Philippe, Comte de Paris
Encyclopedia
Philippe d'Orléans, Count of Paris (Louis Philippe Albert; 24 August 1838 – 8 September 1894) was the grandson of Louis Philippe I
, King of the French. He was a claimant to the French throne from 1848 until his death.
was proclaimed in its stead.
A historian, journalist and outspoken democrat, the Count of Paris volunteered to serve as a Union Army
officer in the American Civil War
along with his younger brother, the Duke of Chartres
. As Captain Philippe d'Orléans, the Count of Paris served on the staff of the commander of the Army of the Potomac
under Major General George McClellan
for nearly a year. He distinguished himself during the unsuccessful Peninsular Campaign. His history of that war is considered a standard reference work.
and Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily. They had eight children, including:
that had been elected following the fall of Napoleon III
, the Count of Paris withdrew his claims to the French throne in favour of the legitimist
claimant, Henri V
, best known as the Comte de Chambord. It was assumed by most that the Count of Paris was Chambord's heir, and would thus be able to succeed to the throne upon the childless Chambord's death, reuniting the two claims that had divided French monarchists since 1830. However, Chambord's refusal to recognize the tricolor as the French flag
sabotaged hopes of a restoration, and Chambord died in 1883 without ever specifically recognizing his Orléanist
rival as his heir.
Upon the Count of Chambord's death, the Count of Paris was recognized by most monarchists as Philippe VII of France. This succession was disputed by the Carlist
descendants of the Bourbon
kings of Spain
, who argued that being descended directly from Louis XIV
their claim was greater than that of the Orléanists'; however, this argument pointedly ignored Philip V of Spain
's renunciation of his and his descendants' claim to the French throne pursuant to the Treaty of Utrecht
.
The Count of Paris lived in Sheen House, Sheen in Surrey
, England
, where his grandfather had sought refuge after his abdication. He died at Stowe House
in 1894.
Louis-Philippe of France
Louis Philippe I was King of the French from 1830 to 1848 in what was known as the July Monarchy. His father was a duke who supported the French Revolution but was nevertheless guillotined. Louis Philippe fled France as a young man and spent 21 years in exile, including considerable time in the...
, King of the French. He was a claimant to the French throne from 1848 until his death.
Early life
Philippe became the Prince Royal, heir-apparent to the throne, when his father, Prince Ferdinand-Philippe, died in a carriage accident in 1842. Although there was some effort during the days after the abdication of his grandfather in 1848 to put him on the throne under the name of Louis-Philippe II, with his mother (Helene of Mecklenburg-Schwerin) as regent, this came to nothing. They fled and the French Second RepublicFrench Second Republic
The French Second Republic was the republican government of France between the 1848 Revolution and the coup by Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte which initiated the Second Empire. It officially adopted the motto Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité...
was proclaimed in its stead.
A historian, journalist and outspoken democrat, the Count of Paris volunteered to serve as a Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
officer in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
along with his younger brother, the Duke 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...
. As Captain Philippe d'Orléans, the Count of Paris served on the staff of the commander of the Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
under Major General George McClellan
George B. McClellan
George Brinton McClellan was a major general during the American Civil War. He organized the famous Army of the Potomac and served briefly as the general-in-chief of the Union Army. Early in the war, McClellan played an important role in raising a well-trained and organized army for the Union...
for nearly a year. He distinguished himself during the unsuccessful Peninsular Campaign. His history of that war is considered a standard reference work.
Marriage and issue
In 1864 he married his paternal first cousin Princess Marie Isabelle d'Orléans (1848–1919), Infanta of Spain. She was daughter of Infanta Luisa Fernanda of Spain and Prince Antoine, Duke of Montpensier (1824–1890), the youngest son of Louis-Philippe of FranceLouis-Philippe of France
Louis Philippe I was King of the French from 1830 to 1848 in what was known as the July Monarchy. His father was a duke who supported the French Revolution but was nevertheless guillotined. Louis Philippe fled France as a young man and spent 21 years in exile, including considerable time in the...
and Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily. They had eight children, including:
- Amélie d'Orléans, Princess of OrléansAmélie d'OrléansAmélie of Orléans was the last Queen consort of Portugal, known to her husband's subjects as "Maria Amélia"...
(1865–1951). She married Carlos I of PortugalCarlos I of Portugal-Assassination:On 1 February 1908 the royal family returned from the palace of Vila Viçosa to Lisbon. They travelled by train to Barreiro and, from there, they took a steamer to cross the Tagus River and disembarked at Cais do Sodré in central Lisbon. On their way to the royal palace, the open...
in 1886. - Prince Louis Philippe Robert d'Orléans, Prince of Orléans, Duke of Orléans (1869–1926). Married Archduchess Maria Dorothea of AustriaArchduchess Maria Dorothea of AustriaMaria Dorothea of Austria, full German name: Maria Dorothea Amalie, Erzherzogin von Österreich was a member of the Hungarian line of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine and an Archduchess of Austria and Princess of Bohemia, Hungary, and Tuscany by birth...
daughter of Archduke Joseph Karl of Austria in 1896, - Hélène d'Orléans, Princess of OrléansPrincess Hélène d'OrléansPrincess Hélène of Orléans was a member of the Orléans royal family and by marriage Duchess of Aosta.-Family:She was the third of eight children born to Prince Philippe, Count of Paris, and Infanta Maria Isabel of Spain...
(1871–1951). She married Emmanuel Philibert, 2nd Duke of Aosta in 1895. - Charles d'Orléans, Prince of Orléans (1875–1875).
- Isabelle d'Orléans, Princess of OrléansIsabelle d'Orléans, duchesse de GuisePrincess Isabelle of Orléans was a member of the French Orleanist royal family and by marriage Duchess of Guise....
(1878–1961). She married Prince Jean D'Orléans, Duke of GuiseJean d'Orléans, duc de GuiseJean Pierre Clément Marie d'Orléans, Duke of Guise , was the son of Robert, Duke of Chartres , grandson of Ferdinand-Philippe and great-grandson of Louis Philippe I, King of the French...
in 1899. - Jacques d'Orléans, Prince of Orléans (1880–1881).
- Louise d'Orléans, Princess of Orléans (1882–1958). She married Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Two SiciliesPrince Carlos of Bourbon-Two SiciliesDon Carlos, Prince of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Infante of Spain was the son of Prince Alfonso of the Two...
in 1907. Through her daughter Maria Mercedes of Bourbon-Two SiciliesMaria Mercedes of Bourbon-Two SiciliesPrincess María Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies was the mother of current King Juan Carlos I of Spain.- Biography :María was born in Madrid, daughter of Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Two...
, she was the grandmother of King Juan Carlos I of SpainJuan Carlos I of SpainJuan Carlos I |Italy]]) is the reigning King of Spain.On 22 November 1975, two days after the death of General Francisco Franco, Juan Carlos was designated king according to the law of succession promulgated by Franco. Spain had no monarch for 38 years in 1969 when Franco named Juan Carlos as the...
. - Ferdinand d'Orléans, Prince of Orléans, Duke of MontpensierFerdinand, Duke of MontpensierFerdinand d'Orléans, Duke of Montpensier, was a member of the House of Orléans and a Prince of France....
(1884–1924). He married Marie Isabelle Gonzales de Olañeta et Ibaretta, Marchioness of Valdeterrazo in 1921.
Restoration of French monarchy
In 1873, anticipating a restoration of the monarchy by the largely monarchist National AssemblyFrench National Assembly
The French National Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of France under the Fifth Republic. The upper house is the Senate ....
that had been elected following the fall of Napoleon III
Napoleon III of France
Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte was the President of the French Second Republic and as Napoleon III, the ruler of the Second French Empire. He was the nephew and heir of Napoleon I, christened as Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte...
, the Count of Paris withdrew his claims to the French throne in favour of the legitimist
Legitimists
Legitimists are royalists in France who adhere to the rights of dynastic succession of the descendants of the elder branch of the Bourbon dynasty, which was overthrown in the 1830 July Revolution. They reject the claim of the July Monarchy of 1830–1848, whose kings were members of the junior...
claimant, Henri V
Henri, comte de Chambord
Henri, comte de Chambord was disputedly King of France from 2 to 9 August 1830 as Henry V, although he was never officially proclaimed as such...
, best known as the Comte de Chambord. It was assumed by most that the Count of Paris was Chambord's heir, and would thus be able to succeed to the throne upon the childless Chambord's death, reuniting the two claims that had divided French monarchists since 1830. However, Chambord's refusal to recognize the tricolor as the French flag
Flag of France
The national flag of France is a tricolour featuring three vertical bands coloured royal blue , white, and red...
sabotaged hopes of a restoration, and Chambord died in 1883 without ever specifically recognizing his Orléanist
Orléanist
The Orléanists were a French right-wing/center-right party which arose out of the French Revolution. It governed France 1830-1848 in the "July Monarchy" of king Louis Philippe. It is generally seen as a transitional period dominated by the bourgeoisie and the conservative Orleanist doctrine in...
rival as his heir.
Upon the Count of Chambord's death, the Count of Paris was recognized by most monarchists as Philippe VII of France. This succession was disputed by the Carlist
Carlism
Carlism is a traditionalist and legitimist political movement in Spain seeking the establishment of a separate line of the Bourbon family on the Spanish throne. This line descended from Infante Carlos, Count of Molina , and was founded due to dispute over the succession laws and widespread...
descendants of the Bourbon
House of Bourbon
The House of Bourbon is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty . Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma...
kings of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, who argued that being descended directly from 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...
their claim was greater than that of the Orléanists'; however, this argument pointedly ignored Philip V of Spain
Philip V of Spain
Philip V was King of Spain from 15 November 1700 to 15 January 1724, when he abdicated in favor of his son Louis, and from 6 September 1724, when he assumed the throne again upon his son's death, to his death.Before his reign, Philip occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a...
's renunciation of his and his descendants' claim to the French throne pursuant to the Treaty of Utrecht
Treaty of Utrecht
The Treaty of Utrecht, which established the Peace of Utrecht, comprises a series of individual peace treaties, rather than a single document, signed by the belligerents in the War of Spanish Succession, in the Dutch city of Utrecht in March and April 1713...
.
The Count of Paris lived in Sheen House, Sheen in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where his grandfather had sought refuge after his abdication. He died at Stowe House
Stowe House
Stowe House is a Grade I listed country house located in Stowe, Buckinghamshire, England. It is the home of Stowe School, an independent school. The gardens , a significant example of the English Landscape Garden style, along with part of the Park, passed into the ownership of The National Trust...
in 1894.
See also
- Count of ParisCount of ParisCount of Paris was a title for the local magnate of the district around Paris in Carolingian times. Eventually, the count of Paris was elected to the French throne...
- List of shortest reigning monarchs of all time