Henri, comte de Paris, duc de France
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Henri Philippe Pierre Marie d'Orléans, comte de Paris, duc de France (born June 14, 1933) is a claimant (pretender) to the French throne. If he were king, he would be Henry VI or Henry VII. For the Orléanists, he is the heir of Louis-Philippe, King of the French; for unionists, the heir of Henri, comte de Chambord, and so of Charles X, King of France.
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| Styles of Henri, Count of Paris, Duke of France |
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| Reference style | His Royal Highness |
| Spoken style | Monseigneur (Mylord) |
| Alternative style | Sir |
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[edit] Early life
He was born to Henri, Comte de Paris and his wife Isabelle of Orleans-Braganza in Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, Belgium, because an 1886 law banned the heirs of formerly reigning French dynasties from entering France. This law was abrogated in 1950, but Henri had already been allowed to enter France by special favour of President Vincent Auriol in 1948.
On August 25, 1940, Henri's grandfather, Jean, Duc de Guise died. His father was now recognised by most French royalists as head of the French royal house, and Henri became their dauphin.
He studied at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po). After that, he served in the military, notably during the Algerian War of Independence.
[edit] Marriages & Children
On July 5, 1957, he married Duchess Marie-Thérèse of Württemberg (born 1934). He received the title Comte de Clermont. Five children were born out of this union.
- Marie (born 1959) married Prince Gundakar of Liechtenstein (born 1949), and has issue
- François (born 1961), Count of Clermont, severely disabled.
- Blanche (born 1962), severely disabled.
- Jean (born 1965), Duke of Vendôme and Dauphin de Viennois, unmarried.
- Eudes (born 1968), Duke of Angoulême, married to Marie-Liesse de Rohan-Chabot (born 1969), with whom he has two children
The marriage was unhappy. In 1984 Henri and Marie-Thérèse received a civil divorce. On October 31 of that same year Henri married Micaela Cousiño Quiñones de León (born April 30, 1938), daughter of Luis Cousiño Sebire and his wife Doña Antonia Maria Quiñones de Léon y Bañuelos, 4th Marquésa de San Carlos. As this marriage was not celebrated in the Roman Catholic Church, it was not recognised by a number of French royalists. Henri's father, too, was furious; he disinherited Henri and stripped him of his titles and gave him the lesser-valued title Comte de Mortain (a slight hint: whereas Clermont was once held by for example the cadet son of St Louis who became the ancestor of the Bourbon line, Mortain had been held for example by John Lackland of England, who at that time was regarded as lacking land and inheritance). Henri, and a number of French royalists who considered it impossible for a head of the royal house to unilaterally disinherit someone, never recognised his father's decision, and refused all mail addressed to him as Comte de Mortain. Meanwhile, Marie-Thérèse, the former Comtesse de Clermont, was granted the title "Duchesse de Montpensier" by her father-in-law.
After a couple of years, tensions lessened, and Henri's father reinstated him as dauphin and gave Micaela the title "Princesse de Joinville".
[edit] Legal Cases
In an attempt to establish his legal rights as head of the Royal House of France, Henri launched an unsuccessful court case (1987-1989) in which he challenged his rival Louis-Alphonse, Duc d'Anjou's right to use the undifferenced Royal Arms. The French courts denied that they had jurisdiction over the dispute and did not address the merits of the case.
[edit] Succession Rights
On June 19, 1999, Henri's father died and Henri became the new head of the French royal house (according to his supporters). He took the titles Comte de Paris and Duc de France. His wife became known as Duchesse de France, in order to enable Henri's widowed mother to continue to use the title Comtesse de Paris. On July 5, 2003, Henri's mother died, and Micaela started to use the title Comtesse de Paris.
He claims the title of Duc de France as heir to Hugh Capet and Hugh's ancestors, before they were Kings of France.
After his father's death, Henri annulled his father's decision to disinherit his brothers Michel (comte d'Evreux) and Thibaut (the late comte de La Marche) from their rights to the throne, because Michel married a noble woman but not a royal one and Thibault because he married a commonner. He also bestowed titles upon his nephews by brother Jacques, duc d'Orleans, Prince Charles-Louis of Orléans, duc de Chartres (11 Jul 1972 - ), m. 21/28 Jun 1997 Ileana Manos (22 Sep 1970 - ), and Prince Foulques of Orléans, duc d'Aumale (9 Jul 1974 - ) and comte d'Eu Foulques d'Orleans .
He also recognised his eldest, disabled, son François as heir, with the title Count of Clermont, with a 'regency' by his middle son, Prince Jean, Duke of Vendôme.
[edit] Author
Henri has written a number of books:
- A mes fils (1989)
- Adresse au futur chef d'état (1994)
- La France survivra-t-elle l'an 2000 (1997)
- Le passeur de miroir (2000)
- La France à bout de bras (2002)
- L'histoire en héritage (2003)
[edit] Other Business
Henri is also a painter, and has launched his own brand of perfume.
He ran in the European elections of 2004, but he was not elected.
[edit] See also
List of French monarchs, Members of the French Royal Families
[edit] External links
- His official website: Institut de la Maison Royale de France
- Lawsuit brought by the comte de Clermont against the duc d'Anjou (1987-89)
| House of Orleans Cadet Branch of the House of Capet Born: 14 June 1933; Died: |
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| Titles in pretence | ||
| Preceded by: Henri VI of Henri V |
* NOT REIGNING * King of France Orléanist claimants to the throne of France (1999—) |
Incumbent Designated heir: François |
