Chronologie de la vie de Louis XIV, March 1663
1 March, his Majesty grants an audience to the Prince de Holstein, Christian Albert of Holstein-Gottorp, who is the brother of the Queen-Regent of Sweden. After which his Majesty receives Monsieur Ghiron Francesco Villa, ambassador of Savoy, before the departure of the latter from France.
3 March, his Majesty travels to Versailles for the chase.
4 March, his Majesty and the royal family attend the wedding per proxy of Charles-Emmanuel II, Duc de Savoie, and Mademoiselle de Valois, daughter of the late Duc d’Orléans, at the chapel of the Louvre. Cardinal Barberini leads the ceremony. Following the wedding, his Majesty attends the sermon of the Bishop de Dax. After which his Majesty goes to visit the new Duchesse de Savoie to congratulate her and pay her his respects.
7 March, his Majesty and company travel to Versailles for a promenade.
8 March, his Majesty receives Monsieur de Blumenthal, who comes as envoy of the Elector de Brandebourg.
10 March, his Majesty receives Monsieur de Leyra, envoy of his Most Catholic Majesty the King of Spain.
11 March, their Majesties, in company of Monsieur and Madame, visit the chapel of the Louvre for the sermon of the Bishop de Dax.
12 March, his Majesty goes to the Louvre to visit Monsieur de Comminges-Guitaut, who has faithfully served her Majesty the Queen-Mother as her capitaine des gardes, on his death bed.
15 March, their Majesties travel to Versailles, where they are joined by her Majesty the Queen-Mother.
16 March, their Majesties travel again to Versailles and spend the day there in company.
18 March, Dimanche des Rameaux, their Majesties attend the procession by the Louvre and the following grand messe in the chapel. Their Majesties return to the chapel of the Louvre in the afternoon to attend the sermon of the Bishop de Dax. Monsieur Turenne has sent a letter to Mademoiselle to urge her to consider a marriage to the King of Portugal. It was already suggested to Mademoiselle and she refused. His Majesty has ordered her into exile for this disobedience.
19 March, his Majesty receives Monsieur Sagredo, who is the new ambassador of Venice, and afterwards Monsieur Nani, the previous ambassador of Venice, before the departure of the latter.
21 March, their Majesties travel to the Feuillants to attend evensong and the ténèbres.
22 March, Jeudi Saint, their Majesties attend the sermon of the Bishop de Périguex in the grande salle des gardes of the Louvre, after which his Majesty receives absolution. Having heard the sermon, his Majesty proceeds to wash the feet of thirteen poor people, after which three dishes are served to each of the thirteen. Their Majesties then return to the Feuillants for the ténèbres.
23 March, Vendredi Saint, their Majesties attend the sermon of the Bishop de Dax at the Louvre, after which they travel to the Feuillants for the adoration of the cross. Leaving the Feuillants, their Majesties travel to Val-de-Grâce, where they join her Majesty the Queen-Mother for the ténèbres. Their Majesties then pay a visit to the Princesse Palatine, who has lost her husband, Prince Eduard von der Pfalz, on the 13th of this month.
24 March, his Majesty receives the Marquis de Striggi-Gonzague, extraordinary ambassador of the Duc de Mantoue.
25 March, Pâques, their Majesties go to Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois for their devotions and receive communion by the hands of Cardinal Barberini. His Majesty proceeds to the Tuileries, where nine-hundredth ill have gathered to be healed by his Majesty’s touch. Their Majesties return to Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois in the afternoon, where they attend a sermon by Monsieur Héron and evensong celebrated by the Bishop de Périgueux.
27 March, his Majesty enjoys the hunt at the bois de Boulogne.
28 March, his Majesty travels to Versailles for a promenade.
