Antoine, Duke of Montpensier

Antoine d'Orléans (Antoine Marie Philippe Louis; 31 July 1824 – 4 February 1890) was a member of the French royal family in the House of Orléans. He was the youngest son of King Louis Philippe of France and his wife Maria Amelia Teresa of the Two Sicilies. He was styled as the Duke of Montpensier. He was born on 31 July 1824 at the château de Neuilly and died 4 February 1890 at Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain.

Marriage and issue

On 10 October 1846 at Madrid, Spain, he married Infanta Luisa Fernanda of Spain, the daughter of King Ferdinand VII of Spain and his wife Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies.

They had ten children:

1. Maria Isabel (1848–1919), who married Louis Philippe Albert d'Orléans, count of Paris
2. Maria Amelia (1851–1870)
3. Maria Christina (1852–1879)
4. Maria de la Regla (1856–1861)
5. [?] (1857-1857)
6. Fernando (1859–1873)
7. Mercedes (1860–1878), who married Alfonso XII of Spain
8. Felipe (1862–1864)
9. Antonio (1866–1930), who married Infanta Eulalia of Spain, daughter of Queen Isabel II of Spain
10. Luis (1867–1874)

Candidate for the Spanish throne

Antoine de Montpensier lived in Spain from 1848 when he and his family had to leave France after the Revolution of 1848.
During the Spanish revolution of 1868, he supported the insurgents under Juan Prim against Queen Isabella II of Spain, his own sister-in-law.

In 1870 he fought a duel against Infante Enrique, Duke of Seville, the brother of Francis, Duke of Cádiz, and killed him. Antoine was condemned to one month in prison.

On 16 November 1870 the Cortes voted for the next King and chose Amadeo I of Spain with 191 votes. Antoine only received 27 votes, and left Spain, only to return in 1874.
His ambitions were fulfilled by his daughter Mercedes, who became Queen Consort of Spain after her marriage to Alfonso XII, son of Isabella II.

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

/ France

• 13 July 1824 – 21 September 1824: His Serene Highness Prince Antoine d'Orléans
• 21 September 1824 – 9 August 1830: His Royal Highness Prince Antoine d'Orléans
• 9 August 1830 – 16 August 1830: His Royal Higness The Prince Antoine
• 16 August 1830 – 4 February 1890: His Royal Highness The Duke of Montpensier

 Spain

• 10 October 1846 – 10 October 1859: His Royal Highness The Duke of Montpensier
• 10 October 1859 – 4 February 1890: His Royal Highness Infante Don Antonio, Duke of Montpensier

The Duke's complete style in Spain, after his rise to the rank of Infante, was: Su Alteza Real el Serenísmo y Egregio Señor Infante Don Antonio María de Orleans, Duque de Montpensier (in English: His Royal Highness the Most Serene and Egregious Lord Infante Don Antonio María d'Orléans, Duke of Montpensier).

Honours

• Knight Grand Cross of the National Order of the Légion d'Honneur
• Knight of the Monst Illustrious Order of the Golden Fleece
• Knight Collar of the Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III
• Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter

Arms

Prince Antoine didn't have a personal coat of arms. He used the traditional arms of the House of Orléans, consisting of:

Azure, three fleur-de-lis or and a label argent bezanty

[In heraldic blazon, Azure is blue, Or is gold, and Argent is silver]

This coat of arms was first used by Philippe d'Orléans, nephew and son in law of King Louis XIV of France, who had to introduce the difference of label argent as he wasn't allowed to use the royal arms of the House of Bourbon, the three golden lilies, since they were reserved for the Fils de France, the children of King and the Dauphin.

Ancestry

References

• Antoine, Duke of Montpensier at Genealogics