Jean Gaston d'Orléans, duc de Valois

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Jean Gaston Duke of Valois An engraving of Jean Gaston. Full name Jean Gaston d'Orléans House House of Orléans Father Gaston d'Orléans Mother Marguerite de Lorraine Born 17 August 1650 Palais d'Orléans, Paris, France Died 10 August 1652 (aged 1) Palais d'Orléans, Paris, France Burial 30 May 1656[1] Royal Basilica of Saint Denis

Jean Gaston d'Orléans, petit-fils de France, Duke of Valois (17 August 1650 – 10 August 1652) was a French Prince and Grandson of France. He was a member of the House of Orléans. Contents

Biography

Born at the Palais d'Orléans, the present day Luxembourg Palace in Paris, he was the first and only son born to the Duke and Duchess of Orléans. His father, Gaston d'Orléans, was the youngest brother of the late Louis XIII; as such, Jean Gaston was born during the reign of his first cousin, the 12 year old Louis XIV.

He was given the title of Duke of Valois, a title which was from his father's appanage from Louis XIII.[2] As a Grandson of France, he was allowed the style of Royal Highness and from his birth, was the fourth male in the kingdom after Louis XIV, the Duke of Anjou and his father Gaston.

His birth was greatly celebrated by his older half sister la Grande Mademoiselle who ordered a large firework display in Paris to commemorate his birth.[3] He was adored by la Grande Mademoiselle despite the child always having frail health; he was never able to walk and could not even speak - Jean Gaston had a crooked leg which had been attributed to the Duchess of Orléans lying on her side throughout her pregnancy.[4]

The little Duke of Valois died at the Palais d'Orléans of diarrhoea[1] and was greatly mourned by his parents and half sister. He was buried at the Royal Basilica of Saint Denis outside Paris, the traditional burial place of the House of Bourbon. The duchy of Valois reverted back to his father. At the death of Gaston d'Orléans in 1660, the duchy of Orléans also reverted back to the crown. The previously mentioned Duke of Anjou became the Duke of Orléans and it is from him the present House of Orléans descends.