Philippe I, Duke of Orléans



French duke

also called Duke of Anjou (until 1660) byname Monsieur

Born: September 21, 1640, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France Died: June 9, 1701, Saint-Cloud

Son of King Louis XIII and brother of the future Louis XIV of France. Philippe de France was born as the second and last child of King Louis XIII of France and his wife Anne of Austria. At the death of his father, his elder brother succeeded to the throne as King Louis XIV. Like his brother, Philippe was educated by the most skilled tutors of the time, François de La Mothe Le Vayer and the Abbé de Choisy.

From the accession of his brother in 1643, Philippe was the heir presumptive until the birth of his nephew Louis de France, in 1661. After the death of his uncle, Gaston de France in 1660, Philippe received the titles: Duke of Orléans, Duke of Valois, Duke of Chartres, and Lord of Montargis. In March 1661, he married his cousin Henrietta, sister of King Charles II of England, but he soon avoided her and became involved in a succession of homosexual relationships. Henrietta died suddenly and in circumstances that caused scandal in 1670. In the following year Orléans was married to Elizabeth Charlotte, daughter of the Elector Palatine.

Philippe, Duke of Orléans proved to be a courageous soldier. He distinguished himself fighting in the Spanish Netherlands in the War of Devolution (1667–68), and during the Dutch War (1672–78). Orléans won an important victory over William of Orange at Cassel (April 11, 1677). Reportedly, Louis XIV was jealous of his brother's success and, as result, Orléans was never again given command of an army. He died at the Château de Saint-Cloud on June 9, 1701. Two of his daughters by his first marriage became queens. Philippe II, his son by his seond marriage, inherited the dukedom of Orléans and served as regent for young King Louis XV from 1715 to 1723.