Philippe I, Duke of Orléans
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Categories: Wikipedia articles needing style editing from December 2007 | Princes of Joinville | Dukes of Valois | Dukes of Chartres | Dukes of Orléans | Dukes of Nemours | Dukes of Montpensier | Dukes of Anjou | Knights of the Golden Fleece | LGBT royalty | People from Ile-de-France | 1640 births | 1701 deaths
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Philippe I, Duc d'Orléans
In 1661, he was made Duke of Orléans, and married his first cousin Henrietta Anne Stuart, sister of Charles II of England, also known as 'Minette'. Both were grandchildren of Henry IV of France and Marie de' Medici.
UpbringingTraditionally, in the French court, a king's younger son was not given significant responsibility, and Philippe was no exception. His mother discouraged him from traditionally male pursuits such as arms and politics, and encouraged him to wear dresses, makeup, and to enjoy traditionally feminine pursuits. This was part of Queen Anne's effort to distract Philippe from challenging his older brother's rule and position in the way that Louis XIII's younger brother, the ambitious Gaston, Duke of Orléans, was challenging the king at this time. As an adult, Monsieur continued to enjoy wearing feminine clothing and fragrances, but also proved to be a brave and competent commander in the field. He fought with distinction in the 1667 promenade militaire against Flanders during the War of Devolution, though he hastened back to his life at court immediately after victory was assured. Monsieur resumed military command in 1672, and in 1677 won a great victory at the Battle of Cassel and took St Omer. Louis XIV, it was said, was jealous of his brother's success, therefore Monsieur never commanded an army again. Adult relationshipsMonsieur's favorites, invariably handsome young men, dominated contemporary and historical commentary about his role at court, particularly one man who shared his princely rank and much of his life:
Under these circumstances it is no surprise that Monsieur's first marriage was unhappy. In January 1670 his wife prevailed upon the King to imprison the chevalier, first near Lyon, then in the chateau d'If, and finally banish him to Rome. But by February Monsieur's protests and pleas persuaded the King to restore him to his brother's entourage. The death of the Duchess in the following June was popularly attributed to poison, although there was little evidence for Monsieur to have perpetrated such a deed, whereas some of his mignons had earned her enmity and she theirs — and were suspected. Subsequently; Monsieur's confidante the Princess Palatine Anna Gonzaga arranged his second marriage to her husband's niece, Elisabeth Charlotte, daughter of Charles Louis, Elector Palatine of the Rhine. "Liselotte" converted to Roman Catholicism before entering France in November 1671. Whereas Monsieur's first wife had been known for beauty, charm and wit, no one accused Liselotte of those graces, and some said that this lack explained why she fared better with Monsieur (who personally took charge of her toilette for public occasions) than did his first wife. She gave him his only surviving son. She also became known for her brusque candor, upright character, lack of vanity, and prolific foreign correspondence about the daily routine and frequent scandals of Versailles. Her letters record how willingly she gave up sharing Monsieur's bed at his request after their children's births, and how unwillingly she endured the presence of his mignons in their household, which caused the couple to quarrel. But she frequently acknowledged that Monsieur's treatment of her was less offensive than the importunities his entourage made at her expense, and the lack of protection he afforded her and their children against the hostile intrigues she believed were directed at her by spiteful courtiers, especially Madame de Maintenon. Monsieur failed to stand up to Louis XIV's insistence on marrying his daughter Françoise-Marie de Bourbon (Mademoiselle de Blois) to Monsieur's son and heir, Philippe d'Orléans in February 1692. But when, years later, the King rebuked him for his son's indifference toward her, Monsieur defended his son with such vehemence that a footman felt obliged to enter the King's chamber to warn the royal brothers that their argument was being overheard by the entire court. Monsieur is the only man known to have raised his voice to the adult Louis XIV, though he did not live to see the King again. CharacterMonsieur was an art collector and perhaps also a shrewd investor (as Nancy Nichols Barker suggests in her book Brother to the Sun King). Monsieur enjoyed court life, gambling, chasing young men, and ceremony. Despite the fact that his debts and dalliances often cost the King, the brothers spent much time together. Orléans' loyalty was never in question; he raised the standard of fraternal fidelity in a dynasty in which the Frondes had established princely rebellion as a tradition. His unabashed effeminacy probably deprived him of the credit he deserved among his countrymen and in history. Louis XIV, however, seems to have fully appreciated their relationship, as he treated Monsieur, publicly and privately, with respect and leniency. He died at Saint-Cloud in 1701 of an apoplectic fit brought on by his heated argument with the King. The King's ex-mistress, Françoise-Athénaïs, marquise de Montespan, was said to have wept bitterly at the loss of the one remaining friend from the bygone golden age of le Roi Soleil. AncestryDescendantsImage:Henriette dangleterre.jpg
Portrait of Phillipes first wife commissioned after her death by her beloved bother Charles, King of England Samuel Cooper
Of his first marriage on March 31 1661 to Henrietta, daughter of Charles I of England and Henrietta Maria of France, four children were born:
Of his second marriage to Elizabeth Charlotte, Princess Palatine, Monsieur had three children:
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Liselotte of the Palatinate, Philippes second wife
Titles and ApanageAlong with being a Fils de France (son of France) and Enfant de France (enfant/child of France) during the reign of his father Louis XIII, he received the surname de France (of France) being one of the higher members of the royal family. (Even after Louis XIV married and had a family, he was considered one of the most important people at the court of the Château de Versailles and the Louvre). From being the younger brother of King Louis XIV, when he succeded , he received the complimentary title of Monsieur (his wives were known as Madame) but was known as le Petit Monsieur until the death of his uncle Gaston, Duke of Orléans and from birth was known as duc d'Anjou or the Duke of Anjou. He received the title Duc d'Orléans also on the death of his uncle and through Apanage, got many others and became the:
Through apanage Philippe received a vast court salary an dtwo of the most famous residences in France: The Palais Royal in the center of Paris and the Château de Saint-Cloud outside the city. Desite this, he could have also received the county of Blois (and with it the Château de Chambord and the county of Languedoc. Portrayals in fictionHe was portrayed by Murray Lachlan Young, in Roland Joffé's 2000 film Vatel. The film depicted him as an open homosexual with a court of male hangers-on. Early in the film, he displeased Vatel (played by Gerard Depardieu) as he wanted one of the kitchenhands, Colin, to become his pageboy, to which Vatel responded: "I do not get my kitchenhands from him, and I will not supply my kitchenhands to his brothel." Later on, the Prince proves to be a friend, scuppering a plot by a courtier, the marquis de Lauzun, to maim Vatel. The film's portrayal acknowledges both his homosexuality and his military skill. He is also depicted by Christophe Maé in the French Musical "Le Roi Soleil", also as an open homosexual and friend to his brother, Louis XIV. References
de:Philippe I. de Bourbon, duc d'Orléans el:Φίλιππος Α' της Ορλεάνης es:Felipe I de Orleans eo:Filipo de Francio (1640-1701) fr:Philippe de France (1640-1701) it:Filippo I d'Orléans nl:Filips van Orléans (1640-1701) ja:フィリップ1世 (オルレアン公) pl:Filip I Burbon-Orleański pt:Filipe I de Bourbon ru:Филипп I Орлеанский sv:Filip I av Orléans |
