Orleans family
Orléans, the name of the cadet (younger) branch of the Valois and Bourbon royal families of France. The house of Valois-Orleans was founded in 1344, when Philip ( French: Philippe) VI created the title duke of Orleans for his son, Philippe (1336–1375). When Philippe died without a legitimate heir, the duchy reverted to the crown. In 1392 Charles VI gave the title to his brother, Louis (1372–1407). Louis was succeeded by his son, Charles of Orléans (1391–1465). Charles's son ascended the throne of France as Louis XII in 1498, and the duchy was united with the crown. Louis died without a male heir in 1515. ( )
In 1626 Louis XIII created his brother, Jean Baptiste Gaston (1608–1660), duke of Orléans. Jean Baptiste also died without an heir. The present house of Bourbon-Orléans was founded in 1691, when Louis XIV revived the title duke of Orleans for his brother, Philippe I (1640–1701). Philippe was succeeded by his son, Philippe II (1674–1723), who was regent during the minority of Louis XV. The great-grandson of Philippe II, Louis Philippe Joseph (1747–1793), who came to be known as Philippe Egalité, succeeded to the title in 1785. During the French Revolution, he aided the revolutionists and voted for the death of Louis XVI. His son, Louis Philippe (1773–1850), was made king of France after the Revolution of 1830. The Revolution of 1848 caused his abdication and the establishment of the Second French Republic. ( )
Thereafter, the house was headed by various pretenders to the French throne. Notable was Louis Philippe's son Louis Philippe Albert, Comte de Paris 1183–1894). who fought in the American Civil War. ( .)