Philippe II, Duke of Orléans

member of the royal family of France, Regent of the Kingdom from 1715 to 1723

Philippe II, Duke of Orléans (Philippe Charles; 2 August 1674 – 2 December 1723), 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. His father was Louis XIV's younger brother Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, known as Monsieur; his mother was Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate.

Philippe II
Duke of Orléans
Regent of France
Regency1 September 1715 –
15 February 1723
MonarchLouis XV
First Minister of State
In office
10 August 1723 – 2 December 1723
MonarchLouis XV
Preceded byGuillaume Dubois
Succeeded byLouis Henri, Duke of Bourbon
BornPhilippe Charles, Duke of Chartres
(1674-08-02)2 August 1674
Château de Saint Cloud, France
Died2 December 1723(1723-12-02) (aged 49)
Palace of Versailles, France
Burial
Spouse
(m. 1692)
Issue
Detail
HouseOrléans
FatherPhilippe I, Duke of Orléans
MotherElisabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate
ReligionRoman Catholicism
SignaturePhilippe II's signature

In 1692, Philippe married his first cousin, Françoise Marie de Bourbon - the youngest legitimised daughter (légitimée de France) of Philippe's uncle Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan. Named regent of France for Louis XV until Louis attained his majority in February 1723, the era of his de facto rule was known as the Regency (1715–1723). He died at Versailles in 1723. He is referred to historically as le Régent.

  1. Mademoiselle de Valois (17 December 1693 - 17 October 1694) died in infancy.
  2. Marie Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans (20 August 1695 - 21 July 1719) married Charles of France, Duke of Berry and had issue.
  3. Louise Adélaïde d'Orléans (13 August 1698 - 10 February 1743) Abbess of Chelles died unmarried.
  4. Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans (20 October 1700 - 19 January 1761) married Francesco III d'Este, Duke of Modena and had issue.
  5. Louis d'Orléans (4 August 1703 - 4 February 1752) married Margravine Johanna of Baden-Baden and had issue.
  6. Louise Élisabeth d'Orléans (11 December 1709 - 16 June 1742) married King Louis I of Spain, no issue.
  7. Philippine Élisabeth d'Orléans (18 December 1714 - 21 May 1734) married Infante Carlos of Spain, no issue.
  8. Louise Diane d'Orléans (27 June 1716 - 26 September 1736) married Louis François de Bourbon and has issue.

Philippe also had several illegitimate children with several women, three of whom he acknowledged.

  • By Florence Pellerin:
  1. Charles de Saint-Albin (1698–1764);
  • By Marie Louise Le Bel de La Boissière:
  1. Jean Philippe bâtard d'Orléans (1702–1748);
  • By Christine Charlotte Desmares:
  1. Angélique de Froissy (1702–1785).

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