Page "Louis, Grand Dauphin" Paragraph 5

Prior to his engagement, Louis's father considered various daughters of European royals, such as Anna Maria Luisa de ' Medici and his niece Marie Louise d ' Orléans, daughter of Philippe of France, Duke of Orléans, and his wife Princess Henrietta of England.

According to various reports, Marie Louise and Louis were in love, having grown up with each other.

However, Louis XIV used Marie Louise to forge a link with Spain and forced her to marry the invalid Charles II of Spain, the Dauphin's own half-uncle.