Jean Gaston, Duke of Valois
Encyclopedia
Jean Gaston d'Orléans, petit-fils de France, Duke of Valois (17 August 1650 – 10 August 1652) was a French Prince and Grandson of France
. He was a member of the House of Orléans
.
, the present day Luxembourg Palace
in Paris, he was the first and only son born to the Duke and Duchess of Orléans. His father, Gaston d'Orléans
, was the youngest brother of the late Louis XIII
; as such, Jean Gaston was born during the reign of his first cousin, the 12 year old Louis XIV
.
He was given the title of Duke of Valois, a title which was from his father's appanage from Louis XIII. As a Grandson of France, he was allowed the style of Royal Highness
and from his birth, was the fourth male in the kingdom after Louis XIV, the Duke of Anjou
and his father Gaston.
His birth was greatly celebrated by his older half sister la Grande Mademoiselle who ordered a large firework display in Paris to commemorate his birth. He was adored by la Grande Mademoiselle despite the child always having frail health; he was never able to walk and could not even speak - Jean Gaston had a crooked leg which had been attributed to the Duchess of Orléans lying on her side throughout her pregnancy.
The little Duke of Valois died at the Palais d'Orléans and was greatly mourned by his parents and half sister. He was buried at the Royal Basilica of Saint Denis outside Paris, the traditional burial place of the House of Bourbon
. The duchy of Valois reverted back to his father. At the death of Gaston d'Orléans in 1660, the duchy of Orléans also reverted back to the crown. The previously mentioned Duke of Anjou became the Duke of Orléans and it is from him the present House of Orléans
descends.
Fils de France
Fils de France was the style and rank held by the sons of the kings and dauphins of France. A daughter was known as a fille de France .The children of the dauphin, who was the king's heir apparent, were accorded the same style and status as if they were the king's children instead of his...
. He was a member of the House of Orléans
House of Orleans
Orléans is the name used by several branches of the Royal House of France, all descended in the legitimate male line from the dynasty's founder, Hugh Capet. It became a tradition during France's ancien régime for the duchy of Orléans to be granted as an appanage to a younger son of the king...
.
Biography
Born at the Palais d'OrléansLuxembourg Palace
The Luxembourg Palace in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, north of the Luxembourg Garden , is the seat of the French Senate.The formal Luxembourg Garden presents a 25-hectare green parterre of gravel and lawn populated with statues and provided with large basins of water where children sail model...
, the present day Luxembourg Palace
Luxembourg Palace
The Luxembourg Palace in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, north of the Luxembourg Garden , is the seat of the French Senate.The formal Luxembourg Garden presents a 25-hectare green parterre of gravel and lawn populated with statues and provided with large basins of water where children sail model...
in Paris, he was the first and only son born to the Duke and Duchess of Orléans. His father, Gaston d'Orléans
Gaston, Duke of Orléans
Gaston of France, , also known as Gaston d'Orléans, was the third son of King Henry IV of France and his wife Marie de Medici. As a son of the king, he was born a Fils de France. He later acquired the title Duke of Orléans, by which he was generally known during his adulthood...
, was the youngest brother of the late Louis XIII
Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1610 to 1643.Louis was only eight years old when he succeeded his father. His mother, Marie de Medici, acted as regent during Louis' minority...
; as such, Jean Gaston was born during the reign of his first cousin, the 12 year old 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...
.
He was given the title of Duke of Valois, a title which was from his father's appanage from Louis XIII. As a Grandson of France, he was allowed the style of Royal Highness
Royal Highness
Royal Highness is a style ; plural Royal Highnesses...
and from his birth, was the fourth male in the kingdom after Louis XIV, the Duke of Anjou
Philippe I, Duke of Orléans
Philippe of France was the youngest son of Louis XIII of France and his queen consort Anne of Austria. His older brother was the famous Louis XIV, le roi soleil. Styled Duke of Anjou from birth, Philippe became Duke of Orléans upon the death of his uncle Gaston, Duke of Orléans...
and his father Gaston.
His birth was greatly celebrated by his older half sister la Grande Mademoiselle who ordered a large firework display in Paris to commemorate his birth. He was adored by la Grande Mademoiselle despite the child always having frail health; he was never able to walk and could not even speak - Jean Gaston had a crooked leg which had been attributed to the Duchess of Orléans lying on her side throughout her pregnancy.
The little Duke of Valois died at the Palais d'Orléans and was greatly mourned by his parents and half sister. He was buried at the Royal Basilica of Saint Denis outside Paris, the traditional burial place of the House of 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...
. The duchy of Valois reverted back to his father. At the death of Gaston d'Orléans in 1660, the duchy of Orléans also reverted back to the crown. The previously mentioned Duke of Anjou became the Duke of Orléans and it is from him the present House of Orléans
House of Orleans
Orléans is the name used by several branches of the Royal House of France, all descended in the legitimate male line from the dynasty's founder, Hugh Capet. It became a tradition during France's ancien régime for the duchy of Orléans to be granted as an appanage to a younger son of the king...
descends.
Ancestors
Titles and styles
- 17 August 1650 – 10 August 1652 His Royal HighnessRoyal HighnessRoyal Highness is a style ; plural Royal Highnesses...
the Duke of Valois (Monseigneur le duc de Valois)