Charles, Count of Charolais

Charles de Bourbon, Count of Charolais (19 June 1700 – 23 July 1760) was a French noble. As a member of the reigni prince of the Blood.

Biography

A son of Louis III, Prince of Condé, he was made governor of Touraine in 1720. He fought in Hungary in the war against the Ottoman Turks and won distinction at the battle of Belgrade. He was governor of his nephew Louis Joseph de Bourbon, prince de Condé. In 1728 he become on of the candidates to the hand of wealthy Maria Zofia Sieniawska supported by Louis XV in attempt to gain a strong position in Poland before the royal election.^[1]

He secretly married Jeanne de Valois-Saint Remy, a descendent of Henri II via an illegitimate branch. Their son was Louis-Thomas (1718–1799), who was not legitimated by the king, later was exiled to England.

He had two illegitimate children with Marguerite Caron de Rancurel :

• Marie Marguerite de Bourbon (1752–1830), who married Denis Nicolas, comte de Puget.
• Charlotte Marguerite Élisabeth de Bourbon (1754–1839), who married François Xavier Joseph, comte de Lowendal.

On his death the county of Charolais reverted to the king. Some years later it was granted to a brother of the future Louis-Philippe of France.

He was buried at the Église Collégiale Saint-Martin, Montmorency.

Ancestry

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

• 19 June 1700 – 23 July 1760 His Serene Highness the Count of Charolais

References