Philippe, Duke of Anjou

Philippe
Duke of Anjou
"Prince Philippe blowing bubbles": a depiction of Philippe on a snuffbox in the Walters Museum.
Born	(1730-08-30)30 August 1730 Palace of Versailles, France
Died	Palace of Versailles, France
Burial	Basilica of Saint Denis, Paris, France
Full name Philippe de France
House	Bourbon
Father	Louis XV of France
Mother	Marie Leszczyńska

Philippe de France, fils de France, Duke of Anjou (30 August 1730 – 7 April 1733) was a French Prince and second son of king Louis XV of France and Marie Leszczyńska. He was the Duke of Anjou from birth.

Biography

Philippe de France was born at the Palace of Versailles to the King and Queen of France 30 August 1730. He was the second son and fifth child to be born to the royal family. A member of the House of Bourbon and son of a king, he held the rank of a son of France; this entitled him to the style of Royal Highness; in his short lifetime, he was the third most important male at court after his father Louis XV and his oldest brother, Louis, Dauphin of France.

Named Philippe, that was the traditional name of the second son - the first being called Louis. He was created the Duke of Anjou at birth, this title was associated with the second son. The last duke of Anjou had been his father while a child during the reign of Louis XIV.

He was the favourite child of his mother Marie Leszczyńska.

The little Philippe grew up at Versailles with his brother the Dauphin and their twin sisters Madame Élisabeth "Madame de France" (future Duchess of Parma) and Madame Henriette "Madame de Navarre". In March 1732, Philippe saw the birth of the future Madame Adélaïde. The next year his older sister Marie Louise de France died at Versailles on 19 February 1733 of a Common cold. She had been known as Madame Louise and named after her parents.

Always a sickly child, Philippe was cared for by a group of female attendants, as royal children were cared for by women until the age of 5. As part of their intensely superstitious beliefs, the women mixed in earth from the grave of Saint Medard with his food; the child was given so much earth that his organs failed.

As a result, Philippe died at Versailles on 7 April 1733 at the age of 2, two months after Madame Louise. He was buried at the Royal Basilica of Saint Denis outside Paris.

Doctors reported that large amounts of earth were found in his intestines.

Ancestry

Family of Philippe, Duke of Anjou

16. Louis XIV of France               8. Louis, Dauphin of France                       17. Infanta Maria Theresa of Spain               4. Louis, Dauphin of France and Duke of Burgundy                             18. Ferdinand Maria, Elector of Bavaria               9. Maria Anna of Bavaria                       19. Henriette Adelaide of Savoy               2. Louis XV of France                                   20. Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy               10. Victor Amadeus II of Sardinia                       21. Princess Marie Jeanne of Savoy-Nemours               5. Princess Marie-Adélaïde of Savoy                             22. Philippe I, Duke of Orléans               11. Anne Marie d'Orléans                       23. Princess Henrietta Anne of England               1. Philippe de France                                         24. Bogusław Leszczyński               12. Rafał Leszczyński, Duke of Lesno                       25. Countess Anna von Dönhoff               6. Stanisław Leszczyński, King of Poland                             26. Prince Stanisław Jan Jabłonowski               13. Anna Jabłonowska                       27. Countess Marianna Kazanowska               3. Maria Leszczyńska                                   28. Count Krzysztof Opaliński               14. Jan Karol Opaliński                       29. Countess Teresa Konstancya Czarnkowska               7. Countess Katarzyna Opalińska                             30. Count Adam-Uryel Czarnkowski               15. Zofia Czarnkowska                       31. Countess Teresa Zaleska

Titles, styles, honours, and arms

Titles and styles

• 30 August 1730 – 7 April 1733: His Royal Highness The Duke of Anjou (Son Altesse Royale Monseigneur le duc d'Anjou)

Succession

Philippe, Duke of Anjou House of Bourbon Cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty Born: 30 August 1730 Died: 7 April 1733
French royalty
Preceded by Vacant Louis	Duke of Anjou 30 August 1730 – 7 April 1733	Succeeded by Vacant Louis Stanislas Xavier