Maria Teresa Rafaela of Spain

María Teresa Rafaela of Spain
Maria Teresa Rafaela with her sister Maria Antonia
Dauphine of France
Tenure	23 February 1745 – 22 July 1746
Spouse	Louis, Dauphin of France
Full name
María Teresa Antonia Rafaela
House	House of Bourbon
Father	Philip V of Spain
Mother	Elisabeth Farnese
Born	11 June 1726 Royal Alcazar of Madrid, Spain
Died	22 July 1746 (aged 20) Palace of Versailles, France
Burial	6 August 1746 Royal Basilica, Saint Denis, France
Signature

Maria Teresa Rafaela of Spain (11 June 1726 – 22 July 1746) was an Infanta of Spain by birth and was later the wife of Louis Ferdinand, Dauphin of France, son of Louis XV of France. She died in childbirth aged 20, leaving no surviving descendants.

Life

She was the second daughter of Philip V of Spain and Elisabeth Farnese. Baptised with the names María Teresa Antonia Rafaela, she was known as María Teresa Rafaela. She was engaged to Louis Ferdinand, Dauphin of France, son of Louis XV of France. The official marriage took place at the Palace of Versailles on 23 February 1745. The marriage was an idea to try and better relations between France and Spain after Louis XV had not married Maria Anna Victoria of Spain, María Teresa Rafaela's older sister.

On 19 July 1746, Marie Thérèse Raphaëlle (as she was known in France) gave birth to a daughter before dying herself on 22 July at Versailles. The child died in 1748. Her husband married again to Maria Josepha of Saxony and was the mother of Louis XVI of France. She was buried at the Royal Basilica of Saint Denis.

Children

1. Princess Marie Thérèse of France (19 July 1746 – 27 April 1748) died in infancy.

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

• 11 June 1726 – 23 February 1745 Her Royal Highness the Infanta Doña María Teresa Rafaela of Spain
• 23 February 1745 – 22 July 1746 Her Royal Highness the Dauphine of France

Other websites

• Media related to Maria Teresa Rafaela of Spain at Wikimedia Commons