Prince Robert, Duke of Chartres facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prince Robert |
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|---|---|
| Duke of Chartres | |
 |
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| Born | November 9, 1840 Paris, France |
| Died | December 5, 1910 (aged 70) Saint Firmin, France |
| Spouse |
Princess Françoise of Orléans
(m. 1863) |
| Issue | Marie, Princess Valdemar of Denmark Prince Robert Prince Henri Princess Marguerite, Duchess of Magenta Prince Jean, Duke of Guise |
| House | Orléans |
| Father | Ferdinand Philippe, Duke of Orléans |
| Mother | Duchess Helene of Mecklenburg-Schwerin |
| Military career | |
| Battles/wars | Wars of Italian Unification American Civil War Franco-Prussian War |
Prince Robert Philippe Louis Eugène Ferdinand of Orléans, Duke of Chartres (born November 9, 1840 – died December 5, 1910) was a French prince. He was the son of Prince Ferdinand Philippe, Duke of Orléans. His grandfather was King Louis-Philippe of France.
Prince Robert was a soldier who fought in several wars. He joined the Union Army during the American Civil War. Later, he fought for France in the Franco-Prussian War in 1870. In 1863, he married his cousin, Princess Françoise of Orléans. In 1886, he had to leave France because of a new law.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Prince Robert was born in 1840. Sadly, he became an orphan at a young age. His father passed away in a carriage accident in 1842. His mother died from the flu in 1858.
Because of this, Robert and his older brother, Prince Philippe, Count of Paris, were mostly raised by their grandparents. These were King Louis-Philippe and Queen Marie-Amélie.
The 1848 Revolution
In 1848, a big event called the French Revolution of 1848 happened in France. King Louis-Philippe decided not to use force against the people. Instead, he gave up his throne on February 24. He wanted his grandson Philippe to become the new king.
After the king left, Robert's mother went to the government meeting. She tried to declare her older son, Philippe, as the new king of France. She also wanted to be named the regent, which means she would rule until Philippe was old enough. However, the leaders of the assembly stopped her plans. They announced the start of the Second French Republic instead.
Life in Exile
After the revolution, Robert's mother and her children left France. They moved to Germany. King Louis-Philippe and the rest of the royal family went to the United Kingdom.
They lived in a house called Claremont. This house was lent to them by King Leopold I of Belgium. He was Louis-Philippe's son-in-law. Robert's mother, Helene, passed away from influenza in England in 1858.
Military Career
After his mother's death, Prince Robert went to Turin for military training. He became an officer in the Piedmontese dragoons.
Wars of Italian Unification
From 1859 onwards, he fought in the Wars of Italian Unification. He fought alongside France and the House of Savoy. He was part of the important Battle of Palestro. For his bravery, King Victor Emmanuel II gave him an award.
American Civil War
In April 1861, the American Civil War began. Prince Robert and his brother, Prince Philippe, Count of Paris, traveled to the United States. They wanted to support the Union side.
On September 24, 1861, Robert became a captain in the United States Army. He worked as an assistant to Major General George B. McClellan. McClellan was the commander of the Army of the Potomac. Robert fought in the Battle of Gaines's Mill on June 27, 1862. He left the Union Army on July 15, 1862.
During their time in the United States, the princes were with their uncle. He was the Prince of Joinville. Their uncle painted many pictures of their journey.
Franco-Prussian War
In 1870, the Franco-Prussian War started. Prince Robert was in Brussels at the time. He immediately asked Napoleon III's government if he could fight for France.
However, the war minister did not want Robert to join the army. So, he could not enroll until after the Empire fell. He then fought in the war using the name Robert Le Fort. He became a squadron leader in the Armée de la Loire. He fought so well that he was made a Chevalier (knight) of the Légion d'honneur after the war.
The government kept him at that rank. In 1871, they sent him to Algeria. His mission was to help stop a local revolt.
Exile from France
In 1881, the new government in France became less friendly to royal families. They removed Prince Robert from his job as a colonel. Then, in 1886, a new law was passed. This law allowed the government to remove him from the army. He was also forced to leave France.
Prince Robert was eventually allowed to return to France. He passed away in Saint-Firmin in 1910.
Family and Children
Robert and Françoise had five children:
- Princess Marie of Orléans (born January 13, 1865 – died December 4, 1909). She married Prince Valdemar of Denmark in 1885. He was the son of King Christian IX of Denmark.
- Prince Robert d'Orléans (born January 11, 1866 – died May 30, 1885).
- Prince Henri of Orléans (born October 16, 1867 – died August 9, 1901).
- Princess Marguerite d'Orléans (born January 25, 1869 – died January 31, 1940). She married Marie-Armand-Patrice de Mac-Mahon, Duke of Magenta, in 1896. He was the son of Patrice de Mac-Mahon, 1st Duke of Magenta.
- Prince Jean d'Orléans (born September 4, 1874 – died August 25, 1940). He was known as "Duke of Guise" and was a claimant to the French throne. In 1899, he married his cousin Princess Isabelle d'Orléans. She was the daughter of Prince Philippe, Count of Paris.
Honours and Awards
Prince Robert received several important awards:
France: Knight of the Legion of Honour, awarded on November 14, 1871.
Denmark: Knight of the Order of the Elephant, awarded on September 14, 1885. He received this because he was the father-in-law of a Danish Prince.
Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Falcon, awarded on August 20, 1861.
Spain: Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III, awarded on March 5, 1886.
Kingdom of Portugal: Grand Cross of the Order of the Tower and Sword, awarded on May 22, 1886.
Works
Prince Robert also wrote a book series:
- Histoire de la guerre civile en Amérique – 7 volumes. Paris: 1874–87
See also
In Spanish: Roberto de Orleans para niños
