Regency of Philippe d'Orléans facts for kids

Quick facts for kids La Régence
Philippe, Duke of Orléans
Philippe d'Orléans, Duke o Orléans
In office 1 September 1715 – 15 Februar 1723
Monarch	Louis XV
Prime Minister	Guillaume Dubois (in 1723)

The Régence (pronounced Ray-zhahns) was a special time in France between 1715 and 1723. During this period, King Louis XV was still a young boy, too young to rule on his own. So, the country was governed by his uncle, Philippe d'Orléans, who was known as the Regent of the Kingdom. This meant he ruled France until Louis XV was old enough to take charge.

During this time, other important rulers in Europe included Philip V of Spain, John V of Portugal, George I of Great Britain, and Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor.

Important Events During the Regency

1715: A New Era Begins

• 1 September 1715: King Louis XIV dies. In his will, he tried to set up a council to rule France. He wanted his illegitimate son, the Duke of Maine, to have the real power.
• 2 September 1715: The Duke of Orléans teams up with the Parlement de Paris, which was a powerful court. They decided to cancel Louis XIV's will. This gave the Duke of Orléans more power.
• 12 September: The Parlement officially recognizes Philippe d'Orléans as the Regent. This means he is now the official ruler of France until Louis XV grows up.
• 15 September: The Parlement also claims the Droit de remontrance. This was their right to challenge or cancel laws made by a king who had died. This further supported the Regent's power.
• 1 October 1715: A new system called Polysynody is created in Paris. This was a council made up of the country's most important nobles, helping the Regent to govern.
• 30 December: Young King Louis XV moves from the Château de Vincennes to the Tuileries Palace in Paris.
• Louis XV is placed under the care of Duke of Villeroy. Guillaume Delisle and the Cardinal de Fleury are put in charge of teaching the young king.

1716: New Ideas and Alliances

• 2 May: The Regent allows a Scottish banker named John Law to start a new bank called the Banque générale. This was a big step for France's economy.
• 9/10 October: France forms an important alliance with Great Britain. This helped keep peace in Europe.

1717: Treaties and Royal Visits

• Triple Alliance (1717): France, the Dutch Republic, and Great Britain sign a treaty against Spain. They wanted to make sure the agreements from the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht were kept.
• 21 May: Peter I of Russia, the famous Russian Emperor, visits Paris. He meets the young King Louis XV and the Regent. This was a very important diplomatic visit.
• 6 June 1717: The Regent buys a very famous and large diamond, which later becomes part of the French Crown Jewels. It was called the Regent Diamond.
• July: The Duke of Maine and the Count of Toulouse lose their special titles of Princes of the Blood by order of the Parlement. This was another way the Regent strengthened his power.
• September: A new trading company, the Compagnie d'Occident et du Mississippi, is started. This company was involved in trade with French colonies in North America.

1718: Shifting Powers

• 31 March: Mariana Victoria of Spain is born in Madrid. She is later promised to marry Louis XV.
• 2 August: The Quadruple Alliance is formed. This alliance includes Austria, France, the Dutch Republic, and Great Britain. Their goal was to change some of the treaties that ended the War of the Spanish Succession, mostly at Spain's expense.
• 24 September: The Polysynody system ends, and the Regent brings back individual ministers to run the government.
• 4 December: John Law's Banque générale becomes the Banque Royale, making it the official royal bank.
• December: A plot called the Cellamare Conspiracy is uncovered. This plot, led by the Duke of Maine and his wife, aimed to make Philip V of Spain the regent of France. The Duke and Duchess are sent away from court for a while.

1719: War and Loss

• 9 January: France declares war on Spain.
• 15 April: Madame de Maintenon, a very influential woman from Louis XIV's time, dies.
• May: John Law also founds the East India Company, another major trading company.

1720: Financial Changes and Challenges

• 5 January: John Law is made the Controller General of Finances, meaning he is in charge of France's money.
• 11 February: The Regent's daughter, Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans, marries Francesco III d'Este, Hereditary Prince of Modena.
• March: The Great Plague of Marseille breaks out, causing a lot of illness and death in the city.
• 26 March: The leaders of the Pontcallec Conspiracy, a plot against the Regency, are executed.

1721: New Ideas and Royal Marriages

• The famous book Persian Letters by Montesquieu is published. It was a popular book that looked at French society through the eyes of Persian travelers.
• 27 March: Spain and France form a new alliance.
• May: A Turkish Ambassador, Mehmet Effendi, visits France, showing France's connections with other parts of the world.
• 18 July: The famous painter Antoine Watteau dies.

1722: Return to Versailles

• 20 January: The Regent's daughter, Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans, marries the future Louis I of Spain.
• 10 March: The young Infanta Mariana Victoria of Spain arrives in Paris. She is the daughter of Philip V of Spain and is meant to marry Louis XV.
• 15 June: King Louis XV and the royal court move back to Versailles. This was a big moment, as Versailles was the traditional home of the French kings.
• 22 August: Guillaume Dubois becomes the Prime Minister of the Regent.
• 25 October: Louis XV is officially crowned King at the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Reims. This was a very important ceremony.
• 8 December: The Regent's mother, Elisabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate, passes away.

1723: The End of the Regency

• 16 February: King Louis XV officially reaches his majority. This means he is now old enough to rule France on his own, and the Regency period comes to an end.
• 10 August: Guillaume Dubois, the Prime Minister, dies. His role is later taken by Louis Henri, Duke of Bourbon.
• 2 December: The Regent, Philippe d'Orléans, dies at the Palace of Versailles. He had successfully guided France through a challenging period until the young king was ready to rule.

Images for kids

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  Philippe, Duke of Orléans

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