Historical and Commemorative
Medals
Collection of Benjamin Weiss
PHILIP II, DUKE OF ORLEANS, SUPPORT
OF THE ARTS ST URBAIN, Ferdinand de: France, 1716, Bronze, 44 mm This medal is similar to
medal # BW196 except the reverse is not 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. Philip II (1674-1723), Duke of Orleans (1701-1723),
regent of France, was the son of Philip I, Duke of Orleans (1640-1701) (who
was the brother of Louis XIV and the son of Louis XIII). He fought at
Sternkerk, Neewinden and Namur. He was successful in campaigns in Italy and
Spain but his suspected desire to succeed Philip V, King of Spain, gained
him Louis XIV’s disfavor. In 1715 he was appointed president of the council
of regency of the young King Louis XV, and on Louis XIV’s death he invested
himself with absolute power. On the majority of King Louis XV in1723, he
relinquished his supreme power but became first minister to the king until
his death later that year. Although Philip had great administrative
abilities, he lacked moral restraint, and his regency was one of the most
corrupt periods in French history. The medal commemorates the protection
granted by the Duke of Orleans in 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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