House of Orléans
The 4th House of Orléans (French: Maison d'Orléans), sometimes called the House of Bourbon-Orléans (French: Maison de Bourbon-Orléans) to distinguish it, is the fourth holder of a surname previously used by several branches of the Royal House of France, all descended in the legitimate male line from the dynasty's founder, Hugh Capet. The house was founded by Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, younger son of Louis XIII and younger brother of Louis XIV, the "Sun King".
| House of Orléans Bourbon-Orléans | |
|---|---|
| Capetian royal family | |
Arms of the House of Orléans | |
| Parent house | Bourbon |
| Country | France Brazil |
| Founded | 10 May 1661 |
| Founder | Philippe I, Duke of Orléans |
| Current head | Jean d'Orléans, Count of Paris Heads of cadet branches: Alfonso de Orléans-Borbón, Duke of Galliera Bertrand of Orléans-Braganza Pedro of Orléans-Braganza and Petrópolis |
| Final ruler | Louis Philippe I |
| Titles | List
|
| Deposition | 24 February 1848 |
| Cadet branches | Orléans-Braganza Orléans-Galliera |
| Website | comtedeparis |
From 1709 until the French Revolution, the Orléans dukes were next in the order of succession to the French throne after members of the senior branch of the House of Bourbon, descended from Louis XIV. Although Louis XIV's direct descendants retained the throne, his brother Philippe's descendants flourished until the end of the French monarchy. The Orléanists held the French throne from 1830 to 1848 and are still pretenders to the French throne today.
The House of Orléans has a cadet branch in the House of Orléans-Braganza, founded with the marriage between Isabel of Braganza, Princess Imperial of Brazil, and Prince Gaston of Orléans, Count of Eu. Although never reigning, the House of Orléans-Braganza has claimed the Brazilian throne since 1921.