![]() ![]() He married his cousin, the plump and reticent Spanish Infanta Marie-Thérèse. Duty (and Cardinal Mazarin) demanded that Louis relinquish his first love, Maria Mancini, in favor of a princess of suitable rank. Tall and handsome, with long curling hair, the king of France cut a glamorous figure. When Louis reached 19, royal mothers all over Europe discreetly mentioned their daughters as marriage prospects. She prayed for his salvation from the sin of devotion to sex. Devoted and pious (and addicted to gambling), Queen Anne was her son's regent and confidante. Anne of Austria, a Spanish Hapsburg who never saw Austria, gave birth to Louis, her first child, after 22 years of marriage. The first, and most important, woman in Louis' life was his mother. Her psychological instincts enable her to interpret nuances of character and their relation to European history. A meticulous researcher, she maintains both accuracy and style. Few writers could weave marriages, mistresses and military campaigns into a cohesive history, but Fraser succeeds. ![]()
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