Charles de France

Charles-Philippe de France, Duc d'Orléans (9 October 1757 - Present), was born into the capetian house of Vermandois, having been the fifth child and third son of Louis, Dauphin of France and Marie Josèphe de Saxe. Created Comte d'Artois at birth by his grandfather, the reigning King François XV & IV, he carried the distinction of being a French Petit-fils de France. Later, he was bestowed the title of Duc d'Orléans upon his marriage to Marie Thérèse de Savoie in 1773. Very pious and having adhered to the social concepts of Christianity, he shared these qualities with his wife, denoting a deeper spiritual bond that the couple shared.
Known for his clever and extravagant personality, Charles stood out from his brothers, who possessed more serious traits. Despite facing occasional private criticism for his distinct character, he held a special place in the heart of his grandfather, King François XV & IV, and was highly regarded within the Royal House and court for his dedication to his responsibilities, earning commendation for his conscientiousness.
Charles has an impressive naval career for an individual of his standing, serving in the second Larache expedition, under Admiral Louis Thomas Villaret de Joyeuse. It was Charles decisive leadership and cunning that orchestrated the successful pillage of Rabat and the capture of Prince al-Yazid bin Mohammed in the plot of Salé. Due to Charles's major contributions and Admiral Joyeuse sustaining injury after the second expedition, following the occupation of Larache Charles was elevated to fulfil Joyeuse's post as Admiral of France. The conflict broke out 1772-1773 however Charles had to return to France for his marriage with Marie Thérèse de Savoie, not following through with plans to fully occupy Morocco.
Upon Charles's return to court where he was absent for three years, due to his naval education and career. King François XV & IV content with the ransom of Prince al-Yazid bin Mohammed and war trophies from Morocco, made the controversial choice to bestow on Charles a government position as Secretary of State of the Navy. Within the two years of his newfound office, Charles issued a series of naval reforms known as the Carolus doctrines. His reforms and diligence in service gained him considerable respect from fellow statesmen, which later proved fruitful when he was appointed Principal Minister d'Etat by his grandfather King François XV & IV. Alongside this appointment, he was appointed Grand Maître de France furthering Charles's influence in state and court affairs.
==Inception==
===Birth & Childhood===
Charles was born on the 9th of October, 1757 in the Palais du Louvre, île-de-France, France. The son of Louis de France, Dauphin de France and Marie-Josèphe de Saxe the daughter of Auguste III of Poland. Charles was born prematurely during a difficult pregnancy, the period of labour was said to be twenty-one hours.
Charles was considerably close to his mother and often considered a mischievous child. He did not take kindly to his studies, however, had an advent joy in studying the the campaigns of Fredric the Great and the successes of Michiel de Ruyter. Charles would regard himself as an advent student of Ruyter, re-enacting Ruyter's battles with toy ships and remodelled maps.
At the age of eleven Charles while attending his grandfather King François XV & IV court, was recognised for his maritime knowledge when giving input on an informal review of the Bataille des Cardinaux. At a young age identifying flaws in the French fleet limited signalling commands, causing the French fleet to be less mobile and adaptive during line offensives at sea. Although his input was taken lightly by the King and naval officers at the time, King François XV & IV willingly entertained Charles's interest in the navy by pushing his grandson to attend a naval academy. At the age of fourteen Charles he shadowed Louis-Philippe II de Vermandois-Angoulême, the Duc d'Angoulême and Premier Prince du Sang who at the time was head of the French Marine Corps.
===Naval Career===
Charles in 1752 left a private naval academy, to serve in the second Larache expedition under Admiral de Joyeuse, against the protest of family circles due to his royal status. Charles served under Admiral de Joyeuse in the siege of Mehdya and Larache, however, was present in de Joyeuse's failed attempt to siege Rabat. 
De Joyeuse would fall severely ill after a failed siege of Rabat, where Charles would assume command and reroute the fleet to Mehdya. Through correspondence with a Moroccan garrison in Salé, Charles arranged the Salé plot, where Prince al-Yazid bin Mohammed would be kidnapped with the cooperation of Morocco soldiers stationed in Salé. The betrayal of the Salé garrison through promises of large compensation led to the successful kidnapping and capture of Salé. Charles would later assume De Joyeuse's post after the former admiral was forced to return to France for treatment. 
Charles would successfully go on to capture the city of Larache after he bombarded the coastal city from the sea.
===Marriage===
Prior to Charles' marriage to Marie Thérèse de Savoie, he was originally meant to marry Louise-Adélaïde de Vermandois-Condé. This engagement was the result of efforts by his sickly father, then the Dauphin of France, who was eager to arrange marriages for his children. He chose the newly-born daughter of his distant cousin, the Prince de Condé, and she was engaged to Charles-Philipe only two months after her birth. However, this match faced criticism from King François XV & IV, who believed the pairing was unsuitable due to their differing social ranks. Yet, this objection did not lead to any change.
The engagement between Charles, known as the Comte d'Artois, and Louise-Adélaïde de Vermandois-Condé encountered resistance as the House of Savoy and the House of Vermandois began to form a closer alliance, prompted by the King of Sardinia. As efforts to solidify a Franco-Savoyard alliance gained momentum through arranged marriages, the focus shifted towards strengthening the bond between the French and Savoyard royal families for political and diplomatic benefits. Marie Thérèse de Savoie, with her significant dowry and standing as Victor-Amédeee III de Sardaigne's daughter, emerged as a highly attractive match to advance Charles and his family's fortunes.
It soon became clear that the engagement between Charles-Philipe and Mademoiselle de Condé was unlikely to proceed. The shift towards a politically motivated marriage took precedence, leading to negotiations that culminated in the arrangement of a marriage between Charles-Philipe and Marie Thérèse de Savoie. This new betrothal, orchestrated to cement the Savoyard alliance, led to the dissolution of the engagement with Mademoiselle de Condé by King François XV & IV in 1772, with the announcement of Charles-Philipe's engagement to Marie Thérèse de Savoie following later that year.
Marie Thérèse de Savoie and Charles-Philipe's marriage began with a proxy ceremony in Turin at the Palazzina di caccia di Stupinigi, followed by a formal handover at the Franco-Savoyard border at Beauvoisin. Their first meeting took place at the Palais du Louvre, leading to a lavish official wedding in the Royal Chapel on November 16th, 1773. This grand event not only celebrated their union but also marked a significant moment for the French and Savoyard royal families. The celebrations at the Louvre were opulent, showcasing the newlyweds amidst great splendor and elegance. In honor of their marriage, King François XV & IV granted Charles-Philipe and Marie Thérèse the titles of Duc and Duchesse d'Orléans, symbolizing their esteemed position within the royal family and aristocracy.
==Court of François XV & IV==
WIP
==Character Synopsis==
===Personality and Appearance===
WIP
==Titles, Styles and Honours==
===Titles===
*1757 — 16 November 1773; Son Altesse Royale, Charles-Philippe de France, Petit-fils de France, Comte d'Artois
* 1773 - 1775; Son Altesse Royale, Charles-Philippe de France, Petit-fils de France, Duc d'Orléans, Comte de Blois, Comte d'Artois,
* 1775 - 1776; Son Altesse Royale, Charles-Philippe de France, Petit-fils de France, Duc d'Orléans, Comte de Blois, Comte d'Artois
* 1776 - Present; Son Altesse Royale, Charles-Philippe de France, Monsieur, Dauphin d'Auvergne, Duc d'Aquitaine, Duc d'Orléans, Petit-fils de France, Comte de Poitiers et Montpensier, Comte du Périgord, Comte du Limousin, Comte de Saintonge, Comte d'Aunis, Comte de Guyenne, Comte de Blois, Comte d'Artois
===Honours===
*Chevalier de l'Ordre de la Toison d'Or (1761 — Present)
*Chevalier de l'Ordre du Saint-Esprit (1771 — Present)
Category:Marine du Roi
Category:18th Century Births