Goods of the House of Orléans
Encyclopedia
Under the Ancien Régime, the goods of the House of Orléans
(biens de la maison d'Orléans) comprised two distinct parts : the apanage and the "biens patrimoniaux".
The apanage of Orléans was originally formed by Louis XIII
for his brother Gaston
. Gaston died without male heirs in 1660 and the apanage reverted to the French crown. Louis XIV
soon afterwards, in 1661, conceded it to his brother Philippe
. Originally made up of the duchies of Orléans, of Valois and of Chartres
and the seigneurie
of Montargis, it was expanded bit by bit :
On 7 August 1830, two days before his accession to the throne, Louis-Philippe d'Orléans passed, in the presence of his notary, Me Dentend, an act of "donation-partage" of his "biens patrimoniaux" to avoid them being reunited with the crown lands on his accession, according to the custom of ancient law. In this way, only the apanage d'Orléans was apportioned, in 1830, to the crown lands.
In 1826, when he coveted the throne of Greece, Louis-Philippe envisaged making a "donation-partage", a project taken up and completed in 1830. By this act, the duke of Orléans transmitted to his children the "nue-propriété" of his personal property, all the while reserving his usufruct
of it.
House of Orleans
Orléans is the name used by several branches of the Royal House of France, all descended in the legitimate male line from the dynasty's founder, Hugh Capet. It became a tradition during France's ancien régime for the duchy of Orléans to be granted as an appanage to a younger son of the king...
(biens de la maison d'Orléans) comprised two distinct parts : the apanage and the "biens patrimoniaux".
The "apanage d'Orléans"
Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1610 to 1643.Louis was only eight years old when he succeeded his father. His mother, Marie de Medici, acted as regent during Louis' minority...
for his brother Gaston
Gaston, Duke of Orléans
Gaston of France, , also known as Gaston d'Orléans, was the third son of King Henry IV of France and his wife Marie de Medici. As a son of the king, he was born a Fils de France. He later acquired the title Duke of Orléans, by which he was generally known during his adulthood...
. Gaston died without male heirs in 1660 and the apanage reverted to the French crown. Louis XIV
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
soon afterwards, in 1661, conceded it to his brother Philippe
Philippe I, Duke of Orléans
Philippe of France was the youngest son of Louis XIII of France and his queen consort Anne of Austria. His older brother was the famous Louis XIV, le roi soleil. Styled Duke of Anjou from birth, Philippe became Duke of Orléans upon the death of his uncle Gaston, Duke of Orléans...
. Originally made up of the duchies of Orléans, of Valois and of Chartres
Duke of Chartres
Originally, the Duchy of Chartres was the comté de Chartres, an Earldom. The title of comte de Chartres thus became duc de Chartres. This duchy–peerage was given by Louis XIV of France to his nephew, Philippe II d'Orléans, at his birth in 1674...
and the seigneurie
Fiefdom
A fee was the central element of feudalism and consisted of heritable lands granted under one of several varieties of feudal tenure by an overlord to a vassal who held it in fealty in return for a form of feudal allegiance and service, usually given by the...
of Montargis, it was expanded bit by bit :
- In 1672, Louis XIV added the duchy of NemoursDuke of NemoursIn the 12th and 13th centuries the Lordship of Nemours, in the Gatinais, France, was in possession of the house of Villebeon, a member of which, Gautier, was marshal of France in the middle of the 13th century...
, the counties of Dourdan and of Romorantin, the marquisMarquisMarquis is a French and Scottish title of nobility. The English equivalent is Marquess, while in German, it is Markgraf.It may also refer to:Persons:...
ats of Coucy and of Folembray. - In 1692, the Palais-Royal was incorporated into the apanage in contempt of a clause in the will of cardinal Richelieu which bequeathed it for the king's use
- In 1740, Louis XVLouis XV of FranceLouis XV was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death. He succeeded his great-grandfather at the age of five, his first cousin Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, served as Regent of the kingdom until Louis's majority in 1723...
added the hôtel de Grand-Ferrare in FontainebleauFontainebleauFontainebleau is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southeast of the centre of Paris. Fontainebleau is a sub-prefecture of the Seine-et-Marne department, and it is the seat of the arrondissement of Fontainebleau...
. - In 1751, the county of Soissons.
- In 1766, La Fère, Marle, Ham, Saint-Gobain, the canal de l'OurcqCanal de l'OurcqThe Canal de l'Ourcq is a 108.1 km long canal of the Paris Basin with 10 locks. It was built at a width of 3.2 m but was enlarged to 3.7 m , which permitted use by more pleasure boats...
, and the hôtel Duplessis-Châtillon in Paris.
The "biens patrimoniaux"
The "biens patrimoniaux" had varied origins:- Inheritance from the Grande Mademoiselle in 1693 : The Grande Mademoiselle made her cousin MonsieurPhilippe I, Duke of OrléansPhilippe of France was the youngest son of Louis XIII of France and his queen consort Anne of Austria. His older brother was the famous Louis XIV, le roi soleil. Styled Duke of Anjou from birth, Philippe became Duke of Orléans upon the death of his uncle Gaston, Duke of Orléans...
her sole heir. On her death, Monsieur obtained the duchies of Montpensier and of Châtellerault, the marquisat of Mézières-en-Brenne, the counties of Mortain, of Bar-sur-Seine, the vicomtésViscountA viscount or viscountess is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl or a count .-Etymology:...
of Auge and of Domfront, the baronBaronBaron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
nie of Beaujolais and the principauté of Joinville. - In 1742, the dowry of 4 million livres from Louise Elisabeth of OrléansLouise Elisabeth of OrléansLouise Élisabeth d'Orléans was Queen consort of Spain as the wife of King Louis I. In her adopted country, she was known as Luisa Isabel de Orléans.-Mademoiselle de Montpensier:...
, daughter of Philippe II, Duke of OrléansPhilippe II, Duke of OrléansPhilippe d'Orléans was a member of the royal family of France and served as Regent of the Kingdom from 1715 to 1723. Born at his father's palace at Saint-Cloud, he was known from birth under the title of Duke of Chartres...
, the Regent, who had married Louis I of Spain, was wholly returned to the Orléans family who had only paid half. - The famous Orléans CollectionOrleans CollectionThe Orleans Collection was a very important collection of over 500 paintings formed by the French prince of the blood Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans, mostly acquired between about 1700 and his death in 1723...
of art, mostly formed by Philippe II, and all sold during the Revolution by Louis Philippe d'Orléans (1747-1793). - Inheritance from the duc de PenthièvreLouis Jean Marie de Bourbon, duc de PenthièvreLouis Jean Marie de Bourbon was the son of Louis Alexandre de Bourbon and his wife Marie Victoire de Noailles. He was also a grandson of Louis XIV of France and his mistress, Madame de Montespan. From birth he was known as the Duke of Penthièvre...
, who died in 1793, and whose daughter, Louise Marie Adélaïde de BourbonLouise Marie Adélaïde de BourbonLouise Marie Adélaïde de Bourbon, Duchess of Orléans, , was the daughter of Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, Duke of Penthièvre and of Princess Maria Theresa Felicitas of Modena. At the death of her brother, Louis Alexandre de Bourbon, prince de Lamballe, she became the wealthiest heiress in France...
, had married Louis Philippe d'Orléans.
Purchases
Also, the revenues from the apanages and the "biens patrimoniaux", as well as money raised in the roles and offices taken by members of the house of Orléans, allowed them to purchase yet other lands and châteaux :- the château de Saint-CloudChâteau de Saint-CloudThe Château de Saint-Cloud was a Palace in France, built on a magnificent site overlooking the Seine at Saint-Cloud in Hauts-de-Seine, about 10 kilometres west of Paris. Today it is a large park on the outskirts of the capital and is owned by the state, but the area as a whole has had a large...
, bought by MonsieurPhilippe I, Duke of OrléansPhilippe of France was the youngest son of Louis XIII of France and his queen consort Anne of Austria. His older brother was the famous Louis XIV, le roi soleil. Styled Duke of Anjou from birth, Philippe became Duke of Orléans upon the death of his uncle Gaston, Duke of Orléans...
in 1658 for 240,000 livres, and considerably extended and transformed. Duke Louis PhilippeLouis Philippe I, Duke of OrléansLouis Philippe d'Orléans known as le Gros , was a French nobleman, a member of a cadet branch of the House of Bourbon, the dynasty then ruling France. The First Prince of the Blood after 1752, he was the most senior male at the French court after the immediate royal family. He was the father of...
, who had deserted Saint-Cloud after his morganatic marriage to Madame de Montesson, was forced to cede it to Louis XVILouis XVI of FranceLouis XVI was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre until 1791, and then as King of the French from 1791 to 1792, before being executed in 1793....
for 6 million livres, of which 4 were raised by reimbursing debts owed to the Duke and the remainder by refunding 100,000 of the 400,000 livres of rents formed by the duke of Orléans for his son at the time of his son's marriage. The sale was concluded on 24 October 1784. - the château de BagnoletChâteau de Bagnolet, ParisThe Château de Bagnolet was a small château situated in the Paris suburb of Bagnolet, France, 5.2 km from the center of the city. The property was part of the biens de la maison d'Orléans, private property of the House of Orléans from 1719 till 1769....
, bought in 1719 by the RegentPhilippe II, Duke of OrléansPhilippe d'Orléans was a member of the royal family of France and served as Regent of the Kingdom from 1715 to 1723. Born at his father's palace at Saint-Cloud, he was known from birth under the title of Duke of Chartres...
and re-sold in 1769 by Louis Philippe d'Orléans (1725-1785)Louis Philippe I, Duke of OrléansLouis Philippe d'Orléans known as le Gros , was a French nobleman, a member of a cadet branch of the House of Bourbon, the dynasty then ruling France. The First Prince of the Blood after 1752, he was the most senior male at the French court after the immediate royal family. He was the father of...
. - the château du RaincyChâteau du RaincyThe Château du Raincy was constructed between 1643 and 1650 by Jacques Bordier, indendant des finances, on the site of a Benedectine priory on the road from Paris to Meaux, in the present-day commune of Le Raincy in the Seine-Saint-Denis department of France.-The Château:Louis Le Vau was put in...
, bought by Louis Philippe d'Orléans (1725-1785)Louis Philippe I, Duke of OrléansLouis Philippe d'Orléans known as le Gros , was a French nobleman, a member of a cadet branch of the House of Bourbon, the dynasty then ruling France. The First Prince of the Blood after 1752, he was the most senior male at the French court after the immediate royal family. He was the father of...
in 1769. - the château de Maison-Rouge à GagnyGagnyGagny is a commune in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.-History:On 20 May 1869, a small part of the territory of Gagny was detached and merged with a part of the territory of Livry-Gargan and a part of the territory of Clichy-sous-Bois to create the...
, bought in 1771 from the marquis de Montfermeil by Louis Philippe d'Orléans (1747-1793). Confiscated as state property, bought in 1816 by Nicolas Charles Legrand, whose heirs sold it for 60,000 francs to Louis-Philippe I on 29 December 1845. - the château de Saint-Leu, bought in 1780 by Louis Philippe d'Orléans (1747-1793)Louis Philippe II, Duke of OrléansLouis Philippe Joseph d'Orléans commonly known as Philippe, was a member of a cadet branch of the House of Bourbon, the ruling dynasty of France. He actively supported the French Revolution and adopted the name Philippe Égalité, but was nonetheless guillotined during the Reign of Terror...
. - the Folie de Chartres, created by Louis Philippe d'Orléans (1747-1793)Louis Philippe II, Duke of OrléansLouis Philippe Joseph d'Orléans commonly known as Philippe, was a member of a cadet branch of the House of Bourbon, the ruling dynasty of France. He actively supported the French Revolution and adopted the name Philippe Égalité, but was nonetheless guillotined during the Reign of Terror...
, the origin of today's Parc MonceauParc MonceauParc Monceau is a semi-public park situated in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France, at the junction of Boulevard de Courcelles, Rue de Prony and Rue Georges Berger. At the main entrance is a rotunda. The park covers an area of 8.2 hectares ....
in Paris.
The act of donation-partage of 7 August 1830
In 1826, when he coveted the throne of Greece, Louis-Philippe envisaged making a "donation-partage", a project taken up and completed in 1830. By this act, the duke of Orléans transmitted to his children the "nue-propriété" of his personal property, all the while reserving his usufruct
Usufruct
Usufruct is the legal right to use and derive profit or benefit from property that either belongs to another person or which is under common ownership, as long as the property is not damaged or destroyed...
of it.
Acquisitions under the July monarchy
- The château de NeuillyChâteau de NeuillyThe château de Neuilly is a former château in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. Its estate covered a vast 170 hectare park called "parc de Neuilly" which comprised all of Neuilly that is today to be found between avenue du Roule and the town of Levallois-Perret. The castle was built in 1751, and was...
at Neuilly-sur-SeineNeuilly-sur-SeineNeuilly-sur-Seine is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Although Neuilly is technically a suburb of Paris, it is immediately adjacent to the city and directly extends it. The area is composed of mostly wealthy, select residential...
, acquired 16 July 1819 for the future Louis-Philippe I in exchange for the écuries called "de Chartres", situated on rue Saint-Thomas du Louvre. - The château de Maison-Rouge at GagnyGagnyGagny is a commune in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.-History:On 20 May 1869, a small part of the territory of Gagny was detached and merged with a part of the territory of Livry-Gargan and a part of the territory of Clichy-sous-Bois to create the...
(see above) bought by Louis-Philippe I on 29 December 1845 for 60,000 francs. After the Revolution of 1848French Revolution of 1848The 1848 Revolution in France was one of a wave of revolutions in 1848 in Europe. In France, the February revolution ended the Orleans monarchy and led to the creation of the French Second Republic. The February Revolution was really the belated second phase of the Revolution of 1830...
, the former French king put this domaine at the disposal of his former aide-de-campAide-de-campAn aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
, général de Rumigny, who acquired it on 12 January 1853 following the decree of 10 January 1852 confiscating the goods of the house of Orléans. - The château de La Ferté-Vidame - at the RestorationBourbon RestorationThe Bourbon Restoration is the name given to the period following the successive events of the French Revolution , the end of the First Republic , and then the forcible end of the First French Empire under Napoleon – when a coalition of European powers restored by arms the monarchy to the...
, restituted to the duchess of OrléansOrléans-Prehistory and Roman:Cenabum was a Gallic stronghold, one of the principal towns of the Carnutes tribe where the Druids held their annual assembly. It was conquered and destroyed by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, then rebuilt under the Roman Empire...
and, on her death in 1821, the domaine passed to her eldest son Louis-Philippe I, future king of the French. He reconstituted the domaine, rebuilt its fortified wall, repaired its water features, and restored and expanded the small château, though the restoration was interrupted by the Revolution of 1848.