Philippe I, Duke of Orléans
Encyclopedia
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
. During the reign of his brother he was known simply as Monsieur
, the traditional style at the court of France for the younger brother of the king. Unabashedly effeminate
and notoriously homosexual, he nonetheless fulfilled his dynastic duty by marrying twice and begetting several children. In fact, he was the founder of the House of Orléans
, a cadet branch
of the ruling House of Bourbon
, and thus the direct ancestor of Louis Philippe I, who ruled France from 1830 till 1848 in the July Monarchy
. Through the children of his two marriages, Philippe became an ancestor of most modern-day Roman Catholic royalty, giving him the nickname of "the grandfather of Europe
". Philippe's other achievements include his decisive victory as military commander at the Battle of Cassel
in 1677. Through careful personal administration, Philippe greatly augmented the fortunes of the House of Orléans.
in the town of Saint-Germain-en-Laye
, France. As the son of a ruling King, the infant Philippe held the prestigious rank of a Fils de France
(son of France). As such, he ranked immediately behind his older brother Louis, Dauphin of France
, who inherited the French throne before Philippe reached the age of three. From birth, Philippe was second in line to the throne of France and was entitled to the style of Royal Highness.
He was born in the presence of his father Louis XIII, the Princess of Condé, and the Duchess of Vendôme
, some of the most prominent members of the Bourbon
family. An hour after his birth, he was baptised in a private ceremony by Dominique Séguier, Bishop of Meaux, and given the name Philippe. Louis XIII had wanted to give the infant the title Count of Artois
in honour of a recent French victory in Arras within the county of Artois
. However, Louis respected tradition and gave him the title of Duke of Anjou instead, a title commonly granted to the younger sons of French kings since the fourteenth century. After his baptism, Philippe was put in the care of Françoise de Souvré, marquise de Lansac
, who also looked after his older brother.
s between the parallel Orléans families also came into play with Philippe's older cousin, Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, Duchess of Montpensier. As eldest daughter of the younger brother of King Louis XIII, she was known as Mademoiselle to the French court until the birth of Philippe's daughter Anne Marie Louise of Orléans in 1662, after which she became known as la Grande Mademoiselle.
The child Philippe was acknowledged to be attractive and intelligent. The Duchess of Montpensier dubbed him the "prettiest child in the world"., while his mother's friend and confidant, Madame de Motteville, later said of Philippe that he displayed a "lively intelligence" early on. Queen Anne was observed to address Philippe by such nicknames as "my little girl" and encouraged him to dress in feminine clothing even as a young man – a habit he would retain all his life. A contemporary would later call him the "silliest woman who ever lived", a reference to his overt sexuality. As a young man, Philippe would dress up and attend balls and parties in female attire, for example, dressed as a shepherdess. His inclination toward homosexuality
was not discouraged in the hope of reducing any threat he may have posed to his older brother. Reportedly, Cardinal Mazarin even arranged for his first homosexual contacts with his own nephew.
In the autumn of 1647, at age seven, Philippe caught smallpox
, but recovered and convalesced at the Palais Royal
. A year later, he was taken from the care of women and, on 11 May 1648 carried out his first official ceremony when he was baptised publicly at the Palais Royal. His godparents were his uncle Gaston and aunt Queen Henrietta Maria of England
. Later, he was placed in the care of François de La Mothe Le Vayer
and the Abbé de Choisy
. He was also educated by the maréchal du Plessis-Praslin
. His tutors were chosen by Mazarin, who was created the superintendent of the prince's education by his mother. His education emphasized languages, history, literature, mathematics and dancing. Despite having a household of his own, his behavior was closely watched by his mother and Mazarin, who made sure that Philippe had no meaningful financial freedom from the crown.
When Philippe was eight, the civil war known as the Fronde
began in France. It lasted until 1653 in its two main phases: the Fronde Parlementaire (1648–1649) and the Fronde des nobles (1650–1653). During the conflict, the royal family was obliged to flee Paris on the night of 9 February 1651 for the safety of Saint-Germain-en-Laye in order to avoid a revolt by the nobility against Mazarin. When peace returned, the decision was made for Philippe to move his household to the Palais des Tuileries, previously the residence of the duchess of Montpensier opposite the Palais Royal. At the coronation of Louis XIV on 7 June 1654, Philippe acted as dean, placing the crown of France on his brother's head. All his life, Philippe would be a noted lover of etiquette and ceremony, ensuring that all customary details were adhered to.
1658 appears to have been the key year in which Philippe's sexuality became well defined. Court gossip said that Mazarin's own nephew Philippe Jules Mancini, the Duke of Nevers, had been the "first to [have] corrupted" Philippe in what was referred to as the "Italian vice" – contemporary slang for male homosexuality. Phillippe certainly did make his first contacts that year with Philippe de Lorraine, known as the Chevalier de Lorraine
, the male lover with whom he would establish the closest emotional attachment throughout his life. The Chevalier held the rank of a "Foreign Prince
" at the French court, his cousin being the ruling Duke of Lorraine. Around the same time, Philippe met the famously arrogant Armand de Gramont, comte de Guiche
, with whom he was infatuated. There were also rumours at court that Philippe in fact had a mistress and had showed an interest in the Duchess of Mercœur
, Mazarin's niece. Another lover of Philippe at this time was Antoine Coiffier, the Marquis d'Effiat. The latter had entered Philippe's life as the capitaine des chasses and stayed in his household until Philippe's death.
In late June 1658, Louis became gravely ill. Presumed to have typhoid, Louis was almost pronounced dead when, in mid-July, he began to recover. The illness made Philippe, heir presumptive
to the throne, the center of attention. For fear of infection, Philippe could not see his brother. During the crisis, Queen Anne became closer to her younger son, showing him more affection. After Louis's recovery, Philippe was once again left to his own devices. Later in 1658, Philippe made his most significant purchase, the Château de Saint Cloud, a building about 10 kilometres west of Paris. On 8 October 1658, its proprietor Barthélemy Hervart organised a sumptuous feast at Saint Cloud
in honour of the royal family. Some two weeks later, on 25 October, Philippe bought the estate for 240,000 livres. He immediately began to organise improvements to what was then a small villa
.
s of the Ancien régime, and it was technically Philippe's birthright as the brother of the king. Thus, at the death of Gaston, Philippe himself took on the new style of Duke of Orléans even without official recognition. Louis XIV granted Philippe the title officially on 10 May 1661 along with the subsidiary titles duke of Valois and duke of Chartres
, all with the approval of the Parlement de Paris. He was also granted the lordship of Montargis
.
on 9 June 1660, Queen Anne turned her attention to the marriage of Philippe. He had previously been encouraged to court his older cousin the Duchess of Montpensier, eldest daughter of Gaston and his first wife Marie de Bourbon
. Known as Mademoiselle at this time, she had an immense private fortune and had previously rejected suitors such as Charles II of England
. Born in 1627, she was the sole heiress of her mother who died in childbirth. Mademoiselle declined the union, complaining that Philippe always stayed near his mother as if he was "like a child". Mademoiselle instead remained unmarried. Philippe would marry instead another first cousin, Princess Henrietta of England
, youngest child of King Charles I of England
and his wife Queen Henrietta Maria
, who was Philippe's aunt. The latter took refuge at the court of France after the birth of Princess Henrietta in 1644. Unpopular in England, she fled to escape the political unrest that accompanied the English Civil War
, a conflict that concluded with the execution of her husband in 1649. At first, Queen Henrietta Maria lived in France without her daughter, who arrived two years later, smuggled out of England by the Countess of Morton
to join her mother. They lived at the Palais Royal and at the Louvre
. In 1660, after the restoration of the House of Stuart
to the throne of England under her brother Charles II
, Princess Henrietta returned to England to visit her sister, the Princess of Orange
, who later caught smallpox
and died. The French court officially asked for Henrietta's hand on behalf of Philippe on 22 November 1660 while she was in England. The couple signed their marriage contract at the Palais Royal on 30 March 1661. The ceremony took place the next day in the same building in front of select members of the court. The dowry promised was a huge 840,000 livres. Known as Henriette d'Angleterre in France, and Minette to her intimates, she was known officially as Madame and was ever popular with the court. Court gossip later said that the king was the father of Henrietta's first child. Henrietta's very open flirting is said to have caused a jealous Philippe to retaliate by beginning to flaunt his sexuality openly in an age which was not as accepting.
Henrietta's flirting with the king started early in the summer of 1661 while the newlyweds were staying at the Palace of Fontainebleau for the summer. Philippe complained to his mother about the intimacy that Louis and Henrietta displayed, which led Queen Anne to reprimand both son and daughter-in-law. Relations were further strained when Henrietta allegedly seduced Philippe's old lover, the comte de Guiche.
The couple moved from the Tuileries in early 1662 to the Palais Royal
. Later in March of the same year, Philippe became a father when Henrietta gave birth to their daughter Marie Louise, the future wife of Charles II of Spain
. Henrietta's disappointment at the birth of a daughter was great, and she even remarked that she should "throw her into the river!" This greatly offended Queen Anne, who adored her first granddaughter. For his part, Philippe would always consider Marie Louise his favourite child. The girl was baptised on 21 May 1662. On the same day Philippe took part in the famous Carrousel du Louvre, where he dressed extravagantly as the King of Persia with the king as the King of the Romans and all ladies of the court in attendance.
The ducal couple would not have another child until 1664, when Henrietta gave birth at Fontainebleau
to a son who was given the title Duke of Valois. Philippe wrote to his brother-in-law Charles II of England
"that your sister was this morning safely delivered of a fine boy. The child seems to be in excellent health". The child nonetheless died of convulsions in 1666, having been baptised Philippe Charles d'Orléans
hours before death. The loss of the little Duke of Valois affected Henrietta greatly. Philippe, however, was anxious to maintain the allowance which his son had received from the king. This death only augmented the grief of a court still in mourning
for the death of Queen Anne in January.
In 1665, the comte de Guiche was exiled from the court with Philippe reporting to Queen Anne that Henrietta had had private interviews with the dashing nobleman.
Philippe took part in the War of Devolution
in 1667 while Henrietta remained at Saint Cloud in a state of pregnancy. On the field, Philippe took an active part in the trenches at Tournai
and Douay
and distinguished himself through his valour and coolness under fire. But Philippe later became bored with battle and interested himself more in the decoration of his tent. Hearing that Henrietta was ill due to a miscarriage, he returned to Saint Cloud, where she was recovering from an ordeal which almost cost her her life. Upon her recovery, Philippe returned to the battlefield and distinguished himself at the Siege of Lille (1667)
.
In January 1670, Henrietta prevailed upon the king to imprison the Chevalier de Lorraine, first near Lyon
, then in the Mediterranean island-fortress of the Château d'If
. He was finally banished to Rome after offending the king and Henrietta by boasting that he could get Philippe to divorce her. In retaliation for the Chevalier's treatment, Philippe withdrew to his estate at Villers-Cotterêtt, dragging Henrietta with him. By February, Philippe's protests and pleas persuaded the king to restore the Chevalier to his brother's entourage.
The couple had their last child in August 1669, a daughter who was baptised Anne Marie at the private chapel of the Palais Royal
on 8 April 1670 by Philippe's first chaplain, the Bishop of Vabres
.
Henrietta is best known to political historians in France for her part in negotiating the Secret Treaty of Dover
, an offensive and defensive treaty between England and France signed at Dover on 1 June 1670. It required France to assist England in her aim to rejoin the Roman Catholic Church
and England to assist France in her war of conquest against the Dutch Republic
. The Third Anglo-Dutch War was a direct consequence of this treaty. Having returned to France at the end of June 1670, Henrietta had to endure Philippe's blatant spite for her part in the Chevalier's exile and her secret mission to Dover. Despite tense relations, she traveled to Saint Cloud on 24 June, when she started to complain of pains in her side. Relaxing at Saint Cloud on 30 June, she collapsed on the terrace at the palace. Taken inside, she was undressed and started to exclaim that she had been poisoned. She subsequently died between the hours of two and three in the morning of 30 June 1670 at the age of 26. The Chevalier de Lorraine and the Marquis d'Effiat were accused of poisoning her, however an autopsy
was performed which found that Henrietta died of peritonitis
caused by a perforated ulcer
.
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=100% align="center"
|-
! style=font-size: 90%; line-height: 110%;|Painting commissioned by Philippe for Saint Cloud, Jean Nocret, 1670
|-
|
. Known as Liselotte within her family, she was the only daughter of Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine
, and his estranged wife Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel. She was recommended by Anna Gonzaga
, a close friend of Philippe and her aunt by marriage. Elizabeth Charlotte was a first cousin of Anne Henriette of Bavaria
, daughter-in-law of the Grand Condé. Elizabeth Charlotte had grown up with her aunt Sophia of Hanover
due to her parents' bad relationship. Throughout her life she would remain in contact with Sophia, writing some 50,000 letters that detailed life at the court of France.
The couple was very happy in the first years of their marriage. The Chevalier de Lorraine was in Italy, but he would return in spring 1672. Pregnant later that year, Elizabeth Charlotte gave birth to a son in June 1673 who was named Alexandre Louis and given the title Duke of Valois. Alexandre Louis would die, however, in 1676. A second son, Philippe
, would follow in 1674, and then a daughter, Élisabeth Charlotte, in 1676, after which the two mutually agreed to sleep in separate beds. Elizabeth Charlotte was praised as being a natural mother. Philippe's second son with Elizabeth Charlotte, known as the Duke of Chartres until he inherited the dukedom of Orléans in 1701, would later serve as Regent of France
during the minority of Louis XV. Elizabeth Charlotte acted as a mother to Philippe's children by Henrietta and maintained correspondence with them until their last days.
in 1667, Philippe was eager to return to the field. In 1676 and 1677 he took part in sieges of Flanders and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant general
, which made him second-in-command to Louis XIV himself.
The most dazzling victory that Philippe oversaw took place on 11 April 1677: the Battle of Cassel
against William II, Prince of Orange
, later the king of England and son of Philippe's own first cousin Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange
. William decided to relieve some besieged towns; from Ypres
he marched at the head of an army of 32,000 men through Poperinge
and Oxelaëre
in the Cassel Valley. Philippe, who learned of his plans, arranged to meet William's forces at Penebeek between Noordpeene
and Zuytpeene
. Louis XIV sent him some 25,000 footsoldiers and 9,000 cavalry under the command of Marshal de Luxembourg from Cambrai
. By nightfall there were 66,000 soldiers ready for battle.
{| class="toccolours" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 1em; font-size: 85%; background:#c6dbf7; color:black; width:20em; max-width:40%" cellspacing="5"
| align="left"| "The people of Paris went wild with joy. They really love Monsieur. But at court they'd wished he'd lost the battle for the king's sake..."
|-
| align="left"|Extract from the memoirs of Primi Visconti
|}
The Dutch stormed French positions without first exploring the site. The result was that Marshal Luxembourg was able to surprise the Dutch with a cavalry attack that practically destroyed three battalions and forced William and his Dutch troops to flee. In all, casualties on both sides amounted to 4200 deaths and 7000 injuries. Philippe was hailed for his skill as a military commander, much to the annoyance of his brother, the king. He was presumably jealous of Philippe's growing popularity at court as well as on the battlefield. In honour of his victory at Cassel, Philippe set up a Barnabite College
in Paris. The campaign marked the end of his military career; he soon immersed himself once again into a life of pleasure.
, both of whom were employed to elaborate the décor at Saint Cloud and the Palais Royal. As early as 1660, Philippe also ordered Antoine Lepautre
to begin extensions at Saint Cloud; later he became contrôleur général of Philippe's properties.
Following Lepautre's death in 1679, work on Saint Cloud was continued by his executive assistant Jean Girard
in collaboration with Thomas Gobert. Later on, Philippe sought Mansart
to design a grand staircase in the left wing in the manner of the Ambassadors' Staircase at Versailles. The gardens were redesigned by André Le Nôtre
, while the basin and lowermost canal were added by Mansart in 1698. At the time of Philippe's death in 1701, the estate of Saint Cloud numbered some1200 acres (4.9 km²).
Saint Cloud remained with the Orléans family until 1785, when Philippe's great-grandson Louis Philippe d'Orléans
sold it to Marie Antoinette
, Philippe's great-granddaughter, for the sum of 6 million livres.
Minor improvements at the Palais Royal began in 1661 at the time of Philippe's marriage to Henrietta, but the property was part of the crown holdings, and had not been used officially for years. Philippe was limited in what he could do to renovate the building until it was given to him in 1692. Philippe again turned to Mansart for assistance in modernizing it. The interior décor was entrusted to Antoine Coypel, whose father Noël Coypel had previously worked at the palace. In 1695, Philippe bought a small island in the Seine
directly opposite the château that he renamed the "Île de Monsieur".
Philippe not only enjoyed architecture and socia, but also music and dancing; he was in fact famed for his exceptional dancing abilities. Philippe was a patron of musicians such as Anglebert
, Dumont
, Arlaud
and Marie Aubry
, many of whom would stay part of his son's household after his death in 1701. Lully
was also a protégé of Philippe after he left Mademoiselle's household. Philippe's small art collection created the basis for the Orleans Collection
, one of the most important art collections ever assembled.
With the permission of the parlement
of Paris, Philippe sponsored projects to help maintain his estates and enhance their profitability. From 1679, he was granted the right to build the Canal d'Orléans
, a large canal
that connected the Loire River at Orléans
to a junction with the Canal du Loing
and the Canal de Briare in the village of Buges
near Montargis
. As the largest canal built in France since Philippe's grandfather Henri IV built the Canal de Briare
in 1604, its construction was considered an engineering feat. The canal, used to transport goods from Orléans to Paris, was a great success in its time and is still used widely today. Philippe's careful investment and management of his various estates made him a wealthy man in his own right, his fortune augmented considerably at the death of his cousin Mademoiselle in 1693. Philippe is acknowledged as being not only the biological founder of the House of Orléans
, but as financial founder of a family whose monetary value would rival that of the main line of the house of Bourbon
.
; count of Dourdan, Mortain and Bar-sur-Seine; and viscount of Auge and Domfront. In later life, Philippe was thus able to maintain his lavish lifestyle easily, and he found much satisfaction in the activities of his children and grandchildren. Both of his daughters by his first wife Henrietta became queens, and his son the Duke of Chartres pursued an active and distinguished military career, having served at the Battle of Steenkerque
in 1692 as well as the Siege of Namur
, much to his father's pride. As he had with Philippe, Louis XIV was careful to limit the power of Chartres.
In 1696, Philippe's granddaughter Maria Adelaide came to the French court from Italy for her marriage to the Louis, Duke of Burgundy, who was third in line to the throne. The two were married in 1697 and became the parents of Louis XV.
{| class="toccolours" style="float: right; margin-left: 0em; margin-right: 1em; font-size: 85%; background:#c6dbf7; color:black; width:20em; max-width:40%" cellspacing="5"
| align="left"| "I won Monsieur over during the last three years of his life. We even used to laugh together about his weaknesses. [...] He had confidence in me and always took my side, but before that I used to suffer dreadfully. I was just beginning to be happy when the Almighty took poor Monsieur from me"
|-
| align="left"|Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate
writing in 1716 to the Princess of Wales
regarding their mutual affection in the later years of their marriage
|}
In 1701, Chartres was denied a position on the front in the War of the Spanish Succession
, which began that year when most European states refused to recognise Louis XIV's grandson Philip V
as king of Spain. This slight was the source of great bitterness on the part of both father and son after. The pretext seems to have been the behavior of Chartres in parading his mistress Mademoiselle de Séry in view of his wife. On 8 June 1701 Louis XIV and Philippe met at the Château de Marly
to dine together. At first meeting, Louis XIV attacked Philippe about Chartres's conduct with Mademoiselle de Séry. Philippe responded by reprimanding Louis for similar conduct with his own mistresses during his marriage to Queen Marie Thérèse, adding that Chartres had still not received the favours promised to him for having married his wife Françoise Marie. Louis was shocked to be spoken to in such manner by his brother. Nonetheless, the announcement of dinner halted the argument, and the brothers sat down to dine.
Philippe angrily returned to Saint Cloud early the same evening to dine with his son. Philippe collapsed onto his son after suffering a fatal stroke
at noon 9 June 1701 at the age of sixty. Louis XIV, upon hearing his only sibling had died, said "I cannot believe I will never see my brother again". The Duchess of Burgundy, his granddaughter, was distraught, avowing that she "had loved Monsieur very much". Philippe's heart was taken to the Val-de-Grâce
convent on 14 June, and his body was taken on 21 June to the Basilica of St Denis, where it remained until the French Revolution
, at which time the basilica was desecrated and all graves destroyed.
Elizabeth Charlotte, worried that she would be put in a convent (a stipulation of her wedding contract in the event of Philippe's death) was assured by the king that she could remain at court as long as she wished. She burnt all the letters of Philippe's lovers through the years lest they fall into "the wrong hands", declaring that the perfume from the letters made her nauseated. Louis XIV assured the new Duke of Orléans, formerly the Duke of Chartres, that the past was forgotten and that henceforth he was to look on him as his father. The court was devastated and his old friend, Louis XIV's discarded mistress Madame de Montespan, was also greatly affected, the two having been very close.
The widowed Elizabeth Charlotte continued to write frequently to her daughter, stepdaughter, and the Duchess of Modena. She herself died at Saint Cloud in December 1722 and was also buried at Saint Denis. The Chevalier de Lorraine died impoverished in 1702.
, daughter of Charles I of England
and Henrietta Maria of France
, on 31 March 1661, at the Palais Royal. The couple had three children:
, daughter of Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine
and Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel, on 16 November 1671 at Châlons
. The couple had three children:
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[In heraldic blazon
, Azure is blue, Or
is gold, and Argent is silver]
Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1610 to 1643.Louis was only eight years old when he succeeded his father. His mother, Marie de Medici, acted as regent during Louis' minority...
and his queen consort
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
Anne of Austria
Anne of Austria
Anne of Austria was Queen consort of France and Navarre, regent for her son, Louis XIV of France, and a Spanish Infanta by birth...
. His older brother was the famous Louis XIV, le roi soleil
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
. Styled Duke of Anjou from birth, Philippe became Duke of Orléans upon the death of his uncle 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...
. During the reign of his brother he was known simply as Monsieur
Monsieur
' is an honorific title that used to refer to or address the eldest living brother of the king in the French royal court. It is also a customary French title of respect and term of address for a French-speaking man, corresponding to such English titles as Mr...
, the traditional style at the court of France for the younger brother of the king. Unabashedly effeminate
Effeminacy
Effeminacy describes traits in a human male, that are more often associated with traditional feminine nature, behaviour, mannerisms, style or gender roles rather than masculine nature, behaviour, mannerisms, style or roles....
and notoriously homosexual, he nonetheless fulfilled his dynastic duty by marrying twice and begetting several children. In fact, he was the founder of 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...
, a cadet branch
Cadet branch
Cadet branch is a term in genealogy to describe the lineage of the descendants of the younger sons of a monarch or patriarch. In the ruling dynasties and noble families of much of Europe and Asia, the family's major assets – titles, realms, fiefs, property and income – have...
of the ruling House of Bourbon
House of Bourbon
The 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...
, and thus the direct ancestor of Louis Philippe I, who ruled France from 1830 till 1848 in the July Monarchy
July Monarchy
The July Monarchy , officially the Kingdom of France , was a period of liberal constitutional monarchy in France under King Louis-Philippe starting with the July Revolution of 1830 and ending with the Revolution of 1848...
. Through the children of his two marriages, Philippe became an ancestor of most modern-day Roman Catholic royalty, giving him the nickname of "the grandfather of Europe
Descendants of Philippe I, Duke of Orléans
Philippe de France, Duke of Orléans was the brother of Louis XIV of France and the younger son of Louis XIII of France and Anne of Austria.A Bourbon himself, he founded the third line of Dukes of Orléans descended patrilineally from France's kings...
". Philippe's other achievements include his decisive victory as military commander at the Battle of Cassel
Battle of Cassel (1677)
The Battle of Cassel was fought on April 11, 1677, as a part of the Franco-Dutch War. It resulted in a French victory under Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, assisted by the Duke of Humières and Marshal Luxembourg, against the Dutch under William III of Orange, Stadtholder of the Netherlands...
in 1677. Through careful personal administration, Philippe greatly augmented the fortunes of the House of Orléans.
Birth and ancestry
Philippe was born on 21 September 1640 at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-LayeChâteau de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
The Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a royal palace in the commune of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, in the département of Yvelines, about 19 km west of Paris, France. Today, it houses the Musée d'Archéologie Nationale ....
in the town of Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris from the centre.Inhabitants are called Saint-Germanois...
, France. As the son of a ruling King, the infant Philippe held the prestigious rank of a Fils de France
Fils de France
Fils de France was the style and rank held by the sons of the kings and dauphins of France. A daughter was known as a fille de France .The children of the dauphin, who was the king's heir apparent, were accorded the same style and status as if they were the king's children instead of his...
(son of France). As such, he ranked immediately behind his older brother Louis, Dauphin of France
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
, who inherited the French throne before Philippe reached the age of three. From birth, Philippe was second in line to the throne of France and was entitled to the style of Royal Highness.
He was born in the presence of his father Louis XIII, the Princess of Condé, and the Duchess of Vendôme
Françoise de Lorraine (1592–1669)
Françoise de Lorraine was a French noblewoman and the daughter-in-law of King Henry IV of France; sometimes known as Françoise de Mercœur, she was the niece of Louise of Lorraine, wife of the previous king, Henry III of France...
, some of the most prominent members of the Bourbon
House of Bourbon
The 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...
family. An hour after his birth, he was baptised in a private ceremony by Dominique Séguier, Bishop of Meaux, and given the name Philippe. Louis XIII had wanted to give the infant the title Count of Artois
County of Artois
The County of Artois was an historic province of the Kingdom of France, held by the Dukes of Burgundy from 1384 until 1477/82, and a state of the Holy Roman Empire from 1493 until 1659....
in honour of a recent French victory in Arras within the county of Artois
Artois
Artois is a former province of northern France. Its territory has an area of around 4000 km² and a population of about one million. Its principal cities are Arras , Saint-Omer, Lens and Béthune.-Location:...
. However, Louis respected tradition and gave him the title of Duke of Anjou instead, a title commonly granted to the younger sons of French kings since the fourteenth century. After his baptism, Philippe was put in the care of Françoise de Souvré, marquise de Lansac
Governess of the Children of France
In France, the Governess of the Children of France , was charged with the education of the children and grand children of the monarch. The holder of the office was taken from the highest ranking nobility of France...
, who also looked after his older brother.
Le Petit Monsieur
At the death of his father Louis XIII in May 1643, Philippe's older brother acceded to the throne of France as Louis XIV. His mother Queen Anne revoked the late king's will to arrange for a power-sharing agreement with Cardinal Mazarin, who had been serving as Louis XIII's chief minister. Anne was now in full control of her children, something she had been vying for since their birth. As the younger brother of the king, Philippe was addressed as le Petit Monsieur, since his uncle Gaston, who had also been the younger brother of a French king, was still alive. Gaston was then known as le Grand Monsieur. It was not until 1660 at the death of Gaston that Philippe would be known simply as Monsieur or as the Duke of Orléans. Confusion about court styleStyle (manner of address)
A style of office, or honorific, is a legal, official, or recognized title. A style, by tradition or law, precedes a reference to a person who holds a post or political office, and is sometimes used to refer to the office itself. An honorific can also be awarded to an individual in a personal...
s between the parallel Orléans families also came into play with Philippe's older cousin, Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, Duchess of Montpensier. As eldest daughter of the younger brother of King Louis XIII, she was known as Mademoiselle to the French court until the birth of Philippe's daughter Anne Marie Louise of Orléans in 1662, after which she became known as la Grande Mademoiselle.
The child Philippe was acknowledged to be attractive and intelligent. The Duchess of Montpensier dubbed him the "prettiest child in the world"., while his mother's friend and confidant, Madame de Motteville, later said of Philippe that he displayed a "lively intelligence" early on. Queen Anne was observed to address Philippe by such nicknames as "my little girl" and encouraged him to dress in feminine clothing even as a young man – a habit he would retain all his life. A contemporary would later call him the "silliest woman who ever lived", a reference to his overt sexuality. As a young man, Philippe would dress up and attend balls and parties in female attire, for example, dressed as a shepherdess. His inclination toward homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
was not discouraged in the hope of reducing any threat he may have posed to his older brother. Reportedly, Cardinal Mazarin even arranged for his first homosexual contacts with his own nephew.
In the autumn of 1647, at age seven, Philippe caught smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
, but recovered and convalesced at the Palais Royal
Palais Royal
The Palais-Royal, originally called the Palais-Cardinal, is a palace and an associated garden located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris...
. A year later, he was taken from the care of women and, on 11 May 1648 carried out his first official ceremony when he was baptised publicly at the Palais Royal. His godparents were his uncle Gaston and aunt Queen Henrietta Maria of England
Henrietta Maria of France
Henrietta Maria of France ; was the Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles I...
. Later, he was placed in the care of François de La Mothe Le Vayer
François de La Mothe Le Vayer
François de La Mothe Le Vayer , was a French writer who was known to use the pseudonym Orosius Tubero...
and the Abbé de Choisy
François-Timoléon de Choisy
François Timoléon, abbé de Choisy was a French author.-Life:He was born in Paris. His father was attached to the household of the duke of Orléans, and his mother, who was on intimate terms with Anne of Austria, was regularly called upon to amuse Louis XIV...
. He was also educated by the maréchal du Plessis-Praslin
Caesar, duc de Choiseul
César, duc de Choiseul, comte du Plessis-Praslin was a Marshal of France and French diplomat, generally known for the best part of his life as the maréchal du Plessis-Praslin....
. His tutors were chosen by Mazarin, who was created the superintendent of the prince's education by his mother. His education emphasized languages, history, literature, mathematics and dancing. Despite having a household of his own, his behavior was closely watched by his mother and Mazarin, who made sure that Philippe had no meaningful financial freedom from the crown.
When Philippe was eight, the civil war known as the Fronde
Fronde
The Fronde was a civil war in France, occurring in the midst of the Franco-Spanish War, which had begun in 1635. The word fronde means sling, which Parisian mobs used to smash the windows of supporters of Cardinal Mazarin....
began in France. It lasted until 1653 in its two main phases: the Fronde Parlementaire (1648–1649) and the Fronde des nobles (1650–1653). During the conflict, the royal family was obliged to flee Paris on the night of 9 February 1651 for the safety of Saint-Germain-en-Laye in order to avoid a revolt by the nobility against Mazarin. When peace returned, the decision was made for Philippe to move his household to the Palais des Tuileries, previously the residence of the duchess of Montpensier opposite the Palais Royal. At the coronation of Louis XIV on 7 June 1654, Philippe acted as dean, placing the crown of France on his brother's head. All his life, Philippe would be a noted lover of etiquette and ceremony, ensuring that all customary details were adhered to.
1658 appears to have been the key year in which Philippe's sexuality became well defined. Court gossip said that Mazarin's own nephew Philippe Jules Mancini, the Duke of Nevers, had been the "first to [have] corrupted" Philippe in what was referred to as the "Italian vice" – contemporary slang for male homosexuality. Phillippe certainly did make his first contacts that year with Philippe de Lorraine, known as the Chevalier de Lorraine
Chevalier de Lorraine
Philippe of Lorraine, called the Chevalier de Lorraine was a French noble man and member of the House of Guise, cadet of the Ducal house of Lorraine. He was the renowned lover of Philippe de France, Monsieur, brother of Louis XIV.-Biography:Philippe de Lorraine was the second son of the Count and...
, the male lover with whom he would establish the closest emotional attachment throughout his life. The Chevalier held the rank of a "Foreign Prince
Foreign Prince
Foreign Prince is the English translation of prince étranger, a high, though somewhat ambiguous, rank at the French royal court of the ancien régime.-Terminology:...
" at the French court, his cousin being the ruling Duke of Lorraine. Around the same time, Philippe met the famously arrogant Armand de Gramont, comte de Guiche
Armand de Gramont, comte de Guiche
Armand de Gramont, Comte de Guiche was a French nobleman, adventurer, and one of the greatest playboys of the 17th century....
, with whom he was infatuated. There were also rumours at court that Philippe in fact had a mistress and had showed an interest in the Duchess of Mercœur
Laura Mancini
Laura Mancini, duchess of Mercœur and Vendôme was a niece of Cardinal Mazarin. She was the eldest of the five famous Mancini sisters, who along with two of their female Martinozzi cousins, were known at the court of King Louis XIV of France as the Mazarinettes...
, Mazarin's niece. Another lover of Philippe at this time was Antoine Coiffier, the Marquis d'Effiat. The latter had entered Philippe's life as the capitaine des chasses and stayed in his household until Philippe's death.
In late June 1658, Louis became gravely ill. Presumed to have typhoid, Louis was almost pronounced dead when, in mid-July, he began to recover. The illness made Philippe, heir presumptive
Heir Presumptive
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...
to the throne, the center of attention. For fear of infection, Philippe could not see his brother. During the crisis, Queen Anne became closer to her younger son, showing him more affection. After Louis's recovery, Philippe was once again left to his own devices. Later in 1658, Philippe made his most significant purchase, the Château de Saint Cloud, a building about 10 kilometres west of Paris. On 8 October 1658, its proprietor Barthélemy Hervart organised a sumptuous feast at Saint Cloud
Saint-Cloud
Saint-Cloud is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris.Like other communes of the Hauts-de-Seine such as Marnes-la-Coquette, Neuilly-sur-Seine or Vaucresson, Saint-Cloud is one of the wealthiest cities in France, ranked 22nd out of the 36500 in...
in honour of the royal family. Some two weeks later, on 25 October, Philippe bought the estate for 240,000 livres. He immediately began to organise improvements to what was then a small villa
Villa
A villa was originally an ancient Roman upper-class country house. Since its origins in the Roman villa, the idea and function of a villa have evolved considerably. After the fall of the Roman Republic, villas became small farming compounds, which were increasingly fortified in Late Antiquity,...
.
Duke of Orléans
When Philippe's uncle Gaston died in February 1660, the Duchy of Orléans reverted to the crown, as he had no surviving male issue. The duchy was one of the most highly regarded appanageAppanage
An apanage or appanage or is the grant of an estate, titles, offices, or other things of value to the younger male children of a sovereign, who would otherwise have no inheritance under the system of primogeniture...
s of the Ancien régime, and it was technically Philippe's birthright as the brother of the king. Thus, at the death of Gaston, Philippe himself took on the new style of Duke of Orléans even without official recognition. Louis XIV granted Philippe the title officially on 10 May 1661 along with the subsidiary titles duke of Valois and duke of Chartres
Duke of Chartres
Originally, the Duchy of Chartres was the comté de Chartres, an Earldom. The title of comte de Chartres thus became duc de Chartres. This duchy–peerage was given by Louis XIV of France to his nephew, Philippe II d'Orléans, at his birth in 1674...
, all with the approval of the Parlement de Paris. He was also granted the lordship of Montargis
Montargis
Montargis is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France. The town is located about south of Paris and east of Orléans in the Gâtinais....
.
Marriage with Princess Henrietta of England
After Louis XIV's marriage to Maria Theresa of SpainMaria Theresa of Spain
Maria Theresa of Austria was the daughter of Philip IV, King of Spain and Elizabeth of France. Maria Theresa was Queen of France as wife of King Louis XIV and mother of the Grand Dauphin, an ancestor of the last four Bourbon kings of France.-Early life:Born as Infanta María Teresa of Spain at the...
on 9 June 1660, Queen Anne turned her attention to the marriage of Philippe. He had previously been encouraged to court his older cousin the Duchess of Montpensier, eldest daughter of Gaston and his first wife Marie de Bourbon
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...
. Known as Mademoiselle at this time, she had an immense private fortune and had previously rejected suitors such as Charles II of England
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
. Born in 1627, she was the sole heiress of her mother who died in childbirth. Mademoiselle declined the union, complaining that Philippe always stayed near his mother as if he was "like a child". Mademoiselle instead remained unmarried. Philippe would marry instead another first cousin, Princess Henrietta of England
Princess Henrietta of England
Henrietta Anne of England & Scots was born a Princess of England and Scotland as the youngest daughter of King Charles I of England and his consort Henrietta Maria of France. Fleeing England with her governess at the age of three, she moved to the court of her first cousin Louis XIV of France,...
, youngest child of King Charles I of England
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
and his wife Queen Henrietta Maria
Henrietta Maria of France
Henrietta Maria of France ; was the Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles I...
, who was Philippe's aunt. The latter took refuge at the court of France after the birth of Princess Henrietta in 1644. Unpopular in England, she fled to escape the political unrest that accompanied the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, a conflict that concluded with the execution of her husband in 1649. At first, Queen Henrietta Maria lived in France without her daughter, who arrived two years later, smuggled out of England by the Countess of Morton
Anne Villiers, Countess of Morton
Anne Villiers was an English noblewoman and Countess of Morton. She was famed for her beauty, bravery and loyalty to the throne. The first half of the 17th century closet drama Cicilia and Clorinda was dedicated to her....
to join her mother. They lived at the Palais Royal and at the Louvre
Louvre
The Musée du Louvre – in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre – is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement...
. In 1660, after the restoration of the House of Stuart
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
to the throne of England under her brother Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
, Princess Henrietta returned to England to visit her sister, the Princess of Orange
Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange
Mary, Princess Royal, Princess of Orange and Countess of Nassau was the eldest daughter of King Charles I of England, Scotland, and Ireland and his queen, Henrietta Maria of France...
, who later caught smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
and died. The French court officially asked for Henrietta's hand on behalf of Philippe on 22 November 1660 while she was in England. The couple signed their marriage contract at the Palais Royal on 30 March 1661. The ceremony took place the next day in the same building in front of select members of the court. The dowry promised was a huge 840,000 livres. Known as Henriette d'Angleterre in France, and Minette to her intimates, she was known officially as Madame and was ever popular with the court. Court gossip later said that the king was the father of Henrietta's first child. Henrietta's very open flirting is said to have caused a jealous Philippe to retaliate by beginning to flaunt his sexuality openly in an age which was not as accepting.
Henrietta's flirting with the king started early in the summer of 1661 while the newlyweds were staying at the Palace of Fontainebleau for the summer. Philippe complained to his mother about the intimacy that Louis and Henrietta displayed, which led Queen Anne to reprimand both son and daughter-in-law. Relations were further strained when Henrietta allegedly seduced Philippe's old lover, the comte de Guiche.
The couple moved from the Tuileries in early 1662 to the Palais Royal
Palais Royal
The Palais-Royal, originally called the Palais-Cardinal, is a palace and an associated garden located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris...
. Later in March of the same year, Philippe became a father when Henrietta gave birth to their daughter Marie Louise, the future wife of Charles II of Spain
Charles II of Spain
Charles II was the last Habsburg King of Spain and the ruler of large parts of Italy, the Spanish territories in the Southern Low Countries, and Spain's overseas Empire, stretching from the Americas to the Spanish East Indies...
. Henrietta's disappointment at the birth of a daughter was great, and she even remarked that she should "throw her into the river!" This greatly offended Queen Anne, who adored her first granddaughter. For his part, Philippe would always consider Marie Louise his favourite child. The girl was baptised on 21 May 1662. On the same day Philippe took part in the famous Carrousel du Louvre, where he dressed extravagantly as the King of Persia with the king as the King of the Romans and all ladies of the court in attendance.
The ducal couple would not have another child until 1664, when Henrietta gave birth at Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southeast of the centre of Paris. Fontainebleau is a sub-prefecture of the Seine-et-Marne department, and it is the seat of the arrondissement of Fontainebleau...
to a son who was given the title Duke of Valois. Philippe wrote to his brother-in-law Charles II of England
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
"that your sister was this morning safely delivered of a fine boy. The child seems to be in excellent health". The child nonetheless died of convulsions in 1666, having been baptised Philippe Charles d'Orléans
Philippe Charles, Duke of Valois
Philippe Charles d'Orléans, petit-fils de France, Duke of Valois was a French prince and Grandson of France. He was created Duke of Valois at the time of his birth. He was a short lived nephew of Louis XIV.-Biography:...
hours before death. The loss of the little Duke of Valois affected Henrietta greatly. Philippe, however, was anxious to maintain the allowance which his son had received from the king. This death only augmented the grief of a court still in mourning
Mourning
Mourning is, in the simplest sense, synonymous with grief over the death of someone. The word is also used to describe a cultural complex of behaviours in which the bereaved participate or are expected to participate...
for the death of Queen Anne in January.
In 1665, the comte de Guiche was exiled from the court with Philippe reporting to Queen Anne that Henrietta had had private interviews with the dashing nobleman.
Philippe took part in the War of Devolution
War of Devolution
The War of Devolution saw Louis XIV's French armies overrun the Habsburg-controlled Spanish Netherlands and the Franche-Comté, but forced to give most of it back by a Triple Alliance of England, Sweden, and the Dutch Republic in the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.-Background:Louis's claims to the...
in 1667 while Henrietta remained at Saint Cloud in a state of pregnancy. On the field, Philippe took an active part in the trenches at Tournai
Tournai
Tournai is a Walloon city and municipality of Belgium located 85 kilometres southwest of Brussels, on the river Scheldt, in the province of Hainaut....
and Douay
Douay
Douay can refer to:* Abel Douay , French general* Félix Douay , French general and brother of Abel Douay* Douay–Rheims Bible, an English translation of the Bible, c.1600* Douai, a commune in northern France...
and distinguished himself through his valour and coolness under fire. But Philippe later became bored with battle and interested himself more in the decoration of his tent. Hearing that Henrietta was ill due to a miscarriage, he returned to Saint Cloud, where she was recovering from an ordeal which almost cost her her life. Upon her recovery, Philippe returned to the battlefield and distinguished himself at the Siege of Lille (1667)
Siege of Lille (1667)
See also Siege of Lille The Siege of Lille was a siege of the city of Lille during the War of Devolution. Louis XIV's forces besieged the city from August 10 to August 28, 1667. It was the only major engagement of the war....
.
In January 1670, Henrietta prevailed upon the king to imprison the Chevalier de Lorraine, first near Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, then in the Mediterranean island-fortress of the Château d'If
Château d'If
The Château d'If is a fortress located on the island of If, the smallest island in the Frioul Archipelago situated in the Mediterranean Sea about a mile offshore in the Bay of Marseille in southeastern France...
. He was finally banished to Rome after offending the king and Henrietta by boasting that he could get Philippe to divorce her. In retaliation for the Chevalier's treatment, Philippe withdrew to his estate at Villers-Cotterêtt, dragging Henrietta with him. By February, Philippe's protests and pleas persuaded the king to restore the Chevalier to his brother's entourage.
The couple had their last child in August 1669, a daughter who was baptised Anne Marie at the private chapel of the Palais Royal
Palais Royal
The Palais-Royal, originally called the Palais-Cardinal, is a palace and an associated garden located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris...
on 8 April 1670 by Philippe's first chaplain, the Bishop of Vabres
Ancient Diocese of Vabres
The former French Catholic diocese of Vabres existed from 1317 to the French Revolution. After the Concordat of 1801 its territory was divided between the diocese of Cahors and the diocese of Montpellier....
.
Henrietta is best known to political historians in France for her part in negotiating the Secret Treaty of Dover
Secret treaty of Dover
The Treaty of Dover, also known as the Secret Treaty of Dover, was a treaty between England and France signed at Dover on June 1 in 1670. It required France to assist England in the king's aim that it would rejoin the Roman Catholic Church and England to assist France in her war of conquest...
, an offensive and defensive treaty between England and France signed at Dover on 1 June 1670. It required France to assist England in her aim to rejoin the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and England to assist France in her war of conquest against the Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
. The Third Anglo-Dutch War was a direct consequence of this treaty. Having returned to France at the end of June 1670, Henrietta had to endure Philippe's blatant spite for her part in the Chevalier's exile and her secret mission to Dover. Despite tense relations, she traveled to Saint Cloud on 24 June, when she started to complain of pains in her side. Relaxing at Saint Cloud on 30 June, she collapsed on the terrace at the palace. Taken inside, she was undressed and started to exclaim that she had been poisoned. She subsequently died between the hours of two and three in the morning of 30 June 1670 at the age of 26. The Chevalier de Lorraine and the Marquis d'Effiat were accused of poisoning her, however an autopsy
Autopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
was performed which found that Henrietta died of peritonitis
Peritonitis
Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the serous membrane that lines part of the abdominal cavity and viscera. Peritonitis may be localised or generalised, and may result from infection or from a non-infectious process.-Abdominal pain and tenderness:The main manifestations of...
caused by a perforated ulcer
Peptic ulcer
A peptic ulcer, also known as PUD or peptic ulcer disease, is the most common ulcer of an area of the gastrointestinal tract that is usually acidic and thus extremely painful. It is defined as mucosal erosions equal to or greater than 0.5 cm...
.
{| class="toccolours collapsible collapsed" width=100% align="center"
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! style=font-size: 90%; line-height: 110%;|Painting commissioned by Philippe for Saint Cloud, Jean Nocret, 1670
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Search for a Second Bride
Henrietta was mourned greatly at the court of France, but little by her husband, due to their strained relationship. Louis XIV himself looked for a second wife for Philippe, who was eager to have a male heir to continue the Orléans line. Attention again turned to the duchess of Montpensier, by now known as "la Grande Mademoiselle". Louis himself asked her if she wanted to fill "the vacant place", but she politely declined the offer. Louis rejected many other candidates for the Protestant Elizabeth Charlotte of the PalatinateElizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate
Elizabeth Charlotte, Princess Palatine was a German princess and the wife of Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, younger brother of Louis XIV of France. Her vast correspondence provides a detailed account of the personalities and activities at the court of her brother-in-law, Louis XIV...
. Known as Liselotte within her family, she was the only daughter of Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine
Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine
Charles Louis, , Elector Palatine KG was the second son of Frederick V of the Palatinate, the "Winter King" of Bohemia, and his wife, Princess Elizabeth, daughter of King James I of England ....
, and his estranged wife Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel. She was recommended by Anna Gonzaga
Anna Gonzaga
Anne Gonzaga was a French noblewoman and political hostess of Italian descent. She was by marriage Countess Palatine of Simmern, called "Princess Palatine", as the wife of Edward of the Palatinate, a grandson of King James I of England and an uncle of King George I of Great Britain. She bore...
, a close friend of Philippe and her aunt by marriage. Elizabeth Charlotte was a first cousin of Anne Henriette of Bavaria
Anne Henriette of Bavaria
Anne Henriette of Palatinate-Simmern, in France known as Anne Henriette of Bavaria was a Princess of Palatinate-Simmern by birth and by her marriage in 1663, the Duchess of Enghien and then the Princess of Condé...
, daughter-in-law of the Grand Condé. Elizabeth Charlotte had grown up with her aunt Sophia of Hanover
Sophia of Hanover
Sophia of the Palatinate was an heiress to the crowns of England and Ireland and later the crown of Great Britain. She was declared heiress presumptive by the Act of Settlement 1701...
due to her parents' bad relationship. Throughout her life she would remain in contact with Sophia, writing some 50,000 letters that detailed life at the court of France.
Marriage with Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate
Philippe married Elizabeth Charlotte, who converted to Roman Catholicism on 16 November 1671. She was not attractive, as Henrietta had been. When Philippe first saw her, he is said to have remarked "how will I ever be able to sleep with her?". Madame de Sévigné noted how popular the new Madame was with the court. She became renowned for her brusque candor, upright character and lack of vanity. Her letters record how willingly she gave up sharing Philippe's bed at his request after their children's births and how unwillingly she quietly endured the presence of his male favourites in their household.The couple was very happy in the first years of their marriage. The Chevalier de Lorraine was in Italy, but he would return in spring 1672. Pregnant later that year, Elizabeth Charlotte gave birth to a son in June 1673 who was named Alexandre Louis and given the title Duke of Valois. Alexandre Louis would die, however, in 1676. A second son, Philippe
Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
Philippe 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...
, would follow in 1674, and then a daughter, Élisabeth Charlotte, in 1676, after which the two mutually agreed to sleep in separate beds. Elizabeth Charlotte was praised as being a natural mother. Philippe's second son with Elizabeth Charlotte, known as the Duke of Chartres until he inherited the dukedom of Orléans in 1701, would later serve as Regent of France
Régence
The Régence is the period in French history between 1715 and 1723, when King Louis XV was a minor and the land was governed by a Regent, Philippe d'Orléans, the nephew of Louis XIV of France....
during the minority of Louis XV. Elizabeth Charlotte acted as a mother to Philippe's children by Henrietta and maintained correspondence with them until their last days.
The Battle of Cassel
Having already established himself as a successful military commander during the War of DevolutionWar of Devolution
The War of Devolution saw Louis XIV's French armies overrun the Habsburg-controlled Spanish Netherlands and the Franche-Comté, but forced to give most of it back by a Triple Alliance of England, Sweden, and the Dutch Republic in the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.-Background:Louis's claims to the...
in 1667, Philippe was eager to return to the field. In 1676 and 1677 he took part in sieges of Flanders and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant general
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
, which made him second-in-command to Louis XIV himself.
The most dazzling victory that Philippe oversaw took place on 11 April 1677: the Battle of Cassel
Battle of Cassel (1677)
The Battle of Cassel was fought on April 11, 1677, as a part of the Franco-Dutch War. It resulted in a French victory under Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, assisted by the Duke of Humières and Marshal Luxembourg, against the Dutch under William III of Orange, Stadtholder of the Netherlands...
against William II, Prince of Orange
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
, later the king of England and son of Philippe's own first cousin Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange
Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange
Mary, Princess Royal, Princess of Orange and Countess of Nassau was the eldest daughter of King Charles I of England, Scotland, and Ireland and his queen, Henrietta Maria of France...
. William decided to relieve some besieged towns; from Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
he marched at the head of an army of 32,000 men through Poperinge
Poperinge
Poperinge is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders, Flemish Region, and has a history going back to mediaeval times. The municipality comprises the town of Poperinge proper and surrounding villages. The area is famous for its hops and lace.-The town:Poperinge is situated...
and Oxelaëre
Oxelaëre
-References:*...
in the Cassel Valley. Philippe, who learned of his plans, arranged to meet William's forces at Penebeek between Noordpeene
Noordpeene
-References:*...
and Zuytpeene
Zuytpeene
-References:*...
. Louis XIV sent him some 25,000 footsoldiers and 9,000 cavalry under the command of Marshal de Luxembourg from Cambrai
Cambrai
Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
. By nightfall there were 66,000 soldiers ready for battle.
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| align="left"| "The people of Paris went wild with joy. They really love Monsieur. But at court they'd wished he'd lost the battle for the king's sake..."
|-
| align="left"|Extract from the memoirs of Primi Visconti
|}
The Dutch stormed French positions without first exploring the site. The result was that Marshal Luxembourg was able to surprise the Dutch with a cavalry attack that practically destroyed three battalions and forced William and his Dutch troops to flee. In all, casualties on both sides amounted to 4200 deaths and 7000 injuries. Philippe was hailed for his skill as a military commander, much to the annoyance of his brother, the king. He was presumably jealous of Philippe's growing popularity at court as well as on the battlefield. In honour of his victory at Cassel, Philippe set up a Barnabite College
Barnabites
The Barnabites, or Clerics Regular of Saint Paul is a Roman Catholic order.-Establishment of the Order :It was founded in 1530 by three Italian noblemen: St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria The Barnabites, or Clerics Regular of Saint Paul (Latin: Clerici Regulares Sancti Pauli, abbr. B.) is a Roman Catholic...
in Paris. The campaign marked the end of his military career; he soon immersed himself once again into a life of pleasure.
Cultural expansion and property
From the time of the victory at Cassel until the 1690s, Philippe mainly concentrated his energies on the expansion of his estates, personal fortune and art collection, including the renovation of his residences, the Palais Royal and the Château de Saint-Cloud. The latter was his favourite residence, the home of an ever-expanding and "stormy" court. Philippe became an important patron of the artists Jean Nocret and Pierre MignardPierre Mignard
Pierre Mignard , called "Le Romain" to distinguish him from his brother Nicolas Mignard, was a French painter...
, both of whom were employed to elaborate the décor at Saint Cloud and the Palais Royal. As early as 1660, Philippe also ordered Antoine Lepautre
Antoine Lepautre
Antoine Lepautre or Le Pautre was a French architect and engraver. Born in Paris, he was the brother of the prolific and inventive designer-engraver Jean Lepautre. Antoine Lepautre has been called " "one of the most inventive architects of the early years of Louis XIV's reign"...
to begin extensions at Saint Cloud; later he became contrôleur général of Philippe's properties.
Jean Girard
Jean Girard was a French organist, serpent player, and schoolmaster who was primarily active in Canada. He was one of the first professional musicians living and working in the city of Montreal....
in collaboration with Thomas Gobert. Later on, Philippe sought Mansart
Jules Hardouin Mansart
Jules Hardouin-Mansart was a French architect whose work is generally considered to be the apex of French Baroque architecture, representing the power and grandeur of Louis XIV...
to design a grand staircase in the left wing in the manner of the Ambassadors' Staircase at Versailles. The gardens were redesigned by André Le Nôtre
André Le Nôtre
André Le Nôtre was a French landscape architect and the principal gardener of King Louis XIV of France...
, while the basin and lowermost canal were added by Mansart in 1698. At the time of Philippe's death in 1701, the estate of Saint Cloud numbered some1200 acres (4.9 km²).
Saint Cloud remained with the Orléans family until 1785, when Philippe's great-grandson Louis Philippe d'Orléans
Louis Philippe I, Duke of Orléans
Louis 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...
sold it to Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette ; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was an Archduchess of Austria and the Queen of France and of Navarre. She was the fifteenth and penultimate child of Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa and Holy Roman Emperor Francis I....
, Philippe's great-granddaughter, for the sum of 6 million livres.
Minor improvements at the Palais Royal began in 1661 at the time of Philippe's marriage to Henrietta, but the property was part of the crown holdings, and had not been used officially for years. Philippe was limited in what he could do to renovate the building until it was given to him in 1692. Philippe again turned to Mansart for assistance in modernizing it. The interior décor was entrusted to Antoine Coypel, whose father Noël Coypel had previously worked at the palace. In 1695, Philippe bought a small island in the Seine
Seine
The Seine is a -long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. It rises at Saint-Seine near Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre . It is navigable by ocean-going vessels...
directly opposite the château that he renamed the "Île de Monsieur".
Philippe not only enjoyed architecture and socia, but also music and dancing; he was in fact famed for his exceptional dancing abilities. Philippe was a patron of musicians such as Anglebert
Jean-Henri d'Anglebert
Jean-Henri d'Anglebert was a French composer, harpsichordist and organist. He was one of the foremost keyboard composers of his day.-Life:...
, Dumont
Henri Dumont
Henri Dumont was a Franco-Belgian composer.- Life :Dumont was born to Henry de Thier and Elisabeth Orban in Looz . The family moved in 1613 to Maastricht, where Henri and his brother Lambert were choirboys at the church of Notre-Dame...
, Arlaud
Jacques-Antoine Arlaud
Jacques Antoine Arlaud was born at Geneva in 1668. His first employment in art was the painting of small ornamental miniatures for the jewellers at Dijon. He however attempted some portraits, and was sufficiently successful to encourage him to settle at Paris, when he was about twenty years of age...
and Marie Aubry
Marie Aubry
Marie Aubry was a French operatic soprano of the baroque period.She was the daughter of Léonard Aubry and Geneviève Béjart, sister of French actress Madeleine Béjart...
, many of whom would stay part of his son's household after his death in 1701. Lully
Jean-Baptiste Lully
Jean-Baptiste de Lully was an Italian-born French composer who spent most of his life working in the court of Louis XIV of France. He is considered the chief master of the French Baroque style. Lully disavowed any Italian influence in French music of the period. He became a French subject in...
was also a protégé of Philippe after he left Mademoiselle's household. Philippe's small art collection created the basis for the Orleans Collection
Orleans Collection
The Orleans Collection was a very important collection of over 500 paintings formed by the French prince of the blood Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans, mostly acquired between about 1700 and his death in 1723...
, one of the most important art collections ever assembled.
With the permission of the parlement
Parlement
Parlements were regional legislative bodies in Ancien Régime France.The political institutions of the Parlement in Ancien Régime France developed out of the previous council of the king, the Conseil du roi or curia regis, and consequently had ancient and customary rights of consultation and...
of Paris, Philippe sponsored projects to help maintain his estates and enhance their profitability. From 1679, he was granted the right to build the Canal d'Orléans
Canal d'Orléans
The Canal d'Orléans connects the Loire River at Orléans to a junction with the Canal du Loing and the Canal de Briare in the village of Buges near Montargis. It is entirely within the department of Loiret....
, a large canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
that connected the Loire River at Orléans
Orléans
-Prehistory and Roman:Cenabum was a Gallic stronghold, one of the principal towns of the Carnutes tribe where the Druids held their annual assembly. It was conquered and destroyed by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, then rebuilt under the Roman Empire...
to a junction with the Canal du Loing
Canal du Loing
The Canal du Loing is a 49.4 km long canal which connects the Seine to the Briare Canal , in France. It runs through the Loiret and Seine-et-Marne departments....
and the Canal de Briare in the village of Buges
Buges
Buges is a village in the Loiret department in north-central France. It is near Montargis and Châlette-sur-Loing. This is the location of the joining of the three canals, Canal d'Orléans, Canal du Loing, and Canal de Briare....
near Montargis
Montargis
Montargis is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France. The town is located about south of Paris and east of Orléans in the Gâtinais....
. As the largest canal built in France since Philippe's grandfather Henri IV built the Canal de Briare
Briare Canal
The Canal de Briare is one of the oldest canals in France. It is the first summit level canal in Europe that was built using pound locks, connecting the Loire and Seine valleys. It is 57km long and is part of the Bourbonnais route from Saint-Mammès on the Seine to Chalon-sur-Saône on the Saône River...
in 1604, its construction was considered an engineering feat. The canal, used to transport goods from Orléans to Paris, was a great success in its time and is still used widely today. Philippe's careful investment and management of his various estates made him a wealthy man in his own right, his fortune augmented considerably at the death of his cousin Mademoiselle in 1693. Philippe is acknowledged as being not only the biological founder of 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...
, but as financial founder of a family whose monetary value would rival that of the main line of the house of Bourbon
House of Bourbon
The 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...
.
Later years, death and burial
Upon the death of Mademoiselle in 1693, Philippe acquired the dukedoms of Montpensier, Châtellerault, Saint-Fargeau and Beaupréau. He also became prince of JoinvilleJoinville, Haute-Marne
Joinville is a commune in the Haute-Marne department in north-eastern France.Its medieval château-fort, which gave to members of the House of Guise their title, duc de Joinville, was demolished during the Revolution of 1789, but the 16th-century Château du Grand Jardin built by Claude de Lorraine,...
; count of Dourdan, Mortain and Bar-sur-Seine; and viscount of Auge and Domfront. In later life, Philippe was thus able to maintain his lavish lifestyle easily, and he found much satisfaction in the activities of his children and grandchildren. Both of his daughters by his first wife Henrietta became queens, and his son the Duke of Chartres pursued an active and distinguished military career, having served at the Battle of Steenkerque
Battle of Steenkerque
The Battle of Steenkerque was fought on August 3, 1692, as a part of the Nine Years' War. It resulted in the victory of the French under Marshal François-Henri de Montmorency, duc de Luxembourg against a joint English-Scottish-Dutch-German army under Prince William of Orange...
in 1692 as well as the Siege of Namur
Siege of Namur (1692)
The Siege of Namur, 25 May–30 June 1692, was a major engagement of the Nine Years' War, and was part of the French grand plan to defeat the forces of the Grand Alliance and bring a swift conclusion to the war...
, much to his father's pride. As he had with Philippe, Louis XIV was careful to limit the power of Chartres.
In 1696, Philippe's granddaughter Maria Adelaide came to the French court from Italy for her marriage to the Louis, Duke of Burgundy, who was third in line to the throne. The two were married in 1697 and became the parents of Louis XV.
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| align="left"| "I won Monsieur over during the last three years of his life. We even used to laugh together about his weaknesses. [...] He had confidence in me and always took my side, but before that I used to suffer dreadfully. I was just beginning to be happy when the Almighty took poor Monsieur from me"
|-
| align="left"|Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate
Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate
Elizabeth Charlotte, Princess Palatine was a German princess and the wife of Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, younger brother of Louis XIV of France. Her vast correspondence provides a detailed account of the personalities and activities at the court of her brother-in-law, Louis XIV...
writing in 1716 to the Princess of Wales
Caroline of Ansbach
Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach was the queen consort of King George II of Great Britain.Her father, John Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, was the ruler of a small German state...
regarding their mutual affection in the later years of their marriage
|}
In 1701, Chartres was denied a position on the front in the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
, which began that year when most European states refused to recognise Louis XIV's grandson Philip V
Philip V of Spain
Philip V was King of Spain from 15 November 1700 to 15 January 1724, when he abdicated in favor of his son Louis, and from 6 September 1724, when he assumed the throne again upon his son's death, to his death.Before his reign, Philip occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a...
as king of Spain. This slight was the source of great bitterness on the part of both father and son after. The pretext seems to have been the behavior of Chartres in parading his mistress Mademoiselle de Séry in view of his wife. On 8 June 1701 Louis XIV and Philippe met at the Château de Marly
Château de Marly
The Château de Marly was a relatively small French royal residence located in what has become Marly-le-Roi, the commune that existed at the edge of the royal park. The town that originally grew up to service the château is now a dormitory community for Paris....
to dine together. At first meeting, Louis XIV attacked Philippe about Chartres's conduct with Mademoiselle de Séry. Philippe responded by reprimanding Louis for similar conduct with his own mistresses during his marriage to Queen Marie Thérèse, adding that Chartres had still not received the favours promised to him for having married his wife Françoise Marie. Louis was shocked to be spoken to in such manner by his brother. Nonetheless, the announcement of dinner halted the argument, and the brothers sat down to dine.
Philippe angrily returned to Saint Cloud early the same evening to dine with his son. Philippe collapsed onto his son after suffering a fatal stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
at noon 9 June 1701 at the age of sixty. Louis XIV, upon hearing his only sibling had died, said "I cannot believe I will never see my brother again". The Duchess of Burgundy, his granddaughter, was distraught, avowing that she "had loved Monsieur very much". Philippe's heart was taken to the Val-de-Grâce
Val-de-Grâce
This article describes the hospital and former abbey. For the main article on Mansart and Lemercier's central church, see Church of the Val-de-Grâce....
convent on 14 June, and his body was taken on 21 June to the Basilica of St Denis, where it remained until the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, at which time the basilica was desecrated and all graves destroyed.
Elizabeth Charlotte, worried that she would be put in a convent (a stipulation of her wedding contract in the event of Philippe's death) was assured by the king that she could remain at court as long as she wished. She burnt all the letters of Philippe's lovers through the years lest they fall into "the wrong hands", declaring that the perfume from the letters made her nauseated. Louis XIV assured the new Duke of Orléans, formerly the Duke of Chartres, that the past was forgotten and that henceforth he was to look on him as his father. The court was devastated and his old friend, Louis XIV's discarded mistress Madame de Montespan, was also greatly affected, the two having been very close.
The widowed Elizabeth Charlotte continued to write frequently to her daughter, stepdaughter, and the Duchess of Modena. She herself died at Saint Cloud in December 1722 and was also buried at Saint Denis. The Chevalier de Lorraine died impoverished in 1702.
Portrayals in media
Philippe has been portrayed in various modern media:- Charles II: The Power and The PassionCharles II: The Power and The PassionCharles II: The Power and the Passion is an award-winning British television mini-series, broadcast on BBC One in 2003, and produced by the BBC in association with the A&E Network in the United States...
(2003 mini-series) played by Cyrille Thouvenin. - VatelVatel (film)Vatel is a 2000 film based on the life of 17th century French chef François Vatel, directed by Roland Joffé and starring Gérard Depardieu, Uma Thurman, and Tim Roth. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Art Direction - Set Decoration. The film opened the 2000 Cannes Film Festival.-...
(2000 film) played by Murray Lachlan YoungMurray Lachlan YoungMurray Lachlan Young is a British performance poet whose humorous work enjoyed a spectacular but brief vogue during the mid-1990s. He was the first poet to be given a £1 million record deal, when he signed to EMI amid a blaze of publicity in 1996. He released one album, Vice And Verse.Young was...
. - Le Roi SoleilLe Roi Soleil (musical)Le Roi Soleil is a successful French musical about the life of Louis XIV . It premiered on 22 September 2005 at the Palais des Sports in Paris.-Plot:...
(2005 musical) played by Christophe Maé; - The Man in the Iron MaskThe Man in the Iron Mask (1998 film)The Man in the Iron Mask is a 1998 British/American historical action film directed, produced, and written by Randall Wallace. It uses characters from Alexandre Dumas' D'Artagnan Romances, and is very loosely adapted from some plot elements of The Vicomte de Bragelonne. It also bears several...
(1998 film) played by Leonardo di Caprio. - Marquise (1997 film) played by Franck de La Personne.
- Liselotte von der Pfalz (1966 film) played by Harald LeipnitzHarald LeipnitzHarald Leipnitz was a German actor.- Filmography :- External links :...
; - Liselotte von der Pfalz (1935 film) played by Hans Stüwe.
First marriage
Married Henrietta of EnglandPrincess Henrietta of England
Henrietta Anne of England & Scots was born a Princess of England and Scotland as the youngest daughter of King Charles I of England and his consort Henrietta Maria of France. Fleeing England with her governess at the age of three, she moved to the court of her first cousin Louis XIV of France,...
, daughter of Charles I of England
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
and Henrietta Maria of France
Henrietta Maria of France
Henrietta Maria of France ; was the Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles I...
, on 31 March 1661, at the Palais Royal. The couple had three children:
- Marie Louise d'Orléans (26 March 1662 – 12 February 1689) married Charles II, King of SpainCharles II of SpainCharles II was the last Habsburg King of Spain and the ruler of large parts of Italy, the Spanish territories in the Southern Low Countries, and Spain's overseas Empire, stretching from the Americas to the Spanish East Indies...
, no issue; - Philippe Charles d'Orléans, Duke of ValoisPhilippe Charles, Duke of ValoisPhilippe Charles d'Orléans, petit-fils de France, Duke of Valois was a French prince and Grandson of France. He was created Duke of Valois at the time of his birth. He was a short lived nephew of Louis XIV.-Biography:...
(16 July 1664 – 8 December 1666) died in infancy; - Stillborn daughter (9 July 1665);
- Anne Marie d'Orléans (27 August 1669 – 26 August 1728) married Victor Amadeus II, King of SardiniaVictor Amadeus II of SardiniaVictor Amadeus II was Duke of Savoy from 1675 to 1730. He also held the titles of marquis of Saluzzo, duke of Montferrat, prince of Piedmont, count of Aosta, Moriana and Nizza. Louis XIV organised his marriage in order to maintain French influence in the Duchy but Victor Amadeus soon broke away...
and had issue;
Second marriage
Married Elizabeth Charlotte of the PalatinateElizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate
Elizabeth Charlotte, Princess Palatine was a German princess and the wife of Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, younger brother of Louis XIV of France. Her vast correspondence provides a detailed account of the personalities and activities at the court of her brother-in-law, Louis XIV...
, daughter of Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine
Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine
Charles Louis, , Elector Palatine KG was the second son of Frederick V of the Palatinate, the "Winter King" of Bohemia, and his wife, Princess Elizabeth, daughter of King James I of England ....
and Charlotte of Hesse-Kassel, on 16 November 1671 at Châlons
Chalons
Chalons may refer to:Places* Châlons, in France's Isère département* Châlons-en-Champagne, formerly Châlons-sur-Marne, in the Marne département* Chalon-sur-Saône, in the Saône-et-Loire département* Roman Catholic Diocese of Châlons...
. The couple had three children:
- Alexandre Louis d'Orléans, Duke of Valois (2 June 1673 – 16 March 1676) died in infancy;
- Philippe II, Duke of OrléansPhilippe 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...
(2 August 1674 – 2 December 1723) married Françoise Marie de Bourbon, Légitimée de France and had issue; - Élisabeth Charlotte d'Orléans (13 September 1676 – 24 December 1744) married Leopold, Duke of LorraineLeopold, Duke of LorraineLeopold , surnamed the Good, was Duke of Lorraine and Bar from 1690 to his death.-Early life:Leopold Joseph Charles Dominique Agapet Hyacinthe was the son of Charles V, Duke of Lorraine, and his wife Eleonora Maria Josefa of Austria, a half-sister of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor.At the time of...
and had issue.
Ancestors
Titles and Styles
- 21 September 1640 – 14 May 1643 His Royal Highness the Duke of Anjou
- 14 May 1643 – 2 February 1660 His Royal Highness Monsieur, Duke of Anjou
- 2 February 1660 – 9 June 1701 His Royal Highness Monsieur, Duke of Orléans
Honours
- 8 June 1654: Knight of the Order of the Holy Spirit
Order of the Holy SpiritThe Order of the Holy Spirit, also known as the Order of the Knights of the Holy Spirit, was an Order of Chivalry under the French Monarchy. It should not be confused with the Congregation of the Holy Ghost or with the Order of the Holy Ghost... 
1701: Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece- 1701: Knight of the Order of Saint MichaelOrder of Saint MichaelThe Order of Saint Michael was a French chivalric order, founded by Louis XI of France in 1469, in competitive response to the Burgundian Order of the Golden Fleece founded by Philip the Good, duke of Burgundy, Louis' chief competitor for the allegiance of the great houses of France, the Dukes of...
Arms
Azure, three fleur-de-lisFleur-de-lisThe fleur-de-lis or fleur-de-lys is a stylized lily or iris that is used as a decorative design or symbol. It may be "at one and the same time, political, dynastic, artistic, emblematic, and symbolic", especially in heraldry...
or and a label argent bezanty
[In heraldic blazon
Blazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
, Azure is blue, Or
Or (heraldry)
In heraldry, Or is the tincture of gold and, together with argent , belongs to the class of light tinctures called "metals". In engravings and line drawings, it may be represented using a field of evenly spaced dots...
is gold, and Argent is silver]