Louis, Dauphin of France (1729–1765)
Louis, Dauphin of France was the elder and only surviving son of King Louis XV of France and his wife, Queen Marie Leszczyńska. As a son of the king, Louis was a fils de France. As heir apparent, he became Dauphin of France. Although he died before ascending to the throne himself, all three of his sons who made it to adulthood were to later rule France: Louis XVI, Louis XVIII and Charles X (1824–1830).
Portrait by Anne Baptiste Nivelon, 1764
Louis with his mother Maria Leszczynska, c. 1730
Louis de France at the age of 9 in a study with a globe and a fortification treatise, by Louis Tocqué
Masked ball at Versailles for the wedding of Louis, Dauphin of France, to María Teresa Rafaela of Spain, 1745
Louis XV, known as Louis the Beloved, was King of France from 1 September 1715 until his death in 1774. He succeeded his great-grandfather Louis XIV at the age of five. Until he reached maturity in 1723, the kingdom was ruled by his grand-uncle Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, as Regent of France. Cardinal Fleury was chief minister from 1726 until his death in 1743, at which time the king took sole control of the kingdom.
Portrait by Louis-Michel van Loo, c. 1763
The infant Louis with his governess, grandfather, great-grandfather and father, and the busts of Henry IV and Louis XIII in the background. Madame de Ventadour holds her charge's reins. The portrait, painted for her, commemorates her part in saving the dynasty.
Cours des principaux fleuves et rivières de l'Europe, or "Courses of the main rivers of Europe", composed & printed by Louis XV, aged 8. Education of the young king included geography and printing.
Lit de justice held by young Louis XV; his governess, the only woman in the assembly, sits next to him