Cellamare conspiracy facts for kids
The Cellamare conspiracy of 1718 was a secret plan against the person who was ruling France at the time, Philippe d'Orléans. The goal was to remove him from power and make Philip V, who was the King of Spain, the new ruler of France. This plot was thought up in Spain by Antonio del Giudice, who was the Prince of Cellamare.
Contents
What Was the Cellamare Conspiracy?
The Cellamare conspiracy was a plan to change who was in charge of France. At the time, France was ruled by a "Regent" because the king, Louis XV of France, was only five years old. The Regent was Philippe d'Orléans. The people behind the conspiracy wanted to replace him with Philip V, the King of Spain.
Why Did the Plot Happen?
In 1715, Louis XIV of France died. His great-grandson, Louis XV of France, became king but was too young to rule. So, Louis XIV's nephew, Philippe d'Orléans, became the Regent. This meant he ruled France until Louis XV was old enough.
.jpg)
Around this time, France joined an important group called the Quadruple Alliance. This group included England, Holland, and the Holy Roman Empire. They formed this alliance to stop Spain and France from becoming one country if young King Louis XV died. This was important because Philip V of Spain was Louis XV's uncle. A treaty from 1713, called the Treaty of Utrecht, had already said that Philip V and his children could not inherit the French throne.
Who Was Involved in the Plot?
The main person behind the plot was Antonio del Giudice, the Prince of Cellamare. He was the Spanish Ambassador to France. He wanted Philip V to become the Regent of France.
The plot also had strong support from some of Philippe d'Orléans's enemies. The most important of these were the Duke and Duchess du Maine, Louis Auguste de Bourbon and his wife, Louise Bénédicte de Bourbon. The Duchess du Maine was especially active. She wrote letters to the Spanish Prime Minister, Giulio Alberoni, who was a close advisor to the Queen of Spain. The Duchess du Maine hoped to put her own husband, the Duke of Maine, on the throne.
Other people involved included Melchior de Polignac and the Duke of Richelieu. The Duchess du Maine and her group even wanted to call a special meeting of French leaders, called the États généraux, to discuss their plans.
How Was the Plot Discovered?
The secret letters between the Duchess du Maine and Prime Minister Alberoni were found by the police. This information was quickly given to the Regent, Philippe d'Orléans. He acted very fast!
On December 9, 1718, the Prince of Cellamare was arrested and sent back to Spain. Prime Minister Alberoni was also arrested on December 5, 1718. The Duchess du Maine was sent away to Dijon, and her husband was put in prison in a fortress called Doullens. The Duke of Richelieu was sent to the Bastille prison. He was later visited there by Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans, one of the Regent's daughters.
What Happened After the Plot?
Even though they were arrested and imprisoned, all the people involved in the plot were pardoned, meaning they were forgiven, by 1720. They were allowed to return to their homes.
However, the conspiracy led to bigger problems between France and Spain. On January 9, 1719, France declared war on Spain. England had already done so a few weeks earlier.
Two years later, some similar ideas to the Cellamare conspiracy appeared again in another plot called the Pontcallec conspiracy. Four leaders of that plot were executed.
Sources
- The current information was taken from the present Conspiration de Cellamare on French Wikipedia.
See also
In Spanish: Conspiración de Cellamare para niños
