I’ve been researching adolescent marriages—right now, the marriage of Anne of Austria to the French king, Louis XIII, in particular. She was a Spanish princess (confusing, I know). They were both 10 when engaged, and 14 when married.
Often, in such cases, the young bride and groom do not live together and consummation is postponed until they have matured. In this case, however, the issue was forced in order to prevent the possibility of an annulment.
Although the son of the manly Henri IV (or, perhaps, because of it), Louis XIII was a timid boy, especially with respect to the opposite sex. It’s likely that he was homosexual by inclination. It’s said that he had to be bodily carried to the wedding bed.
Examining the evidence
The bed was canopied, but in the room sat two nurses. In the morning, the boy’s mother, the Queen-Regent, examined the sheets for evidence of virginal blood. The two nurses testified that the act had been performed twice. One wonders about this, for once free of his young wife’s bed, the fourteen-year-old king refused to return, refused even to eat with her for over six months.
A solution proposed
His reticence was a serious diplomatic concern. A cousin suggested a solution. She was going to be married: she and her betrothed suggested the King watch their nuptial congress. He did so, applauding as they performed for him twice—or so the story goes. Yet even so he would have nothing to do with his wife.
Success … after 23 years
Louis XIII did, eventually, manage to do “his duty.” Anne suffered a series of miscarriages, unfortunately. The first child she carried to term was Louis XIV, the Sun King, aptly called “God-given.” Needless to say, because Anne did not give birth until after she and Louis XIII had been married for over twenty years, there have always been rumours—ungrounded, I should note—about the Sun King’s true biological father.
Do you know of other stories of youngsters marrying?
{painting: November 24, 1615 – Wedding of Louis XIII of France and Anne of Austria}
Margaret of Anjou was very young when she married Henry VI of England. Again, it took a very long time for an heir to appear. And when his son was eventually born Henry immediately lost his senses. Again, questions were raised about the legitimacy of Prince Edward. It all led up to the Wars of the Roses. The marriage was intended to bring peace between England and France. Instead, it helped to create a civil war.
Thank you, Anthony. I’m adding this to my growing list. I understand from Wikipedia that she was 15 and he 23.
I have always understood the idea of arranged marriages, presumably for the happiness and stability of the young couple, but dynastic marriages of young people must have been horrible.
Princess Mary Stuart was betrothed to her cousin the Protestant Stadtholder of Holland, William of Orange when she was only 15. Although she eventually came to adore her spouse, apparently she spent the first year weeping and gagging at the sight of him. And being in a strange country, she was a long way from family or supporters.
The youngster marriage that springs to mind is that of Catherine of Aragon and Arthur Tudor. Its consummation became such an important yet unprovable issue. While Arthur’s post-wedding comments sound like the boasts of your average teenage boy (and have as much of a ring of truth), it’s hardly impossible that in the months they lived together they had sex.
Gillian, thank you! Someone on Twitter also mentioned Catherine and Arthur. I’ll look into this.
Definitely worth investigating. Both were only 15 at the time of their marriage on 14 November 1501. Unusually, set up home together very quickly. Arthur died suddenly on 2 April 1502.
When Henry VIII was later trying to dissolve his marriage to Catherine, the issue of the consummation of her first marriage, to Henry’s brother, became the crux of both their arguments. It was claimed that Arthur had boasted after the wedding night but since when have 15 year old boys been reliable witnesses to their own sexual exploits?
Fascinating!
Yes, Erika, I find it so! I’m collecting such accounts, so if you know or come across something, let me know.