Gaston of France, Duke of Orléans

Gaston of France, Son of France, Duke of Orléans (Gaston Jean Baptiste; 24 April 1608 – 2 February 1660), was the third son o King Henry IV of France and his wife Marie de' Medici. He was the Duke of Anjou frae birth but was created the Duke of Orléans. He was known as Monsieur at his brother Louis XIII's court. He lived at the Luxembourg Palace for a while an renamed it the Palais d'Orléans. At his death in 1660, the Dukedom went to his nephew Philippe of France (only brother of Louis XIV of France) His grandson, the last Medici Grand Duke o Tuscany, Gian Gastone de' Medici was named in his honour. He is credited with being among the first to use the style of Royal Highness.

First marriage
Gaston married firstly on 6 August 1626, in Nantes to Marie de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier, daughter and heiress of Henri de Bourbon, Duke of Montpensier. They had a daughter.

Children

 * 1) Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, Duchess of Montpensier (29 May 1627 – 5 April 1693), known as Mademoiselle de Montpensier, and later La Grande Mademoiselle. married Antonin Nompar de Caumont, Duke of Lauzun in secret but had no children.

Second marriage
In a secret ceremony Nancy during the night of 2–3 January 1632, Gaston married Princess Marguerite of Lorraine.

Children

 * 1) Marguerite Louise d'Orléans (28 July 1645 – 17 September 1721) married Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany and had children
 * 2) Élisabeth Marguerite d'Orléans (26 December 1646 – 17 March 1696) married Louis Joseph of Lorraine, Duke of Guise and had children.
 * 3) Françoise Madeleine d'Orléans (13 October 1648 – 14 January 1664) married Charles Emmanuel II of Savoy but had no children.
 * 4) Jean Gaston d'Orléans, Duke of Valois (17 August 1650 – 10 August 1652) died in infancy.
 * 5) Marie Anne d'Orléans (9 November 1652 – 17 August 1656) died in infancy.

Titles and styles

 * 24 April 1608 - 6 August 1626 His Royal Highness Monsieur, Duke of Anjou, Son of France.
 * 6 August 1626 – 2 February 1660 His Royal Highness Monsieur, Duke of Orléans, Son of France.

Other titles

 * Duke o Chartres, Duke of Valois, Duke of Alençon, Count of Blois, Count of Montlhery, Count of Limours, Baron of Amboise, Lord of Montargis.

Honours

 * Knight of the Order of the Holy Spirit (France)