Royal Families: House of Orléans
The House of Orléans is a noble dynasty with a rich history that
dates back several centuries.
The House of Orléans takes its name from the city of Orléans,
located in north-central France.
History
The House of Orléans is the name used by various branches of the
French royal family, all descended from the legitimate male line
of the dynasty's founder, Hugo Capet.
French royal family, all descended from the legitimate male line
of the dynasty's founder, Hugo Capet.
The last branch to bear the ducal title descended from
Henry of Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme (Henry IV of France),
who became king (nominally) in 1589, and is sometimes
known as the House of Bourbon-Orléans.
Henry of Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme (Henry IV of France),
who became king (nominally) in 1589, and is sometimes
known as the House of Bourbon-Orléans.
The eldest of these branches consisted of Gaston of Orléans,
the younger son of Henry IV, and the four daughters of his
two marriages.
the younger son of Henry IV, and the four daughters of his
two marriages.
The youngest and last House of Orléans descended from
Philip of Orléans, the younger brother of Louis XIV (who,
as such, was known at court simply as Monsieur).
Philip of Orléans, the younger brother of Louis XIV (who,
as such, was known at court simply as Monsieur).
From 1709 until the French Revolution, the Orléans dukes were
next in the order of succession to the French throne after members
of the senior branch of the House of Bourbon, descended from
Louis XIV. Although Louis XIV's direct descendants retained the
throne, his brother Philippe's descendants flourished until the
end of the French monarchy. The Orléanists held the French
throne from 1830 to 1848 and are still pretenders to the
French throne today.
of the senior branch of the House of Bourbon, descended from
Louis XIV. Although Louis XIV's direct descendants retained the
throne, his brother Philippe's descendants flourished until the
end of the French monarchy. The Orléanists held the French
throne from 1830 to 1848 and are still pretenders to the
French throne today.
Who is who?
Philippe I, Duke of Orléans
Monsieur Philippe I, Duke of Orléans (21 September 1640 – 9 June 1701),
was the younger son of King Louis XIII of France and his wife,
Anne of Austria. His elder brother was the "Sun King", Louis XIV.
Styled Duke of Anjou from birth, Philippe became Duke of Orléans
upon the death of his uncle Gaston in 1660.
was the younger son of King Louis XIII of France and his wife,
Anne of Austria. His elder brother was the "Sun King", Louis XIV.
Styled Duke of Anjou from birth, Philippe became Duke of Orléans
upon the death of his uncle Gaston in 1660.
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Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
Philippe II, Duke of Orléans (Philippe Charles; 2 August
1674 – 2 December 1723), was a French prince, soldier,
and statesman who served as Regent of the Kingdom
of France from 1715 to 1723. He is referred to in French
as le Régent. He was the son of Monsieur Philippe I,
Duke of Orleans, and Madame Elisabeth Charlotte,
Duchess of Orléans.
1674 – 2 December 1723), was a French prince, soldier,
and statesman who served as Regent of the Kingdom
of France from 1715 to 1723. He is referred to in French
as le Régent. He was the son of Monsieur Philippe I,
Duke of Orleans, and Madame Elisabeth Charlotte,
Duchess of Orléans.
Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
Louis Philippe II was born at the Château de Saint-Cloud to
Louis Philippe I, Duke of Chartres, and Louise Henriette
de Bourbon. He was titled Duke of Montpensier at birth.
When his grandfather Louis, Duke of Orléans, died in 1752,
his father became the new Duke of Orléans and
Louis Philippe II became Duke of Chartres. When his father
died in 1785, he became Duke of Orléans and First Prince
of the Blood. He was styled as Serene Highness.
Louis Philippe I, Duke of Chartres, and Louise Henriette
de Bourbon. He was titled Duke of Montpensier at birth.
When his grandfather Louis, Duke of Orléans, died in 1752,
his father became the new Duke of Orléans and
Louis Philippe II became Duke of Chartres. When his father
died in 1785, he became Duke of Orléans and First Prince
of the Blood. He was styled as Serene Highness.
In 1792, during the Revolution, Louis Philippe changed his name
to Philippe Égalité. He was a cousin of King Louis XVI and one
of the wealthiest men in France. He actively supported the
Revolution of 1789, and was a strong advocate for the elimination
of the present absolute monarchy in favor of a constitutional
monarchy. Louis Philippe voted for the death of Louis XVI;
however, he was himself guillotined in 1793 during the
Reign of Terror. His son, also named Louis Philippe, became King
of the French after the July Revolution of 1830. After
Louis Philippe II, the term Orléanist came to be attached to the
movement in France that favored a constitutional monarchy.
to Philippe Égalité. He was a cousin of King Louis XVI and one
of the wealthiest men in France. He actively supported the
Revolution of 1789, and was a strong advocate for the elimination
of the present absolute monarchy in favor of a constitutional
monarchy. Louis Philippe voted for the death of Louis XVI;
however, he was himself guillotined in 1793 during the
Reign of Terror. His son, also named Louis Philippe, became King
of the French after the July Revolution of 1830. After
Louis Philippe II, the term Orléanist came to be attached to the
movement in France that favored a constitutional monarchy.
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Louis Philippe I
Louis Philippe I (6 October 1773 – 26 August 1850), nicknamed
the Citizen King, was King of the French from 1830 to 1848,
and the penultimate monarch of France.
the Citizen King, was King of the French from 1830 to 1848,
and the penultimate monarch of France.
As Louis Philippe, Duke of Chartres, he distinguished himself
commanding troops during the Revolutionary Wars and was
promoted to lieutenant general by the age of nineteen, but he
broke with the Republic over its decision to execute
King Louis XVI. He fled to Switzerland in 1793 after being
connected with a plot to restore France's monarchy.
commanding troops during the Revolutionary Wars and was
promoted to lieutenant general by the age of nineteen, but he
broke with the Republic over its decision to execute
King Louis XVI. He fled to Switzerland in 1793 after being
connected with a plot to restore France's monarchy.
His father Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans (Philippe Égalité)
fell under suspicion and was executed during the Reign of Terror.
fell under suspicion and was executed during the Reign of Terror.
Louis Philippe remained in exile for 21 years until the Bourbon
Restoration. He was proclaimed king in 1830 after his cousin
Charles X was forced to abdicate by the July Revolution
(and because of the Spanish renunciation). The reign of
Louis Philippe is known as the July Monarchy and was dominated
by wealthy industrialists and bankers. He followed conservative
policies, especially under the influence of French statesman
François Guizot during the period 1840–1848. He also promoted
friendship with Great Britain and sponsored colonial expansion,
notably the French conquest of Algeria. His popularity
faded as economic conditions in France deteriorated in 1847,
and he was forced to abdicate after the outbreak of the
French Revolution of 1848.
Restoration. He was proclaimed king in 1830 after his cousin
Charles X was forced to abdicate by the July Revolution
(and because of the Spanish renunciation). The reign of
Louis Philippe is known as the July Monarchy and was dominated
by wealthy industrialists and bankers. He followed conservative
policies, especially under the influence of French statesman
François Guizot during the period 1840–1848. He also promoted
friendship with Great Britain and sponsored colonial expansion,
notably the French conquest of Algeria. His popularity
faded as economic conditions in France deteriorated in 1847,
and he was forced to abdicate after the outbreak of the
French Revolution of 1848.
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Prince Philippe, Count of Paris
Prince Philippe of Orléans, Count of Paris (Louis Philippe Albert;
24 August 1838 – 8 September 1894), was disputedly King of
the French from 24 to 26 February 1848 as Louis Philippe II,
although he was never officially proclaimed as such. He was
the grandson of Louis Philippe I, King of the French.
24 August 1838 – 8 September 1894), was disputedly King of
the French from 24 to 26 February 1848 as Louis Philippe II,
although he was never officially proclaimed as such. He was
the grandson of Louis Philippe I, King of the French.
He was the Count of Paris as Orléanist claimant to the French
throne from 1848 until his death. From 1883, when his cousin
Henri, Count of Chambord died, he was often referred to by
Orléanists as Philippe VII.
throne from 1848 until his death. From 1883, when his cousin
Henri, Count of Chambord died, he was often referred to by
Orléanists as Philippe VII.
Henri, Count of Paris (1908–1999)
Henri of Orléans, Count of Paris (Henri Robert Ferdinand
Marie d'Orléans; 5 July 1908 – 19 June 1999), was the Orléanist
claimant to the defunct throne of France as Henry VI from 1940
until his death in 1999.
Marie d'Orléans; 5 July 1908 – 19 June 1999), was the Orléanist
claimant to the defunct throne of France as Henry VI from 1940
until his death in 1999.
Henri was the direct descendant of Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, son
of Louis XIII. He was also a descendant of Louis XIV through a
female line, from his legitimized daughter Françoise
Marie de Bourbon; as well as the great-great-grandson
(by four different lines of descent)[1] of Louis Philippe I.
of Louis XIII. He was also a descendant of Louis XIV through a
female line, from his legitimized daughter Françoise
Marie de Bourbon; as well as the great-great-grandson
(by four different lines of descent)[1] of Louis Philippe I.
The son of Jean, Duke of Guise, Henri was forbidden to enter
France for much of his life. Nonetheless, he remained devoted
to serving France, having enlisted in the French Foreign Legion
and fighting in World War II and the Algerian War. After being
permitted to re-enter France in 1950, he soon became heavily
engaged in French monarchist politics. Henri worked to
restore the French monarchy, in a parliamentary form, and
discussed the topic with Charles de Gaulle. He received notable
support from French monarchists, but all attempts to restore
the monarchy ultimately failed. Upon his death in 1999, his
son Henri succeeded him as Head of the House of Orléans.
France for much of his life. Nonetheless, he remained devoted
to serving France, having enlisted in the French Foreign Legion
and fighting in World War II and the Algerian War. After being
permitted to re-enter France in 1950, he soon became heavily
engaged in French monarchist politics. Henri worked to
restore the French monarchy, in a parliamentary form, and
discussed the topic with Charles de Gaulle. He received notable
support from French monarchists, but all attempts to restore
the monarchy ultimately failed. Upon his death in 1999, his
son Henri succeeded him as Head of the House of Orléans.
Jean, Count of Paris
Jean Carl Pierre Marie d'Orléans (born 19 May 1965) is the
current head of the House of Orléans. Jean is the senior male
descendant by primogeniture in the male-line of Louis-Philippe I,
King of the French, and thus, according to the Orléanists, the
legitimate claimant to the throne of France as Jean IV.
current head of the House of Orléans. Jean is the senior male
descendant by primogeniture in the male-line of Louis-Philippe I,
King of the French, and thus, according to the Orléanists, the
legitimate claimant to the throne of France as Jean IV.
Of France's three monarchist movements, Orléanism, Legitimism and
Bonapartism, most royalists are Orléanists.
Bonapartism, most royalists are Orléanists.
Jean is the second son of the late Henri, Count of Paris (1933–2019)
and his former wife Duchess Marie-Thérèse of Württemberg (b. 1934).
With the death of his father, he has been using the style
of Count of Paris since 2019.
and his former wife Duchess Marie-Thérèse of Württemberg (b. 1934).
With the death of his father, he has been using the style
of Count of Paris since 2019.
Nowadays
While the Count of Paris does not possess any formal political
power, he continues to be regarded as a figure of importance
by many monarchists and admirers of French history. His
role in contemporary society largely revolves around
representing the House of Orléans, preserving its legacy,
and engaging in symbolic acts that honor the family's historical ties to France.
power, he continues to be regarded as a figure of importance
by many monarchists and admirers of French history. His
role in contemporary society largely revolves around
representing the House of Orléans, preserving its legacy,
and engaging in symbolic acts that honor the family's historical ties to France.
Jean believes that the people of France are "monarchist at heart"
and argues that they long for a non-partisan figurehead.
and argues that they long for a non-partisan figurehead.
He has spoken in support of the Yellow vests protests in France.
Jean has also expressed his opposition to same-sex marriage, having
participated in the La Manif pour tous protests, as well as abortion.
Jean has also expressed his opposition to same-sex marriage, having
participated in the La Manif pour tous protests, as well as abortion.
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Source pictures: Wikipedia
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