Regent of France. Philippe Charles d'Orléans, son of Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, and his wife Elizabeth Charlotte, Princess Palatine, was born at the Château de Saint Cloud. His father was Louis XIV's younger brother. Philippe was the grandson of King Louis XIII of France. At birth, he received the title of Duke of Chartres. He served with distinction in the military. In 1692, his father Philippe and his uncle Louis XIV arranged his marriage to his first cousin, Françoise Marie de Bourbon, legitimized daughter of Louis XIV and his mistress Madame de Montespan. His mother Elizabeth Charlotte was incensed upon hearing that he had acquiesced to the marriage and slapped him publicly in view of the court. The king offered a dowry of two million livres and the Palais Royal. The elaborate wedding ceremony took place on February 18, 1692 at the Palace of Versailles. Madame de Montespan was not invited to her daughter's wedding. The marriage produced eight children. In 1701, Philippe inherited his father's dukedoms. Louis XIV died in 1715. The Parlement in Paris confirmed the Duke of Orléans as Regent of France, to serve during the minority of Louis XV, the then five year old great-grandson of the dead king. He contended with all manner of political intrigues during his regency, including the Cellamare Conspiracy, an attempt to transfer the regency. Philippe stepped down as Regent on February 15, 1723, when Louis XV reached his majority. Louis offered him the position of prime minister which he accepted. After his death later that year, his heart was taken to the Val-de-Grâce and his body to the Basilica of Saint Denis. His heart is now at the Chapelle Royale de Dreux, the chapel that was renovated and renamed by his great-great-grandson Louis Philippe I, King of the French.
Regent of France. Philippe Charles d'Orléans, son of Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, and his wife Elizabeth Charlotte, Princess Palatine, was born at the Château de Saint Cloud. His father was Louis XIV's younger brother. Philippe was the grandson of King Louis XIII of France. At birth, he received the title of Duke of Chartres. He served with distinction in the military. In 1692, his father Philippe and his uncle Louis XIV arranged his marriage to his first cousin, Françoise Marie de Bourbon, legitimized daughter of Louis XIV and his mistress Madame de Montespan. His mother Elizabeth Charlotte was incensed upon hearing that he had acquiesced to the marriage and slapped him publicly in view of the court. The king offered a dowry of two million livres and the Palais Royal. The elaborate wedding ceremony took place on February 18, 1692 at the Palace of Versailles. Madame de Montespan was not invited to her daughter's wedding. The marriage produced eight children. In 1701, Philippe inherited his father's dukedoms. Louis XIV died in 1715. The Parlement in Paris confirmed the Duke of Orléans as Regent of France, to serve during the minority of Louis XV, the then five year old great-grandson of the dead king. He contended with all manner of political intrigues during his regency, including the Cellamare Conspiracy, an attempt to transfer the regency. Philippe stepped down as Regent on February 15, 1723, when Louis XV reached his majority. Louis offered him the position of prime minister which he accepted. After his death later that year, his heart was taken to the Val-de-Grâce and his body to the Basilica of Saint Denis. His heart is now at the Chapelle Royale de Dreux, the chapel that was renovated and renamed by his great-great-grandson Louis Philippe I, King of the French.
Bio by: Anne Philbrick
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