Count of Paris (French: Comte de Paris) was a title for the local magnate of the district around Paris in Carolingian times. Eventually, the count of Paris was elected to the French throne. The title died out with Paris a royal city, but it was revived later by the Orléanist pretenders to the French throne in a gesture of connection to the ancient Capetian family, and is currently used by Prince Henri, Count of Paris, Duke of France.
A fictional Count Paris is a character in William Shakespeare's famous tragedy Romeo and Juliet.
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The title was revived much later and was used by three claimants to the French throne:
The title was given by Louis-Philippe I to his grandson Philippe, as show of gratitude towards the City of Paris and in reference to the early ancestors of the Capetian dynasty.
Since 1830, there had been high controversy amongst French royalists. One group, called legitimists, recognised the senior branch of the family as heirs to the monarchy, while another group, the Orléanists, recognised Louis-Philippe and his heirs. In 1883, with the death of Henri, comte de Chambord, the senior branch of the family died out. His genealogical heir was Juan, Count of Montizón, but most legitimists recognised Philippe, Comte de Paris as heir to the comte de Chambord, because King Philip V of Spain, ancestor of the Count of Montizon, had renounced his rights to the French throne. A minority group of royalists refused to recognise the validity of these renunciations. Nowadays, they recognise Louis Alphonse, Duke of Anjou as heir to the French throne.
Thus, the Comte de Paris is presently the Orléanist pretender to the French throne.