French Royalty, Field Marshal. Louis François Joseph de Bourbon, son of Louis François de Bourbon and his wife Louise Diane d'Orléans, was born at the Hôtel de Conti in Paris. His father was the Prince of Conti. His mother was the daughter of Philippe d'Orléans, the Regent of France for Louis XV. At birth, Louis François received the title of Count of La Marche. His mother died in childbirth when he was two years old. He was the only child of the marriage, excluding a stillborn child. The Count was baptized at Versailles in 1742, in the presence of Louis XV of France and Queen Maria Leszczynska. In 1750, he was made a Knight of the Order of the Holy Spirit at Versailles. He served in the military during the Seven Years' War as Field Marshal. Louis François married his first cousin Marie Fortunée d'Este, daughter of Francesco III d'Este, Duke of Modena, and his wife Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans. The proxy ceremony took place on February 7, 1759 in Milan. The couple married in person later that month on the 27th in France. The marriage was not a happy one and there were no children. However, the Count did have two illegitimate children with his mistress. In 1776, his father died and Louis François succeeded him as the Prince of Conti. He and his wife officially separated on June 12, 1777. He was arrested in 1793, during the Revolution, but acquitted. Despite this, his possessions were confiscated and he led an impoverished life. In 1797, the Prince was sent in exile to Spain. Upon his death in Barcelona in 1814, the House of Bourbon-Conti became extinct. The Prince of Conti was eventually interred at what would become the Chapelle Royale de Dreux.
French Royalty, Field Marshal. Louis François Joseph de Bourbon, son of Louis François de Bourbon and his wife Louise Diane d'Orléans, was born at the Hôtel de Conti in Paris. His father was the Prince of Conti. His mother was the daughter of Philippe d'Orléans, the Regent of France for Louis XV. At birth, Louis François received the title of Count of La Marche. His mother died in childbirth when he was two years old. He was the only child of the marriage, excluding a stillborn child. The Count was baptized at Versailles in 1742, in the presence of Louis XV of France and Queen Maria Leszczynska. In 1750, he was made a Knight of the Order of the Holy Spirit at Versailles. He served in the military during the Seven Years' War as Field Marshal. Louis François married his first cousin Marie Fortunée d'Este, daughter of Francesco III d'Este, Duke of Modena, and his wife Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans. The proxy ceremony took place on February 7, 1759 in Milan. The couple married in person later that month on the 27th in France. The marriage was not a happy one and there were no children. However, the Count did have two illegitimate children with his mistress. In 1776, his father died and Louis François succeeded him as the Prince of Conti. He and his wife officially separated on June 12, 1777. He was arrested in 1793, during the Revolution, but acquitted. Despite this, his possessions were confiscated and he led an impoverished life. In 1797, the Prince was sent in exile to Spain. Upon his death in Barcelona in 1814, the House of Bourbon-Conti became extinct. The Prince of Conti was eventually interred at what would become the Chapelle Royale de Dreux.
Bio by: Anne Philbrick
Family Members
Advertisement
See more de Bourbon memorials in:
Advertisement
