Descendants of Philippe I, Duke of Orléans
Elisabeth-Charlotte and Philippe : Relationship Background
### Elisabeth\-Charlotte and Philippe : Relationship Background

[thumb\|200px\|Liselotte in later years](/wiki/File:Portrait_of_Elisabeth_Charlotte_of_the_Palatinate%2C_Duchess_of_Orl%C3%A9ans_%28Rigaud%2C_1713%29.jpg "Portrait of Elisabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate, Duchess of Orléans (Rigaud, 1713).jpg")
Philippe's confidante, [Anna Gonzaga](/wiki/Anna_Gonzaga "Anna Gonzaga"), Princess Palatine, arranged his second marriage to her husband's niece, [Elisabeth Charlotte](/wiki/Elizabeth_Charlotte_of_the_Palatinate "Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate"), the nineteen\-year\-old daughter of [Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine](/wiki/Charles_I_Louis%2C_Elector_Palatine "Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine"). Upon her arrival in France, "Liselotte" converted to [Roman Catholicism](/wiki/Roman_Catholicism "Roman Catholicism"), before the marriage ceremony.

The couple was married by proxy, in the cathedral Saint\-Étienne at [Metz](/wiki/Metz "Metz"), on 16 November 1671\. The maréchal du Plessis\-Praslin represented the Duke of Orléans. Philippe and Liselotte first met on the road between the towns of [Châlons](/wiki/Ch%C3%A2lons-en-Champagne "Châlons-en-Champagne") and Bellay.Arvède Barine, "[Madame, Mère du Régent](https://books.google.com/books?id=QQMZAAAAIAAJ&dq=mariage+par+procuration+du+duc+d'Orl%C3%A9ans+%C3%A0+Liselotte&pg=PA814)", in: *Revue des deux mondes,* LXXVIIe Année, Cinquième période, Tome Quarantième, Paris, 1907, p. 814\.

Whereas Philippe's first wife had been known for beauty, charm and wit, Liselotte lacked those graces. Some said that this lack explained why she fared better with her husband (who personally took charge of her *[toilette](/wiki/Cosmetics "Cosmetics")* for public occasions) than did his first wife. They had his only surviving son.

Liselotte also became known for her brusque candor, upright character, lack of vanity, and prolific foreign correspondence about the daily routine and frequent scandals of [Versailles](/wiki/Palace_of_Versailles "Palace of Versailles"). Her letters record how willingly she gave up sharing Philippe's bed at his request after their children's births, and how unwillingly she endured the presence of his minions in their [household](/wiki/Household "Household"), which caused the couple to quarrel.

But she frequently acknowledged that Philippe's treatment of her was less offensive than the impertinences his entourage indulged in at her expense, and the lack of protection he afforded her and their children against the hostile [intrigues](/wiki/Wiktionary:Intrigue "Intrigue") she believed were directed at her by spiteful [courtiers](/wiki/Courtiers "Courtiers"), especially [Madame\-de\- Maintenon](/wiki/Fran%C3%A7oise_d%27Aubign%C3%A9%2C_marquise_de_Maintenon "Françoise d'Aubigné, marquise de Maintenon").


What was the relationship background between Elisabeth-Charlotte and Philippe?