House of Orleans - Finances and Inheritances

Finances and Inheritances

Upon the death of the Duc d'Orléans's father-in-law in 1793 (the hugely wealthy duc de Penthièvre), the House of Orléans became the richest in France. They received vast rents on lands all over France and owned various châteaux. Along with their government and because the family were known as the Premier Princes du Sang, they often received fortunes and titles from inheritances:

• In 1693 after the death of Philippe's older cousin, La Grande Mademoiselle.
  • From this the family received the ducal titles of Montpensier, Châtellerault, the marquessate of Mézières-en-Brenne, the counties of Mortain, of Bar-sur-Seine, the viscountcies of Auge and of Domfront.
  • In addition, he also received the barony of Beaujolais, which was later raised to the rank of county, and the principality of Joinville.

• In 1769, Louise Marie Adélaïde de Bourbon,the greatest heiress of her time as the sole surviving child of her father, the famously wealthy duc de Penthièvre, married her cousin, Louis Philippe II d'Orléans, then duc de Chatres and later called Philippe Égalité.
  • After the wedding, the Duke of Orléans received his wife's dowry of six million livres, the equivalent of around £20,000,000 today.
  • The Orléans couple then obtained an annual income of 240,000 livres. This later increased to 400,000 livres. The couple also received furniture as part of the marriage settlement.
• The death of the duc de Penthièvre.
  • In 1793 the wealthy duc de Penthièvre died and left his whole fortune and lands to his daughter Louise Marie Adélaïde. His previous heir had been his son, the prince de Lamballe, who died young in 1768.

Châteaux The family also later acquired many other châteaux around the country. Among these were the:

• Château de Bagnolet in Paris. This was bought in 1719 by the "Regent", Philippe II, Duke of Orléans but was sold in 1769 by his grandson.
• Château du Raincy - bought in 1769 by the father of Philippe Égalité.
• Château de Maison-Rouge at Gagny - bought in 1771 from the Marquis de Montfermeil, it was confiscated during the revolution.
• Château de Saint-Leu, in the Val-d'Oise area of France. This would later be bought by Louis Bonaparte and his wife.
• Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans also acquired the land in the north east of Paris that became the Parc Monceau.

During the July Monarchy, the family acquired the:

• Château de Neuilly - on the borders of 18th century Paris.
• Château de Maison-Rouge in Gagny - this was given back to the family whilst the Bourbon-Orléans were on the throne of France.
• Château de la Ferté Vidame - this had also been confiscated during the French Revolution and was the property of Louise Marie Adélaïde de Bourbon-Penthièvre. She had inherited it from her father. On her death it passed to her son, the future King Louis-Philippe of the French.