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Gaston D'OrleansDuke of Orleans, youngest son of King Henry IV and Marie de Medici
Date of Birth: 25.04.1608
Country:  France |
Content:
- Early Life and Titles
- Military and Political Career
- Regent and Fronde
- Marriages and Children
- Later Years and Legacy
Early Life and Titles
Gaston, Duke of Orléans, was born as the third son of King Henry IV of France and Marie de' Medici. Known initially as the Duke of Anjou, he was later bestowed with the titles of Duke of Orléans, Count of Chartres, and Count of Blois in 1626. As the younger brother of King Louis XIII, he held the titles "Monsieur" and "Sole Brother of the King." He was the heir presumptive to the throne until the birth of the future Louis XIV in 1638.
Military and Political Career
In 1628, Gaston nominally commanded the famous Siege of La Rochelle. He had a strained relationship with his brother and nephew. In the 1630s, he led a rebellion in Languedoc (1635) against the king and Cardinal Richelieu. Pardoned later, he participated in the conspiracy of Saint-Mars to remove Richelieu in 1642 but escaped execution. As a result, he was stripped of his rights to the regency in the event of the king's death.
Regent and Fronde
After his brother's death in 1643, Gaston was appointed Lieutenant General of the Kingdom (though Anne of Austria, the king's widow, became the regent). He commanded French troops against Spain. However, during the Fronde in the 1650s, he repeatedly switched sides. Cardinal Mazarin ordered his exile to Blois, where Gaston later died.
Marriages and Children
In 1626, Gaston married Marie de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier. After her death in childbirth, he married Marguerite of Lorraine in 1632. They had five children, but only three daughters survived into adulthood.
Later Years and Legacy
Gaston was succeeded as Duke of Orléans by his younger brother, Philip, after his death. Throughout his life, he played a significant role in French politics and the royal court. His complex relationships and involvement in the Fronde left a lasting mark on 17th-century French history.
