Louis, Duke of Burgundy (1751–1761)

Louis Joseph Xavier
Duke of Burgundy
Louis Joseph by Jean-Martial Frédou, 1760.
Born	(1751-09-13)13 September 1751 Palace of Versailles, Versailles, France
Died	Palace of Versailles, Versailles, France
House	Bourbon
Father	Louis, Dauphin of France
Mother	Princess Maria Josepha of Saxony

Louis Joseph Xavier, Duke of Burgundy (13 September 1751 – 22 March 1761), was a French prince of the House of Bourbon. Although he was the first live-birth son, he died of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis

Life

Louis Joseph Xavier was born at the Palace of Versailles. He was the third surviving child and eldest son of Dauphin Louis and Maria Josepha of Saxony, and was thus the oldest brother to the future kings Louis XVI, Louis XVIII and Charles X. It is a known fact that he was the favourite child of his parents, said to be handsome and bright.

He was put in the care of Marie Isabelle de Rohan and given the title of Duke of Burgundy by his grandfather, King Louis XV. He was much loved by those who were close to him, especially his older sister Marie Zéphyrine, who died at the age of five in 1755. It is unknown if the Duke, who was not even four years old yet, was affected by this. But it is known, however, that the absence of his older sister was felt by the Duke.

The young Duke was pushed off a wooden horse by one of his playmates in 1759. As he was recognized for his kindness, he did not tell anyone about this, in order to prevent his friend from getting into any trouble. After this incident, the Duke of Burgundy's health started to deteriorate quickly. The family's physician, Dr. Barbier, decided to operate on him in 1760. The Duke was very brave, as he was operated on while he was conscious. Knowing that he would die, the Dauphin had him baptised on 29 November 1760, with Louis XV and Marie Leszczyńska, his grandparents, as his godparents. Until that moment, he had been known just as "Burgundy". By 1761, the Duke was bound to his bed, unable to move his legs, with what was diagnosed as extra pulmonary tuberculosis of the bone. He would later die from this disease, on 22 March 1761.

Ancestors

Family of Louis, Duke of Burgundy (1751–1761)

16. Louis, Dauphin of France               8. Louis, Duke of Burgundy (1682–1712)                       17. Duchess Maria Anna of Bavaria               4. Louis XV of France                             18. Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia               9. Princess Marie-Adélaïde of Savoy                       19. Anne Marie d'Orléans               2. Louis, Dauphin of France                                   20. Rafał Leszczyński               10. Stanisław Leszczyński                       21. Anna Jabłonowska               5. Maria Leszczyńska                             22. Jean-Charles Opaliński               11. Katarzyna Opalińska                       23. Catherine-Sophie-Anne Czarnkowska               1. Louis of France, Duke of Burgundy                                         24. John George III, Elector of Saxony               12. Augustus II of Poland                       25. Princess Anne Sophie of Denmark               6. Augustus III of Poland                             26. Christian Ernst, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth               13. Christiane Eberhardine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth                       27. Sofie Luise of Württemberg               3. Princess Marie-Josèphe of Saxony                                   28. Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor               14. Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor                       29. Eleonore-Magdalena of Neuburg               7. Archduchess Maria Josepha of Austria                             30. John Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg               15. Wilhelmina Amalia of Brunswick                       31. Benedicta-Henrietta of Simmern

References

Louis, Duke of Burgundy (1751–1761) House of Bourbon Born: 13 September 1751 Died: 22 March 1761
French royalty
Preceded by Louis of France, Duke of Burgundy	Duke of Burgundy 1751–1761	Succeeded by Alfonso, Duke of Anjou and Cádiz