House of Bourbon-Montpensier
Encyclopedia
John I, Duke of Bourbon
Jean de Bourbon was Duke of Bourbon, from 1410 to his death and Duke of Auvergne since 1416. He was the eldest son of Louis II and Anna d'Auvergne...
- the duc de Bourbon
Duke of Bourbon
Duke of Bourbon is a title in the peerage of France. It was created in the first half of the 14th century for the eldest son of Robert of France, Count of Clermont and Beatrice of Burgundy, heiress of the lordship of Bourbon...
. The second name of Montpensier
Montpensier
The French lordship of Montpensier , located in historical Auvergne, became a countship in the 14th century....
, comes from the title of the family.
The Bourbon-Montpensier family were the founders of the vast wealth that would later be enjoyed by the House of Orléans
House of Orleans
Orléans is the name used by several branches of the Royal House of France, all descended in the legitimate male line from the dynasty's founder, Hugh Capet. It became a tradition during France's ancien régime for the duchy of Orléans to be granted as an appanage to a younger son of the king...
and their cousins the Bourbon-Penthièvre
Bourbon-Penthièvre
The House of Bourbon-Penthièvre was an illegitimate branch of the House of Bourbon, thus descending from the Capetian dynasty. It was founded by the duc de Penthièvre , the only child and heir of the comte de Toulouse, the youngest illegitimate son of Louis XIV of France and the marquise de...
s.
History
The main line was founded by a marriage between John I, Duke of BourbonJohn I, Duke of Bourbon
Jean de Bourbon was Duke of Bourbon, from 1410 to his death and Duke of Auvergne since 1416. He was the eldest son of Louis II and Anna d'Auvergne...
and Marie of Valois, Countess of Montpensier . The title was transferred down the line, mainly by females. The most famous examples of holders of the title of duc de Montpensier were:
- Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, duchesse de Montpensier (La Grande Mademoiselle)
- Philippe II d'Orléans, duc d'Orléans, duc de MontpensierPhilippe II, Duke of OrléansPhilippe d'Orléans was a member of the royal family of France and served as Regent of the Kingdom from 1715 to 1723. Born at his father's palace at Saint-Cloud, he was known from birth under the title of Duke of Chartres...
- Louis Philippe II d'Orléans, duc d'Orléans, duc de MontpensierLouis Philippe II, Duke of OrléansLouis Philippe Joseph d'Orléans commonly known as Philippe, was a member of a cadet branch of the House of Bourbon, the ruling dynasty of France. He actively supported the French Revolution and adopted the name Philippe Égalité, but was nonetheless guillotined during the Reign of Terror...
This semi royal house was in existence for just over two centuries.
Counts of Montpensier (1384)
- Charles de Valois, comte de Montpensier (1362–1382) - son of John de Valois, duc de Berry and AuvergneJohn, Duke of BerryJohn of Valois or John the Magnificent was Duke of Berry and Auvergne and Count of Poitiers and Montpensier. He was the third son of King John II of France and Bonne of Luxemburg; his brothers were King Charles V of France, Duke Louis I of Anjou and Duke Philip the Bold of Burgundy...
- John de Valois, comte de Montpensier (1363–1401) - brother
- Marie of Valois, comtesse de Montpensier (1375–1434) - sister of John; she married John I, Duke of BourbonJohn I, Duke of BourbonJean de Bourbon was Duke of Bourbon, from 1410 to his death and Duke of Auvergne since 1416. He was the eldest son of Louis II and Anna d'Auvergne...
- Louis I de Bourbon, comte de MontpensierLouis I, Count of MontpensierLouis de Bourbon was the third son of John I, Duke of Bourbon and Marie de Berry, Duchess d'Auvergne; Count of Montpensier, Clermont-en-Auvergne and Sancerre and Dauphin of Auvergne, brother of Charles I of Bourbon...
(1403–1486) - son - Gilbert de Bourbon, comte de MontpensierGilbert, Count of MontpensierGilbert de Bourbon, Count of Montpensier son of Louis de Bourbon and Gabrielle La Tour, Count of Montpensier and Dauphin d'Auvergne...
(1448–1496) - son of Louis I - Louis II de Bourbon, comte de MontpensierLouis II, Count of MontpensierLouis de Bourbon, Count of Montpensier was the son of Gilbert, Count of Montpensier and Claire Gonzaga. He was Count of Montpensier and Clermont-en-Auvergne and Dauphin d'Auvergne from 1496 to his death....
(1483–1501) - son of Gilbert - Charles III de Bourbon, comte de MontpensierCharles III, Duke of BourbonCharles III, Duke of Bourbon was a French military leader, the Count of Montpensier and Dauphin of Auvergne. He commanded the Imperial troops of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in what became known as the Sack of Rome in 1527, where he was killed.-Biography:Charles was born at Montpensier...
(1490–1527) - brother of Louis II
House of BourbonHouse of BourbonThe House of Bourbon is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty . Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma...
- Louise de Bourbon, duchesse de MontpensierLouise de Bourbon, Duchess of MontpensierLouise de Bourbon was the Duchess of Montpensier, suo jure from February 1538 to 1561. She was the great great great grandmother of La Grande Mademoiselle.- Inheritance :...
(1482–1561) - sister of Charles III - Louis III be Bourbon, duc de MontpensierLouis III de Bourbon, Duke of MontpensierLouis de Bourbon was the second Duke of Montpensier. He was the great great grandfather of la Grande Mademoiselle.-Biography:...
(1513–1582) - son of Louise - François de Bourbon, duc de Montpensier (1542–1592) - son of Louis
- Henri de Bourbon, duc de MontpensierHenri de Bourbon, Duke of MontpensierHenri de Bourbon, Duke of Montpensier, was Dauphin of Auvergne, Duke of Montpensier, Sovereign Prince of the Dombes and Lord of Châtellerault....
(1573–1608) - son of François - Marie de Bourbon, duchesse de MontpensierMarie de Bourbon, Duchess of MontpensierMarie de Bourbon , Duchess of Montpensier, and Duchess of Orléans by marriage, was a French noblewoman and one of the last members of the House of Bourbon-Montpensier...
(1605–1627) - daughter of Henri - Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, duchesse de Montpensier (La Grande Mademoiselle) (1627–1693) - daughter of Marie
House of OrléansHouse of OrleansOrléans is the name used by several branches of the Royal House of France, all descended in the legitimate male line from the dynasty's founder, Hugh Capet. It became a tradition during France's ancien régime for the duchy of Orléans to be granted as an appanage to a younger son of the king...
On the death of Anne, Duchess of Montpensier, many of her titles, lands and wealth went to the House of OrléansHouse of Orleans
Orléans is the name used by several branches of the Royal House of France, all descended in the legitimate male line from the dynasty's founder, Hugh Capet. It became a tradition during France's ancien régime for the duchy of Orléans to be granted as an appanage to a younger son of the king...
. Her cousin Philippe de France, duc d'Orléans
Philippe I, Duke of Orléans
Philippe of France was the youngest son of Louis XIII of France and his queen consort Anne of Austria. His older brother was the famous Louis XIV, le roi soleil. Styled Duke of Anjou from birth, Philippe became Duke of Orléans upon the death of his uncle Gaston, Duke of Orléans...
was the founder of the modern House of Orléans
House of Orleans
Orléans is the name used by several branches of the Royal House of France, all descended in the legitimate male line from the dynasty's founder, Hugh Capet. It became a tradition during France's ancien régime for the duchy of Orléans to be granted as an appanage to a younger son of the king...
and was her sole heir. As a result of this vast inheritance, the Orléans family became very wealthy. Their wealth only increased when the Bourbon-Penthièvre
Bourbon-Penthièvre
The House of Bourbon-Penthièvre was an illegitimate branch of the House of Bourbon, thus descending from the Capetian dynasty. It was founded by the duc de Penthièvre , the only child and heir of the comte de Toulouse, the youngest illegitimate son of Louis XIV of France and the marquise de...
married into the family in 1769.
- Philippe de France, duc d'Orléans, duc de MontpensierPhilippe I, Duke of OrléansPhilippe of France was the youngest son of Louis XIII of France and his queen consort Anne of Austria. His older brother was the famous Louis XIV, le roi soleil. Styled Duke of Anjou from birth, Philippe became Duke of Orléans upon the death of his uncle Gaston, Duke of Orléans...
- Philippe II d'Orléans, duc d'Orléans, duc de MontpensierPhilippe II, Duke of OrléansPhilippe d'Orléans was a member of the royal family of France and served as Regent of the Kingdom from 1715 to 1723. Born at his father's palace at Saint-Cloud, he was known from birth under the title of Duke of Chartres...
(1674-1723) - Louis d'Orléans, duc d'Orléans, duc de Montpensier (1703-1752) - son of Philippe
- Louis Philippe I d'Orléans, duc d'Orléans, duc de MontpensierLouis Philippe I, Duke of OrléansLouis Philippe d'Orléans known as le Gros , was a French nobleman, a member of a cadet branch of the House of Bourbon, the dynasty then ruling France. The First Prince of the Blood after 1752, he was the most senior male at the French court after the immediate royal family. He was the father of...
(1725-1785) - son of Louis - Louis Philippe Joseph d'Orléans, duc d'Orléans, duc de MontpensierLouis Philippe II, Duke of OrléansLouis Philippe Joseph d'Orléans commonly known as Philippe, was a member of a cadet branch of the House of Bourbon, the ruling dynasty of France. He actively supported the French Revolution and adopted the name Philippe Égalité, but was nonetheless guillotined during the Reign of Terror...
(Philippe Égalité) (1747-1793) - son of Louis Philippe I - Louis Philippe III d'Orléans, King of the French, duc de MontpensierLouis-Philippe of FranceLouis Philippe I was King of the French from 1830 to 1848 in what was known as the July Monarchy. His father was a duke who supported the French Revolution but was nevertheless guillotined. Louis Philippe fled France as a young man and spent 21 years in exile, including considerable time in the...
(1773-1850) - son of Louis Philippe Joseph
Post Louis-Philippe of France
- Philippe d'Orléans, comte de Paris, duc de MontpensierPhilippe, Comte de ParisPhilippe d'Orléans, Count of Paris was the grandson of Louis Philippe I, King of the French. He was a claimant to the French throne from 1848 until his death.-Early life:...
(1838-1894) - grandson of Louis Philippe - Philippe d'Orléans, duc d'Orléans, duc de Montpensier (1869-1926) - son of Philippe
- Jean d'Orléans, duc de Guise, duc d'Orléans, duc de MontpensierJean d'Orléans, duc de GuiseJean Pierre Clément Marie d'Orléans, Duke of Guise , was the son of Robert, Duke of Chartres , grandson of Ferdinand-Philippe and great-grandson of Louis Philippe I, King of the French...
(1874-1940) - cousin of Philippe - Henri d'Orléans, comte de Paris, duc d'Orléans, duc de MontpensierHenri, comte de ParisHenri of Orléans, Count of Paris , was the Orléanist claimant to the throne of France from 1940 until his death.-Early life:...
(1908-1999) - son of Jean - Henri d'Orléans, comte de Paris, duc de France, duc de MontpensierHenri, comte de Paris, duc de FranceHenri d'Orléans is a member of the former French ruling dynasty of the House of Bourbon, and one of the current pretenders to the defunct French crown. A descendant of King Louis-Philippe , he is the current head of the Orléans line of the Bourbon dynasty...
(born 1933) - son of Henri
Courtesy title
The title Duke of Montpensier has been used as a courtesy title by other members of the House of Orléans:- Antoine Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Montpensier (1775–1807) second son of Louis Philippe II, Duke of OrléansLouis Philippe II, Duke of OrléansLouis Philippe Joseph d'Orléans commonly known as Philippe, was a member of a cadet branch of the House of Bourbon, the ruling dynasty of France. He actively supported the French Revolution and adopted the name Philippe Égalité, but was nonetheless guillotined during the Reign of Terror...
- Antoine d'Orléans, Duke of MontpensierAntoine, Duke of Montpensier- Titles and styles:/*13 July 182421 September 1824: His Serene Highness Prince Antoine d'Orléans*21 September 18249 August 1830: His Royal Highness Prince Antoine d'Orléans...
(1824–1890) youngest son of Louis Philippe, King of the FrenchLouis-Philippe of FranceLouis Philippe I was King of the French from 1830 to 1848 in what was known as the July Monarchy. His father was a duke who supported the French Revolution but was nevertheless guillotined. Louis Philippe fled France as a young man and spent 21 years in exile, including considerable time in the... - Marie-Thérèse of WürttembergDuchess Marie Therese of WürttembergMarie Therese of Württemberg was a member of the House of Württemberg and a Duchess of Württemberg by birth and a member of the House of Orléans and Countess of Clermont and Princess of Orléans through her marriage to Prince Henri, Count of Clermont Marie Therese of Württemberg (born 12 November...
, Duchess of Montpensier (born 1934), ex-wife of Prince Henri, Count of Paris, Duke of France
Other Titles
House of Orleans
Orléans is the name used by several branches of the Royal House of France, all descended in the legitimate male line from the dynasty's founder, Hugh Capet. It became a tradition during France's ancien régime for the duchy of Orléans to be granted as an appanage to a younger son of the king...
, the title was the main on used by the holder. By the time of the marriage of Marie de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier
Marie de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier
Marie de Bourbon , Duchess of Montpensier, and Duchess of Orléans by marriage, was a French noblewoman and one of the last members of the House of Bourbon-Montpensier...
and a Prince du Sang
Prince du Sang
A prince of the blood was a person who was legitimately descended in the male line from the monarch of a country. In France, the rank of prince du sang was the highest held at court after the immediate family of the king during the ancien régime and the Bourbon Restoration...
, Gaston, Duke of Orléans
Gaston, Duke of Orléans
Gaston of France, , also known as Gaston d'Orléans, was the third son of King Henry IV of France and his wife Marie de Medici. As a son of the king, he was born a Fils de France. He later acquired the title Duke of Orléans, by which he was generally known during his adulthood...
, a whole collection of titles had been collected and used. These ones were:
- Dauphin of AuvergneDauphin of AuvergneDauphin d'Auvergne, or in Occitan Dalfi d'Alvernha was Count of Clermont and Montferrand , troubadour and patron of troubadours. He was born c. 1150 and died in 1234 or 1235...
- Sovereign Prince of the Dombes (Prince du Dombes)
- Lord of Châtellerault
- Duke of Montpensier
- Prince de Luc,
- Prince de la Roche-sur-Yon,
- Prince de Joinville
- Duc de Beaupréau
- Duc de Guise
- Duc de Saint-Fargeau
- Duc de Joyeuse
- Duc de Châtellerault
- Marquise de Méziere
- Comte d'Eu,
- Comte de Mortain
- Comte de Bar-sur-Seine
- vicomte d'Auge
- Vicomte de Brosse,
- Baron de Beaujolais,
- Lord de Champigny-sur-Veude
Note:Most of the titles were used in their feminine forms because most of the holders of the titles were women.
After Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans
On the death of Marie de Bourbon, duchesse de MpontpensierMarie de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier
Marie de Bourbon , Duchess of Montpensier, and Duchess of Orléans by marriage, was a French noblewoman and one of the last members of the House of Bourbon-Montpensier...
in 1627, less than a month after the birth of her daughter Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, duchesse de Montpensier
Anne, Duchess of Montpensier
Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, Duchess of Montpensier, known as La Grande Mademoiselle, was the eldest daughter of Gaston d'Orléans, and his first wife Marie de Bourbon. One of the greatest heiresses in history, she died unmarried and childless, leaving her vast fortune to her cousin, Philippe of...
the family wealth had grown astonishingly. After her mothers death, Anne became the heiress to one of the largest fortunes in, probably, Europe.
Unfortunately she died with no heirs. Even though she could have been Queen of various countries, she was happy being a Princesse du Sang
Prince du Sang
A prince of the blood was a person who was legitimately descended in the male line from the monarch of a country. In France, the rank of prince du sang was the highest held at court after the immediate family of the king during the ancien régime and the Bourbon Restoration...
in France and having her various residences at her disposal. She died in 1693 and most of her fortune went to her other royal cousin Philippe de France
Philippe I, Duke of Orléans
Philippe of France was the youngest son of Louis XIII of France and his queen consort Anne of Austria. His older brother was the famous Louis XIV, le roi soleil. Styled Duke of Anjou from birth, Philippe became Duke of Orléans upon the death of his uncle Gaston, Duke of Orléans...
, duc d'Orléans. Even though some of her titles had gone to Louis-Auguste de Bourbon
Louis-Auguste de Bourbon, duc du Maine
Louis Auguste de Bourbon, Legitimé de France was the eldest legitimised son of the Louis XIV of France and his maîtresse-en-titre, Madame de Montespan...
, the founder of the illegitimate line of Bourbon du Maine
Bourbon du Maine
The House of Bourbon-Maine was an illegitimate branch of the House of Bourbon, being thus part of the Capetian dynasty. It was founded in 1672 when Louis-Auguste de Bourbon, duc du Maine was legitimised by his father, King Louis XIV of France....
, as a result of a scam by his mother Françoise-Athénaïs, marquise de Montespan
Françoise-Athénaïs, marquise de Montespan
Françoise Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart, marquise of Montespan , better known as Madame de Montespan, was the most celebrated maîtresse en titre of King Louis XIV of France, by whom she had seven children....
.
Her vast wealth helped to found the House of Orléans
House of Orleans
Orléans is the name used by several branches of the Royal House of France, all descended in the legitimate male line from the dynasty's founder, Hugh Capet. It became a tradition during France's ancien régime for the duchy of Orléans to be granted as an appanage to a younger son of the king...
and then the Bourbon-Penthièvre
Bourbon-Penthièvre
The House of Bourbon-Penthièvre was an illegitimate branch of the House of Bourbon, thus descending from the Capetian dynasty. It was founded by the duc de Penthièvre , the only child and heir of the comte de Toulouse, the youngest illegitimate son of Louis XIV of France and the marquise de...
family financially. The latter getting most of it through the death and inheritances from their cousins the du Maines. They
Bourbon-Penthièvre
The House of Bourbon-Penthièvre was an illegitimate branch of the House of Bourbon, thus descending from the Capetian dynasty. It was founded by the duc de Penthièvre , the only child and heir of the comte de Toulouse, the youngest illegitimate son of Louis XIV of France and the marquise de...
went on to be absorbed by the House of Orléans
House of Orleans
Orléans is the name used by several branches of the Royal House of France, all descended in the legitimate male line from the dynasty's founder, Hugh Capet. It became a tradition during France's ancien régime for the duchy of Orléans to be granted as an appanage to a younger son of the king...
via a marriage and no male heirs.
House of Orléans
On the death of Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, the title was used exclusively by the main members on the house. The first person to hold the title of duc de Montpensier was Philippe de France and the title is often said to have been inherited by his wife Elizabeth Charlotte, Princess Palatine, duchesse d'Orléans. Even so she did not hold the title in her own right but as the wife of the duke of Montpensier.The title passed down the line of the Orléans family and is now used as a courtesy title
Courtesy title
A courtesy title is a form of address in systems of nobility used for children, former wives and other close relatives of a peer. These styles are used 'by courtesy' in the sense that the relatives do not themselves hold substantive titles...
by the pretender to the Throne
Throne
A throne is the official chair or seat upon which a monarch is seated on state or ceremonial occasions. "Throne" in an abstract sense can also refer to the monarchy or the Crown itself, an instance of metonymy, and is also used in many expressions such as "the power behind the...
of the Orléans family
House of Orleans
Orléans is the name used by several branches of the Royal House of France, all descended in the legitimate male line from the dynasty's founder, Hugh Capet. It became a tradition during France's ancien régime for the duchy of Orléans to be granted as an appanage to a younger son of the king...
.