all her life.
On 16 November 1671, she was married by proxy atMetz. In order to marry she had to convert toRoman Catholicism. Elisabeth Charlotte would be very close to her two stepdaughtersMarie Louise andAnne Marie. Her husband wasgay but the couple still had three children but one died in infancy. After the birth of their daughter Élisabeth Charlotte, the couple mutually agreed to ceaseconjugal relations.[3] Philippe turned to his lovers, and Elisabeth Charlotte to her writing.
After her husband's death, Elisabeth Charlotte feared that the king would send her to aconvent but he insisted she stay at Versailles. Elisabeth Charlotte died at the age of seventy on 8 December 1722 at Saint-Cloud. She was buried at theRoyal Basilica of Saint Denis.
Media related toElisabeth Charlotte of Palatinate-Simmern, Duchess of Orléans at Wikimedia Commons