Marie Clotilde of France
| Marie Clotilde of France | |||||
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| Queen consort of Sardinia | |||||
| Tenure | 16 October 1796 – 7 March 1802 | ||||
| Born |
23 September 1759 Palace of Versailles, France |
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| Died | 7 March 1802 (aged 42) Naples |
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| Burial | 11 March 1802 Church of Santa Caterina a Chiaia |
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| Spouse | Charles Emmanuel IV of Sardinia | ||||
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| House | Bourbon | ||||
| Father | Louis, Dauphin of France | ||||
| Mother | Maria Josepha of Saxony | ||||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism | ||||
| Signature |  |
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| Full name | |
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| Marie Adélaïde Clotilde Xavière de France |
Marie Clotilde of France (Marie Adélaïde Clotilde Xavière; 23 September 1759 – 7 March 1802), known as Madame Clotilde, was a French princess who became Queen of Sardinia as Clotilda in 1796. She was the younger sister of Louis XVI of France and later the wife of Charles Emmanuel IV of Sardinia. She was politically active and acted as the de facto first minister of her spouse during his reign.
Born in Versailles, Marie Clotilde was the elder daughter of Louis, Dauphin of France, the only son of King Louis XV, and of the Dauphin's wife, Princess Maria Josepha of Saxony. As the granddaughter of the king, she was a Petite-Fille de France. Upon the death of their grandfather in May 1774, Clotilde's oldest brother, Louis Auguste, became king Louis XVI of France.
Marie Clotilde was brought up under the supervision of the royal governess the countess of Marsan and given the usual education of royal princesses, focusing upon religion and virtue, an education to which she reportedly willingly subjected herself. She adapted herself to strict Catholic devotion early on and had the wish to follow the example of her aunt, Madame Louise, and join the Order of the Carmelites.
Because she was overweight, Marie Clotilde was nicknamed Gros-Madame in her youth. She and her younger sister Élisabeth were raised by Madame de Marsan after the death of their father in 1765 and their mother in 1767. Because she married and left France soon after Louis XVI acceded to the throne, Marie Clotilde did not have enough time to form a close relationship with her sister-in-law, Queen Marie Antoinette. Marie Clotilde was described as passive and apathetic, which gave the perception of insensitivity, but she was, however, very close to her sister, who reportedly took her departure very hard.
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