Louis-Philippe I The last monarch of France to hold the title of king Date of Birth: 06.10.1773 Country: France

Biography of Louis-Philippe I

Louis-Philippe I, the last monarch of France, was born in Paris on October 6, 1773. He was the eldest son of Duke Louis Philippe Joseph d'Orléans, known as Philippe Égalité. From 1800 until his ascent to the throne, he held the title of Duke of Orléans. Following in his father's footsteps, he declared himself a supporter of the revolution, joined the National Guard, and became a member of the Jacobin Club. In 1792, Louis-Philippe renounced his title and adopted the name of Citizen Égalité. Soon after, he was forced to leave France. After traveling through Scandinavia and spending several years in America, he moved to England. After signing a declaration of allegiance to his rightful sovereign, Louis-Philippe reconciled with the Bourbons. From then on, he was addressed as a prince, although he was viewed with suspicion. In 1809, Louis-Philippe relocated to Sicily, where he married Maria Amalia, the daughter of Ferdinand of Naples. Dreaming of obtaining the Spanish crown, he wanted to participate in the struggle against Napoleon, but this dream never materialized.

After the Restoration, Louis XVIII appointed Louis-Philippe as the commander of the hussars and returned to him all the confiscated estates of his father during the revolution. Opposition leaders soon began to look towards Louis-Philippe, especially since he had often been mentioned as a possible king. However, Louis-Philippe maintained a strictly correct behavior towards the ruling house and remained aloof from all plots in his favor. In 1830, shortly before the revolution, Louis-Philippe left Paris, while his friends carried out their plans without needing his support. On July 30, the Chamber of Deputies proclaimed him the regent of the kingdom. After some hesitation, Louis-Philippe accepted the offered title and was crowned on August 7. Thus began the reign of the "citizen king" and the dominance of the bourgeoisie.

The reign of Louis-Philippe was a time of scientific and technological progress, and France witnessed an industrial revolution. As a result of the February Revolution of 1848, Louis-Philippe abdicated in favor of his grandson, the Count of Paris, but it was too late. The republic was proclaimed, and Louis-Philippe fled to Great Britain, where he died on August 26, 1850.