Soon, Jadwiga Elżbieta was pregnant again, and there was renewed hope for an heir to the famous name. However, on 17 July 1701 , a fourth daughter was born . Prince Konstanty, who was in Oława at the time, wrote that his eldest brother was unable to conceal his disappointment. This letter, along with several other recently uncovered documents, confirmed that the ‘little princess’ was born in Silesia in 1701 , as it had previously been rumoured that she was born a year later in Italy. The girl was given the names Maria Klementyna Ludwika Franciszka Dorota Teresa Konstantyna Józefa Amalia .

Their numerous daughters were a source of disappointment and worry, as they would require dowries in the future, and for the Sobieski family—who had been removed from the throne— they did not constitute political capital , unlike girls born into royal families. In an attempt to lift the spirits of her despondent parents, the Queen Dowager Maria Kazimiera wrote that God does not always fulfil human plans, for He sees more: “A man asks God for a son who is to be his comfort, yet he becomes a tormentor and the cause of the family’s ruin”, whereas daughters often prove to be a source of support for the family – here she was referring to Empress Eleonora, a great pillar of strength to her relatives. These words proved prophetic. Maria Klementyna not only became her father’s favourite, but also a great source of support for her elder sisters. She was destined for a life that was exceptional in every respect.

Childhood and James Stuart

Almost nothing is known about Maria Klementyna Sobieska’s childhood, apart from the fact that she was said to resemble Menonka, the royal couple’s long-deceased daughter. It is difficult to say whether this was the opinion of Prince James – could he have remembered the features of his deceased sister in detail when he himself was ten years old? – or that of Maria Kazimiera, based on some portrait sent to Rome. Menonka was the family’s favourite, especially of John III, and perhaps it was this resemblance – whether merely physical or also in her behaviour – that meant the ‘little princess’ quickly became the darling of those around her. It was surely not without significance that Maria Klementyna remained the youngest child in the family. The royal couple’s youngest daughter, Maria Magdalena (born in 1704), died on her birthday. Jadwiga Elżbieta was pregnant again later on, but there were no further reports of children.

In 1718, an envoy of James Stuart, the pretender to the thrones of Scotland and England, arrived in Oława; he was reportedly travelling around the courts of Europe in search of a suitable bride for his master. From the account he left behind, it appears that Maria Klementyna immediately took his fancy, and those around him were also recommending her for marriage, even though her older sisters were not yet married. Correspondence had been taking place between the Stuarts and the Sobieskis for several years, and although it initially concerned the eldest ‘princess’, the name of the youngest began to appear in it almost imperceptibly. Consequently, when James Stuart expressed an interest in marriage, the talk was now solely of Maria Klementyna .

In 1719, a marriage contract was signed and the ‘princess’ set off for Italy with her mother to meet her fiancé. The Stuarts’ advisers recommended a swift journey and strict incognito, but the Sobieskis did not heed their advice, and the retinue was halted in Innsbruck on the Emperor’s orders . In doing so, Charles VI complied with the demands of George of Hanover, who feared that a marriage to the heiress—rumoured to be wealthy— heiress to the fame of King John III – through her mother, Jadwiga Elżbieta, who was closely related to many European courts – would strengthen the Stuarts’ position and claims. Despite the diplomatic efforts conducted by her father and fiancé throughout Europe, the ‘princesses’ could not be freed. In April, however , Maria Klementyna escaped from prison with the help of a Stuart envoy. It is unclear whether the Emperor turned a blind eye to this action, but he derived direct benefit from it and, as punishment , ordered Jakub Sobieski to leave Oława . Maria Klementyna travelled to Italy, where she was married by proxy and waited for James Stuart , who was in Spain, hoping that with the help of Philip V he would manage to regain his throne. The plan came to nothing, and Jakub returned to Italy. At first, both spouses were delighted with one another .

During this time, and for a long time afterwards, two matters kept Maria Klementyna awake at night: her father’s exile from Oława and the marriages of her older sisters . Both the Queen’s letters and those of her husband are full of enquiries about Prince Jakub’s whereabouts and well-being. Both made efforts within the papal curia to help Sobieski return home. Alongside this, one can read of the royal couple’s constant endeavours to find suitors for their not-so-young ‘princesses’, whilst at the same time trying to interest the prince—who was clearly reluctant to discuss such matters—in these proposals. The reason for Sobieski’s attitude is unknown. It was suspected that he wished to keep his older daughters at home in order to make Maria Klementyna and her offspring the heirs to his entire fortune. However, it could also be argued that the prince was capable of delaying his decisions for a long time. Probably the only decision he made really quickly was that concerning Maria Klementyna’s marriage; yet even then – when difficulties arose – he began to waver and found it hard to stand by the consent he had given to the union. It was rather the stubbornness and determination of the ‘princesses’, encouraged by James Stuart and Clement XI, that led to the finalisation of this marriage.

Marital conflict

Towards the end of 1720 , Maria Clementina gave birth to her first son and heir to the dynasty, Charles Edward. This, too, had been the purpose of the marriage – the birth of the Prince of Wales was intended to instil new hope in the hearts of the Stuarts’ subjects and revive their devotion to the cause of restoring the former dynasty to the throne. In March 1725, the royal couple’s next son , Henry Benedict, was born. It was then that serious trouble began. In the summer of that year, James Stuart appointed two Protestants as guardians of his sons. Charles Edward was nearly five years old, so it was feasible to consider placing him in the care of men, but Henry Benedict was still an infant, so direct care of him was entrusted to a woman whom Maria Clementina disliked and whose ability to look after him she did not trust. Furthermore, Stuart expressly stipulated that the Queen might only visit the children with his or the guardians’ consent and that she should not meet them alone. This was too much. The outraged mother protested, demanding a conversation with her husband. She objected not only to the deprivation of her maternal rights, but also to her isolation at court, where the king surrounded himself with those close to him—people who were hostile towards his wife. Maria Klementyna wrote a letter to her husband, to which he reacted in a shocking manner – instead of speaking to his wife, he consulted his advisers.

Seeing her husband’s helplessness, Maria Klementyna left the court and took refuge in the Convent of St Cecilia in Trastevere . From there, she corresponded with her husband, paying no heed to his accusations that she was acting under the influence of his enemies and damaging his good name (some believed that the cause of the row was an affair on the part of James Stuart, though Maria Klementyna never accused him of this). The king’s advisers made a mistake – which, incidentally, attests to their incompetence – and, wishing to pin the blame for the turmoil on Maria Klementyna, they published a manifesto in which they attributed to her reckless actions and, indeed, accusations of treason levelled by her husband. The conflict, which had Rome in a state of turmoil and deeply troubled the Holy Father, thus became known throughout Europe. Maria Clementina appealed to the Spanish, French and Imperial courts, presenting herself as a wronged wife and mother. She also emphasised that her husband was under the influence of advisors who were wicked and hostile towards her . She eventually received support from Spain. Elisabetta Farnese sided with Maria Klementyna and accused James Stuart of mistreating his wife; Philip V backed her up. It was the Queen of Spain who advised Sobieska to consider whether she wished to live apart from her sons, but at the same time recommended that – should Maria Klementyna wish to return to her husband’s court – she should do so on her own terms: amongst other things, she should demand financial independence. A letter also arrived from France , stating that Maria Clementine should return to her husband, but that Stuart must first remove those who were hostile towards her.

The queen kept her father informed of her troubles , as she feared he might learn everything from the newspapers. It must be emphasised, however, that most of the press remained discreetly silent, and it was difficult to learn anything from it about the scandals at the Stuart court. Maria Clementina did not wish her father to interfere in her affairs. She rightly anticipated that the prince would order her to return meekly to her husband, and she did not want that under any circumstances. Indeed, the prince advised his daughter to reconcile with her husband without setting any conditions. He also explained that even a woman of her standing should not expect her husband to submit to her wishes. He also wrote to James Stuart, attempting, against his daughter’s wishes, to mediate between her and her husband. There is no doubt that he feared the punishment that might befall Maria Clementina. In her letter, the queen assured her father that she was aware of her responsibilities, but that she would prefer punishment to a return to the hell that court had become for her.

In the marital dispute , the Pope also sided with Maria Clementina , for whom the Protestants’ guardianship of the Prince of Wales was unacceptable. The Holy Father agreed with the view that an independent woman should have her own money, and allocated a specific sum to Maria Clementina, which her husband was to deliver to the Queen – an occasion that brought the two together, but also a humiliation for the proud and stubborn Stuart.

Return

Eventually, after two years of dispute , Mary Clementine decided to return to her husband’s court. In the meantime, James, together with his sons, had moved to Bologna, and it was there, albeit with some delay, that Mary Clementine followed. Even before she arrived there, Benedict XIII demanded that she resume her public duties. At first, the queen tried to refuse this request, but under pressure from the Pope, she began to attend religious ceremonies.

Clearly, after such a long separation from her family, it was not easy for her to settle back into court life . She seems to have resumed her normal duties, as one of James Stuart’s letters to Jakub Sobieski suggests she was expecting a child; however, either this was a mistake or the pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. It seems that a similar situation had already occurred earlier, in 1723. Determining pregnancy in Maria Klementyna’s case, just as in Jadwiga Elżbieta’s, was not straightforward. They probably experienced the first signs suggesting pregnancy – a missed period, perhaps an enlargement of the abdomen and breasts, and feeling unwell – but later the symptoms subsided, and it is difficult to determine whether these were the effects of some illness or actual pregnancies ending in miscarriage. At the start of 1720, the Queen noticed precisely such changes and it was concluded that she was expecting a child. Accounts suggest that the pregnancy progressed normally, and in the autumn – when the child should have been born – the physicians predicted the due date to be in two months’ time, and this time they were not mistaken – Charles Edward was born on the last day of December that year. A pregnancy cannot last a year, so either the initial announcement at the start of the year was a complete mistake, or Maria Klementyna suffered a miscarriage – which was not even recorded – and immediately became pregnant again, which must have happened around March. A similar situation could therefore have arisen later on – the most important thing, however, is that since pregnancy was suspected, the royal couple resumed marital relations.

The Church, charitable work and illness

In the final years of her life , the Queen devoted herself primarily to devotion and charitable work. A booklet published after her death noted that, over time, she had become immersed in melancholy, contemplation and asceticism. She slept little, rose at dawn, usually dressed without assistance, and attended Mass several times a day. In effect, she had renounced the royal way of life. She devoted all her time to prayer and to helping the poorest. She was never harsh or arrogant towards anyone; everyone found help with her, and no one who turned to her ever left empty-handed. She was a figure of authority, and if she promised anything, she kept her word. In Rome, she organised a soup kitchen ( Sagra Mensa, or ‘holy canteen’), where she volunteered three times a week. She also regularly visited hospitals. She spent all her free time away from charitable work in churches, and she also visited various monasteries. These activities, which went beyond the usual duties of a monarch, and a lifestyle far removed from that of royalty , took a heavy toll on her; by then she was already walking with the aid of a walking stick. In her early thirties, she began to suffer from stomach problems : she ate less and less, as she would experience stomach pains and vomit immediately after a meal, causing her to grow weaker. She ate only once a day and merely sipped her wine. Towards the end of her life, her meals consisted of a few spoonfuls of vegetable soup, boiled lettuce and an apple, and an egg in the evening. However, she gave no sign that she was suffering, even though she was constantly preparing for death. She was very brave and bore her illness patiently.

Her final hours began on 5 January 1735 . The Queen asked to be taken to her bedchamber and summoned her confessor. She spoke with him at length, assuring him that she was not afraid of hell. She asked to be given a crucifix and a rosary. She also recalled with regret the events surrounding her departure and subsequent return to her husband’s court. A few hours later, she summoned her confessor once more, but no longer had the strength to attend Mass; she rose from her bed for just a moment when she heard the bells from the neighbouring Basilica of the Twelve Apostles, and it was then that she received her last communion. At that point, some ladies came into the apartment; they prayed quietly and then spoke with the Queen. The dying woman then gave thanks to God, her household and her servants, and apologised to them for everything. At Maria Klementyna’s request, her sons were brought to her; she blessed them and bid them farewell. Then James Stuart arrived, to whom she also said goodbye and asked him to bring up both princes well. This was surely what lay closest to her heart. From that moment on, she took no more food. Nor was she able to attend Mass, though she longed to do so. She did not leave her bed, spending her time in meditation and reading, and for a little entertainment she also listened to recitations and singing. She continued in this way for the following days, despite the insistence of those around her – and presumably the physicians – that she should rest as much as possible.

News of the Queen’s agony spread throughout the city – the whole of Roman society took an interest in it. Prayers were said for her in every church . People gathered near the Muti Palace, weeping and enquiring about her condition. The Pope kept enquiring about Maria Clementina’s health; he also sent Cardinal Giovanni Antonio Guadagni, to whom the Queen assured her devotion to the Holy Father.

Later, she was no longer able to speak and still refused to eat, but she survived for almost two more weeks. She died on the night of 18 January, quietly whispering ‘Jesus’. That night she lay motionless, covered with a sheet, holding a crucifix in her left hand. At the very last moment, she raised her eyes to heaven; she tried to raise her hand, and at that moment she died. The ladies washed and dressed the body, and then the news of the death of Maria Klementyna Jakub Stuart was announced. Clergymen also came to the deceased’s bedroom to pay their last respects.

The funeral ceremonies

On the night of 19–20 January, by torchlight, the body was carried to a carriage adorned with a cross, and the entire court escorted it to the Church of the Twelve Apostles . It was laid upon a catafalque, and a private funeral service was held in the closed church. Later , the body was exhumed and the heart removed, which was laid to rest in that basilica . The church was then opened, and large numbers of people came to pay their last respects.

The funeral , organised at the Pope’s request, took place on 10 February of that year and was of an exceptionally solemn nature. The body was carried from the Basilica of the Twelve Apostles to St Peter’s Basilica . The funeral procession was watched by huge crowds , and it included representatives of devout brotherhoods and societies, numerous monks, clergy from all the churches situated between the two aforementioned basilicas, the Pope’s household and Swiss Guard, led by the Cardinal Camerlengo, as well as members of the Stuart court and alumni from the English, Scottish and Irish seminaries. Bringing up the rear of the procession was the late Queen’s carriage, draped in mourning purple, with its windows covered in the same fabric. The windows of the houses along the procession’s route were decorated.

The funeral procession did not reach St Peter’s Basilica until three o’clock in the morning. A funeral service was held there. The Queen’s body, dressed in a gown and draped in a magnificent royal cloak draped in a semicircle around her, was laid upon the ‘castrum doloris’, supported by four columns at its corners. Above it, at the vaulted ceiling, a magnificent crown was suspended, from which hung a canopy finished with fabric resembling ermine fur in its pattern. Once the service had ended, the attendants removed the royal robes from the body and dressed her in a Dominican habit and veil, whilst a crown was placed at the feet of the deceased. The body was then placed in succession into several coffins, which were sealed: the first was made of cypress wood and placed inside a lead coffin, and both were then placed inside one made of chestnut wood. At the request of Benedict XIV, Maria Clementina’s burial was commemorated with a tombstone, designed by Filippo Barigioni and sculpted by Pietro Bracci.

Text taken from PASAŻ WIEDZY , where you can find more reliable articles on Old Polish history and culture

Reproduced courtesy of the Museum of King John III’s Palace in Wilanów