King Louis Philippe

King Louis Philippe
Name	King Louis Philippe
Caption	Portrait by Franz Xaver Winterhalter, 1841
Succession	King of the French
Reign	9 August 1830 – 24 February 1848
Predecessor	Charles X, (as King of France)
Successor	Monarchy abolished, Jacques-Charles Dupont de l'Eure, (as President of the Provisional Government)
Birth date	6 October 1773
Birth place	Palais-Royal, Paris, Kingdom of France
Death date	26 August 1850 (aged 76)
Death place	Claremont, Surrey, England
Burial place	Royal Chapel, Dreux
Spouse	Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily
Issue	Ferdinand Philippe, Louise, Queen of the Belgians, Marie, Duchess of Württemberg, Louis, Duke of Nemours, Clémentine, Princess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, François, Prince of Joinville, Charles, Henri, Duke of Aumale, Antoine, Duke of Montpensier
House	House of Orléans
Father	Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
Mother	Louise Marie Adélaïde de Bourbon
Religion	Roman Catholicism

King Louis Philippe was the last monarch to rule France, reigning as "King of the French" from 1830 until his abdication in 1848. His reign, known as the July Monarchy, emerged from the July Revolution and positioned itself as a constitutional middle path between the absolutism of the Restoration and the radical republicanism of the French Revolution. His government, dominated by the wealthy bourgeoisie, ultimately failed to satisfy the demands of workers or legitimists, leading to his overthrow during the Revolution of 1848 and his final exile in England.

Early life and background

Born at the Palais-Royal in Paris, he was the eldest son of Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans (known as Philippe Égalité) and Louise Marie Adélaïde de Bourbon. His early education was influenced by Madame de Genlis, who instilled in him liberal and Enlightenment ideas. The French Revolution dramatically altered his life; his father, despite voting for the execution of Louis XVI, was himself guillotined during the Reign of Terror. The young duke fought with distinction at the Battle of Valmy and the Battle of Jemappes under the Republic, but fled in 1793 amid rising political tensions, beginning over two decades of exile.

Military and political career before reign

During his exile, he traveled extensively across Europe and North America, living in Switzerland, Scandinavia, the United States, and England. He taught mathematics briefly at a school in Boston and spent time in Philadelphia before settling in Twickenham. Following the Bourbon Restoration in 1815, he returned to France and carefully rehabilitated the image of the House of Orléans, positioning himself as a liberal alternative to the reactionary Charles X. His residence, the Palais-Royal, became a salon for liberal opposition figures, bankers, and intellectuals, cementing his ties to the rising bourgeoisie.

Reign as King of the French

Proclaimed king following the July Revolution of 1830, his ascension was ratified by the Chamber of Deputies. The new Charter of 1830 established a constitutional monarchy, reducing the king's personal power and expanding the franchise, though it remained limited to wealthy property owners. His reign was marked by the dominance of political figures like Casimir Pierre Périer and François Guizot, and a series of challenges including the Legitimist uprising of the Duchesse de Berry in 1832 and repeated assassination attempts, most notably by Giuseppe Fieschi in 1835.

Foreign policy and colonial affairs

His foreign policy, orchestrated primarily by François Guizot, was cautiously peaceful, aimed at maintaining the Concert of Europe and avoiding major conflicts. Key actions included the conquest and colonization of Algeria, initiating a prolonged campaign under generals like Thomas Robert Bugeaud. He also strengthened the Entente Cordiale with Britain, supported the independence of Belgium by placing his daughter Louise on the throne as queen consort to Leopold I, and engaged in the Oriental Crisis of 1840 concerning Muhammad Ali of Egypt.

Downfall and exile

Growing public discontent, fueled by economic hardship, corruption scandals, and Guizot's refusal to expand suffrage, culminated in the February Revolution of 1848. Faced with massive barricades in Paris and the defection of the National Guard, he abdicated on 24 February in favor of his young grandson, Philippe, Count of Paris. The Chamber refused the regency, proclaiming the French Second Republic instead. Disguised as "Mr. Smith," he fled to England, where he was granted refuge by Queen Victoria and lived at Claremont in Surrey until his death.

Legacy and historical assessment

His reign is often seen as the "bourgeois monarchy," prioritizing the interests of the upper middle class and financiers while neglecting the working class, a failure highlighted by Karl Marx and other contemporary critics. Major infrastructure projects like the completion of the Arc de Triomphe and the spread of railways occurred under his rule. Historians debate his legacy; some view him as a pragmatic constitutionalist who provided stability, while others see his regime as a corrupt and stagnant interlude between the Napoleonic era and the revolutionary waves of 1848. His descendants, the Orléanist claimants, remained active in French politics, contesting the throne with the Legitimists throughout the 19th century.

Category:French monarchs Category:House of Orléans Category:People of the July Monarchy