Louise Henriette de Bourbon Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Louise Henriette de Bourbon

Duchess of Orléans
Duchess of Étampes

Portrait by Jean-Marc Nattier traditionally, but probably incorrectly, identified as the princesse de Bourbon-Conti

Born

20 June 1726
Paris, France

Died

9 February 1759 (aged 32)
Palais-Royal, Paris, France

Burial

Val-de-Grâce, Paris

Spouse

Louis Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans

Issue
Detail

Louis Philippe, Duke of Orléans
Bathilde, Princess of Condé

Full name
Louise Henriette de Bourbon

House

Bourbon-Conti

Father

Louis Armand II, Prince of Conti

Mother

Louise Élisabeth de Bourbon

Religion

Roman Catholicism

Signature

Louise Henriette de Bourbon (born 20 June 1726 – died 9 February 1759) was a French princess. When she was born, she was known as Mademoiselle de Conti. Later, through her marriage, she became the Duchess of Chartres (from 1743 to 1752). After her father-in-law passed away, she became the Duchess of Orléans (from 1752 to 1759).

On 4 February 1752, her husband became the leader of the House of Orléans. This made him the First Prince of the Blood (Premier prince du sang). This was a very important position, second only to the closest members of the royal family. Louise Henriette de Bourbon, as Duchess of Orléans, was the grandmother of Louis-Philippe, who later became the King of the French. Her family line includes today's royal families in Spain and Belgium.

Her Family Background
Her Marriage
- Her Children
Her Death
Her Family Tree
See also

Her Family Background

Louise Henriette was born in Paris. She was the only daughter of Louis Armand de Bourbon, Prince of Conti and Louise Élisabeth de Bourbon. Her father was the second son of François Louis de Bourbon, who was known as le Grand Conti.

Her mother, Louise Élisabeth de Bourbon, was the favorite daughter of Louise-Françoise de Bourbon. Louise-Françoise was one of the daughters of King Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan. Because Louise Henriette was part of the royal House of Bourbon, she was called a Princess of the Blood (princesse du sang). When she was young, people at court called her Mademoiselle de Conti.

Her father passed away in 1727. After his death, her older brother, Louis François de Bourbon, became the Prince of Conti. At that time, Louise Henriette had two brothers: Louis François and Louis Armand de Bourbon, the Duke of Mercœur.

Her Marriage

One of Louise Henriette's cousins, Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, wanted to marry her. However, her mother chose someone from the more important House of Orléans. So, on 17 December 1743, when she was seventeen, Louise Henriette married her second cousin, Louis Philippe d'Orléans. At the time of their marriage, he was the Duke of Chartres. Their wedding took place in the chapel of the Palace of Versailles.

The Duke of Chartres' father, Louis d'Orléans, agreed to the marriage. He was known as the Pious Duke. At first, Louise Henriette and her husband were very much in love. However, Louise Henriette had a very lively personality, which sometimes caused disagreements between them, and they eventually grew apart.

Her Children

Children of the Duke of Orléans (around 1755). This painting shows Bathilde holding an angel, with her brother, the young Duke of Chartres, on the right. Painted by François-Hubert Drouais.

Louise Henriette and her husband had three children:

A daughter, born at Château de Saint-Cloud on 12 or 13 July 1745, who passed away on 14 December 1745.
Louis Philippe Joseph d'Orléans, born at Château de Saint-Cloud on 13 April 1747. He passed away on 6 November 1793 in Paris.
- He was known as the Duke of Montpensier when he was born.
- He became the Duke of Chartres when his grandfather died in 1752.
- He became the Duke of Orléans when his father died in 1785.
- During the French Revolution, he was known as Philippe-Égalité.
- He married Louise Marie Adélaïde de Bourbon. They were the parents of Louis-Philippe, who became King of the French.
Louise Marie Thérèse Bathilde d'Orléans, born at Château de Saint-Cloud on 9 July 1750. She passed away on 10 January 1822 in Paris.
- She was the last princesse de Condé.
- She married Louis Henry II, Prince of Condé.
- Before her marriage, she was known as Mademoiselle at court.
- During the French Revolution, she was known as Citoyenne Vérité.

Her Death

Louise Henriette passed away on 9 February 1759, at the age of 32. Her husband and children were with her at the Palais-Royal in Paris, which was the Orléans family home. Her son was eleven years old and her daughter was eight.

After Louise Henriette's death, her husband had other relationships. He eventually found the love of his life, the clever marquise de Montesson, and married her after she became a widow.

Louise Henriette was also the Duchess of Étampes in her own right. She inherited this title in 1752 when her husband became the head of the House of Orléans. When she passed away, her son inherited the title. He held it until it ended in 1792, during the French Revolution.

In June 1759, shortly after his twelfth birthday, Louise Henriette's only son, Louis Philippe, was presented at the court in Versailles. He officially met King Louis XV and the royal family. Even though Louise Henriette and her husband had a difficult relationship, her husband was very sad about her death, and so was their son. Louise Henriette was buried at the Val-de-Grâce in Paris.