Duke of Orléans
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Duke of Orléans (French: Duc d'Orléans) is one of the most important titles in the French peerage, dating back at least to the 14th century. Known as princes of the blood (princes du sang), the Dukes of Orleans were always attributed to princes of the royal family and was thus a junior branch of the ruling house.
In the ancien régime the holder of the title often had an important political role. The Orléans came to the throne with Louis XII (15th century) and Louis-Philippe (19th century). The descendants of the family are the Orléanist pretenders to the French throne, and the title has been used by several members of the House. The holder of the title held the style of Serene Highness.
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[edit] House of Valois
[edit] First creation (1344)
| Name | Portrait | Lifespan | Parents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philippe of Valois 1344–1375 |
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July 1, 1336 - September 1, 1376 |
Philip VI of France Joan the Lame |
[edit] Second creation (1392)
| Name | Portrait | Lifespan | Parents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louis I 1372–1407 |
March 13, 1372 - November 23, 1407 |
Charles V of France Joanna of Bourbon |
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| Charles I 1407–1465 |
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November 24, 1394 - January 5, 1465 |
Louis I, Duke of Orléans Valentina Visconti |
| Louis II 1465–1515 |
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June 27, 1462 - January 1, 1515 |
Charles I, Duke of Orléans Marie of Cleves |
[edit] Third creation (1519)
| Name | Portrait | Lifespan | Parents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henri I 1519–1536 |
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March 31, 1519 – July 10, 1559 |
Francis I of France Claude de France |
| Charles II 1536–1545 |
January 22, 1522 – September 9, 1545 |
Francis I of France Claude de France |
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| Louis III 1549 |
3 February – 24 October 1549 |
Henry II, King of France Catherine de' Medici |
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| Charles III Maximilien 1550–1560 |
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June 27, 1550 – May 30, 1574 |
Henry II, King of France Catherine de' Medici |
| Henri II 1560–1560 |
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September 19, 1551 – August 2, 1589 |
Henry II, King of France Catherine de' Medici |
[edit] House of Bourbon
[edit] Fourth creation (1607)
| Name | Portrait | Lifespan | Parents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas Henri 1607–1611 |
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16 April 1607 - 17 November 1611 |
Henry IV of France Marie de' Medici |
[edit] Fifth creation (1626)
At the death of Nicholas Henri, his younger brother Gaston was given the title of Orléans but was not officially allowed to be styled as the Duke of Orléans till his marriage with the heiress Marie de Bourbon, Duchess de Montpensier in her own right (she had been betrothed to Nicholas at the age of 3). They were the parents of Anne Marie Louise of Orléans, Duchess of Montpensier. At her death in 1693, much of her vast wealth went to her cousin, Philippe I, Duke of Orléans.
| Name | Portrait | Lifespan | Parents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaston 1626–1660 |
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25 April 1608 - 2 February 1660 |
Henry IV of France Marie de' Medici |
[edit] Sixth creation (1661)
Upon the death of Gaston of Orléans, the Appanage of the Duchy of Orléans reverted back to the crown. The appanage was given to Philippe, the brother of Louis XIV of France.
It was Philippe and his second wife, the famous court writer Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate, founded the modern House of Orléans - their surviving son being the Regent of France for the young Louis XV.
As a Fils de France, Philippe was styled as Philippe of France (Philippe de France)[citation needed]. Upon his death, his son inherited but as only a Petit-Fils de France (Grandson of France via Louis XIII) he had to revert to the surname of Orléans. Philippe I de France was addressed as Royal Highness (Son Altesse royale) as was his son Philippe II. Philippe I was also known as Monsieur at his brothers court. At the death of Philippe II, his son Louis d'Orléans took the title and took on the style of Serene Highness as the head of the cadet branch of the House of Bourbon. His son and grandson would take on the style on their successions. After 1709, the Orléans branch of the House of Bourbon were the First Princes of the Blood - this meant that the dukes could be addressed as Monsieur le Prince and that, should there be no possilble heirs to the throne of France, then the Orléans family could claim it.
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[edit] Other Dukes
Members of the House of Orléans
- François Gaston Michel Marie of Orléans, Duke of Orléans (1935–1960) second son of Henri, comte de Paris (posthumous creation)
- Jacques Jean Jaroslav Marie of Orléans, Duke of Orléans (b. 1941) fourth son of Henri, comte de Paris
