Charles, Duc de Bourgogne

## Duc de Bourgogne

Charles-Philippe de France, Duc de Bourgogne, En grand habit de l'ordre du Saint Esprit c. 1775

## Title

### Predecessor

Louis de France, Dauphin de France (as Duc de Bourgogne)

## Occupations

### Military Posts

Colonel Cénéral des Cent-Suisses et Grisons (1772 - present)

## Biography

### Born

9 October, 1757 (age 18) Palais de Versailles, Île-de-France, France

### Spouse

Marie-Thérèse de Savoie (m. 16 November 1773)

### Romantic Interests

Louise-Adélaïde de Bourbon-Condé, Mademoiselle de Condé (betrothal; fell through)

### Mother

Marie-Josèphe de Saxe, Dauphine de France

### Siblings

Marie-Thérèse (half-sister) †
Marie-Zéphyrine, Madame Royale †
Xavier, Duc d'Aquitaine †
Louis Stanislas, Msgr. le Dauphin
Louis-Joseph, Duc de Mercœur
Madame Clotilde
Madame Élisabeth

### Signature

Signature of Charles-Philipe de France

**Charles-Philippe de France, Duc de Bourgogne** (9 October 1757 - Present), was born into the capetian house of Bourbon, having been the sixth child and fourth son of Louis, Dauphin of France and Marie Josèphe de Saxe. Created Comte d'Artois at birth by his grandfather, the reigning King Louis XV, he carried the distinction of being a French *Fils de France.* Later, he was bestowed the title of Duc de Bourgogne 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.

Renowned for his witty and extravagant personality, Charles-Philippe was distinct amongst his brothers, whom carried more serious personal qualities. Although his unique personality often drew private criticism, he remained particularly cherished by his grandfather, King Louis XV and was widely respected as a member of the Royal House and court, garnering praise given his attentiveness to his duties.

## Inception

### Birth & Childhood

Charles-Philipe de France, Comte d'Artois, was born at the Château de Versailles on the 9th of October, 1757. His birth as spare to the throne prompted celebration at court, as the deaths of his elder brothers in 1754 prompted anxieties to arise regarding the line of succession. Nonetheless, he was positioned behind his elder brother, Msgr. le Dauphin, as second in line to the throne. The same day as his birth, he was baptised at the Royal Chapel of Versailles by the Archbishop Charles Antoine de La Roche-Aymon, in the presence of Jean-François Allart, parish priest of the church of Notre-Dame de Versailles. His aunt Madame Sophie was made godmother, while King Charles III of Spain was made his godfather, represented by Louis-Stanislas, Comte de Provence.

   The little prince was first titled *Comte d'Artois*, in a decisive decision made by his grandfather, King Louis XV. Although the title was bestowed in memory of Robert de France, *Comte d'Artois,* brother of Saint Louis, the choice of this title was linked to an assassination attempt made by Robert-François Damiens against Louis XV. Given that Damiens was born in Artois, the decision to give Charles-Philipe the title of *Comte d'Artois* let the inhabitants known that they would not be held accountable for the incident.

The education of Charles-Philipe was provided by five tutors, hardly neglected given his chance of reigning. He was no less taught history, geography, English and German, his mother's mother tongue. Entrusted to Marie-Louis-Genevièvede Rohan, Mm. la Comtesse Douairière de Marsan, Gouvernante des enfants de France, and then to the Duc de La Vauguyon, Antoine de Quélen de Stuer de Caussade, at the age of three whom oversaw his education completely. His tutors described him as being headstrong and enlightened, characterizing him as not particularly bright or studious. The Duc de la Vauguyon found difficulty in exploiting these qualities, having already faced strain in subduing his emerging eccentricity. Instead, Charles-Philipe was much more martial to outdoor pursuits including leisure riding and hunting. By the time he reached late into childhood, many remarked on his riding ability and skill, mirroring that of his grandfather, Louis XV.

Moreover, the latter end of his childhood was marked by several poignant deaths, including that of his father, Louis de France, Dauphin de France. This death in the Royal House was then followed by the passing of his uncle the Duke of Parma, then in 1766, that of the fallen King of Poland, his-great-grandfather, the Duke of Lorraine. Hardly two years later, that his grandmother, Queen Maria Leszczynska, occurred in 1768. Having dealt a blow to the young prince, Charles-Philippe found solace with his immediate family, drawing the family unit drew closer than ever before, even as the family's happiness darkened while at the Château de Versailles.

### Adolescence

The childhood of Charles-Philipe was then eclipsed by an exhilarating adolescence. In 1772, at the age of 15, following his appointment as Colonel Cénéral des Cent-Suisses et Grisons, his adolescence was christened by a near immediate succession of ephemeral adventures, horse races organized with his cousin the Duke of Orléans, hunting parties, and debts contracted from gambling. However, his position as the immediate spare in the line of succession permitted him greater leniency regarding his conduct, prompting many to turn a blind eye to his behavior, including his grandfather, King Louis XV. Yet still, the full effect of Charles-Philippe's extravagant personality blossomed into full bloom as he moved through his adolescence, showing himself to be a charming, thoughtful, and enlightened mind. He was unlike his brothers, particularly Louis-Joseph, whom both of which were near opposites in temperament to Charles-Philipe. Such qualities were especially evident in differences in expenditures, particuarly regarding an instance when Louis-Joseph used his royal pension to purchase a private library, while Charles-Philipe used his to purchase the Château de Maisons-Laffitte, thus personifying his already extravagant lavish lifestyle.

Charles-Philipe, never failing to ingratiate himself, found himself fulling initiated into the social rituals of court — having grown accustomed to the gossip fueled courtiers, he counted himself a fully fledged member that populace. His ability tactfully navigate varied circles within the court endeared him to many, gaining him the ability to count many allies amongst them. It was during this time that his constitution emerged into its handsome and physically attractive form, prompting him to be thought of as the most attractive member of his family, carrying a strong resemblance to his grandfather Louis XV. A contemporary from that time, the Comte de Hézecques, remarked that "few beauties were cruel to him," exemplifying the allure of his form, as well as quiet rumors that pictured Charles-Philipe as a philandering womanizer, contrary to his pious views.

### Marriage

Prior to Charles-Philipe's marriage to Marie Thérèse de Savoie, he had been intended to marry Louise-Adélaïde de Bourbon-Condé. The betrothal had been orchestrated by Louis Stanislas, Charles-Philipe's sickly father and then Dauphin of France, in his search to secure his children's marriages. Having sought out the newborn daughter of his distant cousin, the Prince de Condé, the Mademoiselle de Condé was betrothed to Charle-Philipe two months following her birth. An objection to this match came in the form of disapproval from the children's grandfather, King Louis XV, who remarked that such a betrothal was inappropriate given the difference in rank between Charles-Philipe and the Mademoiselle de Condé. However, nothing of this objection ever came to fruition.

The betrothal between Charles-Philipe, Comte d'Artois and Louise-Adélaïde de Bourbon-Condé, Mademoiselle de Condé, faced outward pressure as an alliance between the House and Savoy and House of Bourbon began to be sought after by the King of Sardinia. As the political tide turned toward forming a Franco-Savoyard alliance in its truest form, a series of dynastic marriages were organized. In aiming to strengthen ties between the French and Savoyard royal families, such unions stood to cultivate diplomatic and political collaboration between both powers. Further appeal was noted in the extensive dowry that Marie Thérèse de Savoie, daughter of Victor-Amédeee III de Sardaigne, stood to contribute as the primary Savoyard candidate for a dynastic marriage. Thus, the allure of the Principessa was strengthened as a potential union likely served to enhance the status and wealth of Charles-Philipe and his family.

Nonetheless, it became apparent that the betrothal between Charles-Philipe and the Mademoiselle de Condé stood little chance in succeeding. As the clouds of a politically strategic union took form, the first of these marriages came as a result of successful negotiations between the French and Savoyards, as a dynastic marriage between Charles-Philipe and Marie Thérèse de Savoie was then arranged. Given that the longstanding betrothal of Charles-Philipe and the Mademoiselle de Condé stood as a barrier toward achieving the alliance, the betrothal was broken off by King Louis XV in 1772. Later that year, the new betrothal of Charles-Philipe to Marie Thérèse de Savoie was announced as to officially consolidate the Savoyard alliance.

Marie Thérèse de Savoie married Charles-Philipe, Comte d'Artois in a proxy ceremony at the Palazzina di caccia di Stupinigi in Turin, before being dispatched to the Franco-Savoyard border at Beauvoisin, where she was turned over by her Italian retinue to her French entourage. The pair met for the first time upon her arrival at the Château de Versailles and were subsequently married in an opulent official ceremony held in the Royal Chapel of Versailles on November 16th, 1773. Occurring in illustrious fashion, the wedding marked a key moment between the French and Savoyard dynasties. Following the ceremony, grand festivities ensued at the court of Versailles, with the great halls of the château having been decorated in the most lavish of fashions. The newly married couple gleamed in the limelight, set against a backdrop of pure refinement and distinction. In recognition of the union, Charles-Philipe and Marie Thérèse were bestowed the title of Duc and Duchesse de Bourgogne by his grandfather, King Louis XV. The appanage title, regarded with the grand region of Burgundy, personified their high status within the royal family and nobility.

## Titles, Styles and Honours

### Titles

* **9 October 1757 — 16 November 1773;** *Son Altesse Royale*, Charles-Philippe de France, Fils de France, Comte d'Artois
* 16 November 1773 - Present; Son Altesse Royale, Charles-Philippe de France, Fils de France, Duc de Bourgogne, Comte d'Artois

### Honours

* Chevalier de l'Ordre de la Toison d'Or (1761 — Present)
* Chevalier de l'Ordre du Saint-Esprit (1771 — Present)