Historical and Commemorative
Medals
Collection of Benjamin Weiss
PHILIP II, DUKE OF ORLEANS, SUPPORT OF THE ARTS ST URBAIN, Ferdinand de: France, 1716, Bronze, 42 mm This medal is similar to medal # BW642 except the reverse is inverted. The title of Duke of Orleans was first created by King
Philip VI in favor of his son Philip, who died without legitimate issue in
1375. In 1626
Louis XIII created his brother Jean Baptiste Gaston Duke of
Orleans, and the title was revived in 1661 by
Louis XIV in favor of his
brother Philip. Descendants of this duke have retained the title until the
present day, one of them becoming king of France as Louis Philippe in 1830.
Two distinguished families are descended from the first house of Orleans:
the counts of Angouleme, who furnished France with a king, Francis I; and
the Counts and Dukes of Longueville. The medal commemorates his support of the arts in the period during his regency. LINK to Biography of Philippe II, Duke of Orleans (from Wikipedia)
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