 louis franÃ§ois joseph de bourbon (1 september 1734 â 13 march 1814) was the last prince of conti, scion of a cadet branch of the bourbon dynasty, senior branches of which ruled france until 1848. his title was honorary and did not carry any territorial jurisdiction. ==biography== born at the hÃ´tel de conti in paris on 1 september 1734 and baptised in the presence of the king and queen, he succeeded his father louis franÃ§ois de bourbon as head of the most junior branch of the house of bourbon in 1776. his mother was louise diane d'orlÃ©ans, youngest daughter of philippe ii, duke of orlÃ©ans, regent of france during the minority of louis xv. from birth he was known as the comte de la marche. his mother died 26 september 1736 giving birth to a later child who did not survive. after her death, his father retired from the court to the chÃ¢teau de l'isle-adam, pursuing his love of hunting, although he would later emerge to have a distinguished military career. on 17 may 1750, la marche was made a knight of the order of the holy spirit at versailles. during the seven years' war (1756â1763), la marche took part as a marÃ©chal de camp in the battle of hastenbeck in july 1757 and in the battle of krefeld in june 1758. thumb|left|180px|arms of louis franÃ§ois joseph he married his first cousin, maria fortunata d'este, (1734â1803), fourth daughter of francesco iii d'este, duke of modena and his wife, charlotte aglaÃ© d'orlÃ©ans, who was his mother's older sister; as such louis franÃ§ois joseph was the first cousin of philippe ÃgalitÃ©. the marriage contract was signed in milan on 3 january 1759 by the french ambassador to the court of turin. a wedding by proxy took place in milan on 7 february of the same year and was celebrated in person on 27 february at nangis-en
1734_births 1814_deaths Burials_at_the_Chapelle_royale_de_Dreux Counts_of_La_Marche French_military_personnel_of_the_Seven_Years\'_War House_of_Bourbon People_from_Paris Princes_of_Conti Recipients_of_the_Order_of_the_Holy_Spirit