Louis Philippe, Duke of Orléans facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Louis Philippe d'Orléans |
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| Duke of Orléans | |||||
Louis Philippe by a member of the French school
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| Born | 12 May 1725 Palace of Versailles, France |
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| Died | 18 November 1785 (aged 60) Château de Sainte-Assise à Seine-Port, France |
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| Burial | Val-de-Grâce, Paris | ||||
| Spouse | Louise Henriette de Bourbon Madame de Montesson |
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| Issue Detail |
Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans Bathilde, Duchess of Bourbon |
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| House | House of Orléans | ||||
| Father | Louis d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans | ||||
| Mother | Johanna of Baden-Baden | ||||
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Louis Philippe d'Orléans (born May 12, 1725 – died November 18, 1785) was an important French prince. He held the title of Duke of Orléans. He was the father of Philippe Égalité, who became famous during the French Revolution. Louis Philippe greatly increased his family's already huge wealth.
Contents
Life of Louis Philippe
Early Life and Family
Louis Philippe d'Orléans was born at the grand Palace of Versailles in France. This happened on May 12, 1725. He was the only son of Louis d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans and his wife, Johanna of Baden-Baden.
First Marriage Challenges
In 1743, when Louis Philippe was 18, his grandmother helped arrange his marriage. He married his 17-year-old cousin, Louise Henriette de Bourbon. Their wedding took place at Versailles on December 17, 1743.
At first, everyone at court was surprised by how much the couple seemed to like each other. However, after only a few months, their relationship became difficult. They started to grow apart.
New Family and Interests
Louise Henriette passed away on February 9, 1759. After her death, Louis Philippe became interested in the theater. He met Étiennette Le Marquis, who was a former dancer and enjoyed acting in plays. She introduced him to the world of comedy and theater.
Louis Philippe had three children with Étiennette. The Orléans family helped to raise these children. They were:
- Louis Étienne d'Orléans (born 1759), who became a count and abbot.
- Louis Philippe d'Orléans (born 1761), also a count and abbot.
- Marie Étiennette Perrine d'Auvilliers (born 1761), who later married an army officer.
A Second Marriage
Louis Philippe met Madame de Montesson in July 1766. She was a clever woman who was married at the time. After her husband passed away in 1769, Louis Philippe wanted to marry her. He asked King Louis XV for permission.
Finally, in December 1772, the King agreed to the marriage. But there were special conditions. Madame de Montesson could never become the Duchess of Orléans. She also could not inherit any other Orléans titles. The couple also had to live a quiet life away from the royal court. This type of marriage, where one spouse does not gain the other's titles, is called a morganatic wedding. Their wedding took place on April 23, 1773.
Later Years
Louis Philippe passed away on November 18, 1785, at the age of sixty. He was at Sainte-Assise and was surrounded by his family. This included his three children with Étiennette Le Marquis. He was buried in Paris at the Val-de-Grâce convent. This convent was built by his ancestor, Anne of Austria, to celebrate the birth of Louis XIV of France.
His Children
Louis Philippe had several children:
- A daughter (born and died in 1745 at Château de Saint-Cloud).
- Louis Philippe Joseph d'Orléans (born 1747 at Château de Saint-Cloud). He later married Louise Marie Adélaïde de Bourbon and had children.
- Bathilde d'Orléans (born 1750 at Château de Saint-Cloud). She married Louis Henri, Prince of Condé and also had children.
Titles He Held
Louis Philippe held different titles during his life:
- May 12, 1725 – August 4, 1752: He was known as His Serene Highness the Duke of Chartres.
- August 4, 1752 – November 18, 1785: He became His Serene Highness the Duke of Orléans.
