Philippe I, Duke of Orléans as King of France

Louis XIV, King of France, was born in 1638.
His younger brother Philippe, Duke of Orléans, was born in 1640.

Suppose Philippe was the eldest son of Louis XIII of France.
He becomes King Philippe VII of France.
What would his reign have been like?
 
Well, there was a point in 165? where Louis XIV fell ill, and nearly died. Everyone started looking at Monsieur who would then be the next king of France.

But your OP suggests that Louis XIV just gets named Philippe instead, rather than OTL Monsieur succeeding
 
Or just have Louis XV die very young.

Philip of Orleans then becomes king. He was a real Statesman with high political abilities. He would undoubtedly be a much better king than Louis XV ... but his only son was a catastrophee.
 
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