Gaston, Duke of Orléans
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Known at first as the duc d'Anjou, he became duc d'Orléans, comte de Blois and comte de Chartres in 1626, and had nominal command of the army which besieged La Rochelle in 1628, having already entered upon that course of political intrigue which would occupy the remainder of his life. On two occasions he had to leave France for conspiring against the government of his mother and of Cardinal Richelieu; and after waging an unsuccessful war in Languedoc, he took refuge in Flanders. Reconciled with his brother Louis XIII, he plotted against Richelieu in 1635, fled from the country, and then submitted to the king and the cardinal.
Soon afterwards the same process repeated itself. Orleans stirred up Cinq-Mars to attempt Richelieu's murder, and then deserted his unfortunate accomplice (1642). In 1643, on the death of Louis XIII, Gaston became lieutenant-general of the kingdom, and fought against Spain on the northern frontiers of France; he was created duc d'Alençon in 1646. However, during the wars of the Fronde (1648–1653), he passed with great facility from one party to the other. Then exiled by Mazarin to Blois in 1652, he remained there until his death.
Gaston first married on August 6, 1626, at Nantes, Marie (d. 1627), daughter and heiress of Henri de Bourbon, duc de Montpensier (d. 1608). He later married on January 31, 1632, at Nancy, Marguerite (d. 1672), sister of Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine. By Marie he had a daughter:
- Anne, Duchess of Montpensier (1627–1693) (La Grand Mademoiselle)
- Marguerite Louise (July 28, 1645, Paris – September 17, 1721 Paris), married in Florence on June 20, 1661 Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (separated 1675).
- Elizabeth (December 26, 1646, Paris – March 17, 1696, Versailles), duchesse d'Alençon, married at St. Germain-en-Laye on May 15, 1667 Louis Joseph, Duke of Guise.
- Françoise Madeleine (October 13, 1648, St. Germain-en-Laye – January 14, 1664, Turin), married at The Louvre March 4, 1663 Charles Emmanuel II of Savoy.
- Marie Anne (November 9, 1652, Paris – August 17, 1695, Blois), Mademoiselle de Chartres.
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