Gaston de France, duc d’Orléans had five children by his second marriage to Marguerite of Lorraine.
1. Marguerite Louise, Grand Duchess of Tuscany (1645-1721)
2. Élisabeth (Isabelle) Marguerite/Élisabeth Françoise, Duchesse de Guise, d’Angoulême et d’Alençon (1646-1696)
3. Françoise Madeleine, Duchess of Savoy (1648-1664)
4. Jean Baptist Gaston, Duc de Valois (1650-1652)
5. Marie Anne, Mademoiselle de Chartres (1652-1656/1695)
Of these children, only the Grand Duchess and Duchesse de Guise had children (who in turn left no descent). But Gaston’s bastard line, though his son, the Comte de Charny, persisted until 1740. What would the French court (and by extension, Europe) look like if the duc de Valois were to survive? What sort of political player would he be? Like his cousin, Monsieur? Or like his father?
His youngest daughter, Mlle de Chartres, is by conflicting sources, as indicated above said to have been 4 or 43 when she died. That said, I find it hard to believe that French politics (she would’ve been the highest ranking unmarried lady at court until the birth of Monsieur’s daughter, the OTL queen of Spain), would’ve let her remain unmarried. There seems to be nothing to indicate she was disabled (mentally or physically), and even were she, the marriage to a petite-fille de France was of such caliber that a potential bridegroom would certainly overlook any disabilities.
Thoughts?
1. Marguerite Louise, Grand Duchess of Tuscany (1645-1721)
2. Élisabeth (Isabelle) Marguerite/Élisabeth Françoise, Duchesse de Guise, d’Angoulême et d’Alençon (1646-1696)
3. Françoise Madeleine, Duchess of Savoy (1648-1664)
4. Jean Baptist Gaston, Duc de Valois (1650-1652)
5. Marie Anne, Mademoiselle de Chartres (1652-1656/1695)
Of these children, only the Grand Duchess and Duchesse de Guise had children (who in turn left no descent). But Gaston’s bastard line, though his son, the Comte de Charny, persisted until 1740. What would the French court (and by extension, Europe) look like if the duc de Valois were to survive? What sort of political player would he be? Like his cousin, Monsieur? Or like his father?
His youngest daughter, Mlle de Chartres, is by conflicting sources, as indicated above said to have been 4 or 43 when she died. That said, I find it hard to believe that French politics (she would’ve been the highest ranking unmarried lady at court until the birth of Monsieur’s daughter, the OTL queen of Spain), would’ve let her remain unmarried. There seems to be nothing to indicate she was disabled (mentally or physically), and even were she, the marriage to a petite-fille de France was of such caliber that a potential bridegroom would certainly overlook any disabilities.
Thoughts?