Duke of Enghien facts for kids
The Duke of Enghien (pronounced Duc d'Enghien in French) was an important noble title linked to the House of Condé, a powerful French royal family. For a short time, this title was connected to the town of Enghien in modern-day Belgium.
First Dukes of Enghien (1566–1569)
The title of Duke of Enghien was first given to Louis I de Bourbon, Prince de Condé in 1566. His land, known as the County of Enghien, was made into a duchy, which is a higher noble rank. However, the official paperwork was not fully finished. Because of this, the title technically ended when Louis I passed away in 1569.
Even with this legal detail, the oldest son of the Prince of Condé was still called the Duke of Enghien from 1569 to 1689. The most famous person to hold this title was Louis II, also known as the Great Condé. He was called the Duke of Enghien from his birth in 1621 until his father's death in 1646.
Second Dukes of Enghien (1689–1830)
The title was created again in 1689. Henry II, Prince of Condé, who was the grandson of the Great Condé, had inherited another duchy called Montmorency near Paris in 1633. In 1689, this Duchy of Montmorency was officially renamed the Duchy of Enghien for his son, Louis II, Prince of Condé.
After this, the title Duke of Enghien became a special "courtesy title." This meant it was used by the oldest son of the Prince of Condé as a sign of their future role.
Here are some of the people who held the title of Duke of Enghien during this time:
- 1689–1709: Henri I, Duke of Enghien (1643–1709)
- 1709–1710: Louis I, Duke of Enghien (1668–1710)
- 1710–1740: Louis II Henri, Duke of Enghien (1692–1740)
- 1740–1818: Louis III Joseph, Duke of Enghien (1736–1818)
- 1818–1830: Louis IV Henri, Duke of Enghien (1756–1830)
The most well-known Duke of Enghien is often considered to be Louis-Antoine-Henri de Bourbon-Condé (1772–1804). He was the son of Louis Henry II. Sadly, he was put to death on false accusations in 1804 during the time of Napoleon Bonaparte. This event made it impossible for Napoleon and the royal family (the House of Bourbon) to become friends. The Duke passed away at the Château de Vincennes.
When the last Duke of Enghien passed away in 1830, the title went to Louis Philippe III, who was the Duke of Orléans. He was a great-great-grandson of Louis I, Duke of Enghien, through his mother's side of the family. Just a month before, Louis Philippe III had become the King of the French as Louis Philippe I.
See also
In Spanish: Duque de Enghien para niños
