Prince Du Sang - Monsieur Le Prince

Monsieur Le Prince

This was the style of the First Prince of the Blood (French: premier prince du sang), which normally belonged to the most senior (by primogeniture) male member of the royal dynasty who is neither a fils de France (son of France) nor a petit-fils de France (grandson of France). In practice, it was not always clear who was entitled to the rank, and it often took a specific act of the king to make the determination.

The rank carried with it various privileges, including the right to a household paid out of state revenues. The rank was held for life: the birth of a new, more senior prince who qualified for the position did not deprive the current holder of his use of the style. The Princes of Condé used the style of Monsieur le Prince for over a century (1589–1709). The right to use the style passed to the House of Orléans in 1709; they, however, seldom if ever used it.

First Princes of the Blood, 1465-1830

1. Valois House of Orléans
1. 1465–1498 : Louis II, Duke of Orléans (1462–1515);
2. 1498–1515 : François, Count of Angoulême (1494–1547)
   House of Valois-Alençon
3. 1515–1525 : Charles IV, Duke of Alençon (1489–1525);
   House of Bourbon-Montpensier
4. 1525–1527 : Charles III, Duke of Bourbon would have been the first prince had he not been banned from the position for treason (1490–1527);
   House of Bourbon-Vendôme
5. 1527–1537 : Charles IV de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme (1489–1537);
6. 1537–1562 : Antoine de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme, later King of Navarre (1518–1562).
7. 1562–1589 : Henri III, King of Navarre (1553–1610);
   House of Bourbon-Condé
8. 1589–1646 : Henri II de Bourbon, Prince of Condé (1588–1646);
9. 1646–1686 : Louis II de Bourbon, Prince of Condé (1621–1686);
10. 1686–1709 : Henri III de Bourbon, Prince of Condé (1643–1709).
    Bourbon House of Orléans
11. 1709–1723 : Philippe Charles d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans (1674–1723), was entitled to the style, but did not use it;
12. 1723–1752 : Louis d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans (1703–1752);
13. 1752–1785 : Louis Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans (1725–1785);
14. 1785–1793 : Louis Philippe Joseph d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans (1747–1793);
15. 1814–1830 : Louis Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans (1773–1850), who later ruled as Louis-Philippe I, King of the French.