Princess Marie-Therese, Duchesse d'Angouleme

[coquelicot]

Thank you for explaining. It's true at that times politics were so "floating" and no regime sounded really sure nor legitime enough.

[frohsdorf]

At one time there were plans to open the grave of the "Dunkelgrafin" in Hildburghausen, but the town authorities refused.  Why?  Because if testing proved the the story to be false, the town would lose it's one claim to fame.

I have never heard anything regarding the opening of the Duchesse d'Angouleme's tomb in Castagnavizza!  That would seem a sacrilege, and I cannot see the Bourbon family granting permission any time soon.

There is no documentation anywhere---no letters, no diaries, no documents---from anyone who knew Marie Therese Charlotte that support this outrageous story of a rape or substitution.  

The direct heirs of the Comte de Chambord have always attested to the absurdity of these rumors.  

[coquelicot]

I believe you ! But such rumours live for long, obviously !
Even DNA analyzis wouldn't extinct them, I guess, as we can see for Charles' case. As elena-maria-vidal explained, such stories may be grounded on political purposes, a lot of people were highly concerned in spreading them. Nowadays, there are other reasons, sentimental, nostalgic, touristic... I think that, on one end, people need to daydream and, on the other hand, some have less noble interests in making others dream !

[elena_maria_vidal]

At one time there were plans to open the grave of the "Dunkelgrafin" in Hildburghausen, but the town authorities refused.  Why?  Because if testing proved the the story to be false, the town would lose it's one claim to fame.

I have never heard anything regarding the opening of the Duchesse d'Angouleme's tomb in Castagnavizza!  That would seem a sacrilege, and I cannot see the Bourbon family granting permission any time soon.

There is no documentation anywhere---no letters, no diaries, no documents---from anyone who knew Marie Therese Charlotte that support this outrageous story of a rape or substitution.  

The direct heirs of the Comte de Chambord have always attested to the absurdity of these rumors.  

A friend of mine who is a friend of a man who believes in the "Dark Countess" story said that they secretly exhumed her at night without permission and the body was found to be incorrupt! How's that for a wild story!

[coquelicot]

 

Didnt also people tell that, when Madame Elisabeth was guillotined, there was a scent of rose ? Can we believe that ?

[elena_maria_vidal]

Didnt also people tell that, when Madame Elisabeth was guillotined, there was a scent of rose ? Can we believe that ?

I read the same thing in Yvonne de La Vergne's bio of Madame Elisabeth. I believe it to be true. She was killed in the light of day in front of thousands of people and many witnessed the inexplicable scent of roses that surrounded the guillotine as the princess' soul left her body.

[coquelicot]

Oh ? But how is it physically possible ?  :-/

[elena_maria_vidal]

Oh ? But how is it physically possible ?  :-/

It was a miracle from God, my dear. She was a saintly person. There are many other instances of such phenomena occuring in  the lives of the saints, especially your own Sainte Therese de Lisieux, la Petite Fleur.

[frohsdorf]

The "Dunkelgrafin" legend is an interesting story, but that's all it is, as far as the Duchesse d'Angouleme is concerned.  There is a definite mystery in Hildburghausen.   Why bury the poor woman on a wooded hillside in an anonymous grave instead of a cemetery or church?  

The "incorrupt body" story IS wild!  When I visited the grave in 2001, it had obviously not been disturbed for many years.

[elena_maria_vidal]

Frohsdorf, I completely agree. I don't know who the poor woman was who was buried there as the Dark Countess; maybe she was a saintly person, but she was NOT Marie-Therese of France.

[Sissi]

This portrait was given to Madame de Toursel by the queen, Charming isn`t it?

[elena_maria_vidal]

Very charming!

[coquelicot]

lovely, indeed ! i've never seen this portrait before. It seems to be regsitered as a Kusharsky's painting. Does anyone know ? Kusharsky's paintings of Antoinette's family generally are my prefered ones...

[Sissi]

lovely, indeed ! i've never seen this portrait before. It seems to be regsitered as a Kusharsky's painting. Does anyone know ? Kusharsky's paintings of Antoinette's family generally are my prefered ones...

 Yes it is a Kusharsky, and they are my favourites too, I love this portrait she looks so real!!!!  
 I imagine that she must have been a really pretty young child. Too bad her looks faded as she grew older...

[Sissi]

  There is very few portrait of MA as an adult, besides the one with the red dress and two mores I think I have seen that is pretty much it! Those anybody knows why is that.?