Jean Gaston, Duke of Valois

Jean Gaston
Duke of Valois
An engraving of Jean Gaston.
Born	(1650-08-17)17 August 1650 Palais d'Orléans, Paris, France
Died	Palais d'Orléans, Paris, France
Burial	30 May 1656 Royal Basilica of Saint Denis
Full name Jean Gaston d'Orléans
House	House of Orléans
Father	Gaston d'Orléans
Mother	Marguerite de Lorraine

Jean Gaston d'Orléans, petit-fils de France, Duke of Valois (17 August 1650 – 10 August 1652) was a French Prince and Grandson of France. He was a member of the House of Orléans.

Biography

Born at the Palais d'Orléans, the present day Luxembourg Palace in Paris, he was the first and only son born to the Duke and Duchess of Orléans. His father, Gaston d'Orléans, was the youngest brother of the late Louis XIII; as such, Jean Gaston was born during the reign of his first cousin, the 12-year-old Louis XIV.

He was given the title of Duke of Valois, a title which was from his father's appanage from Louis XIII.

As a Grandson of France, he was allowed the style of Royal Highness and from his birth, was the fourth male in the kingdom after Louis XIV, the Duke of Anjou and his father, Gaston. His birth was greatly celebrated by his older half-sister, Anne Marie Louise, "la Grande Mademoiselle" who ordered a large fireworks display in Paris to celebrate his birth. He was adored by la Grande Mademoiselle despite the child always having frail health; he was never able to walk and could not speak - Jean Gaston had a crooked leg which had been attributed to the Duchess of Orléans lying on her side throughout her pregnancy.

The little Duke of Valois died at the Palais d'Orléans of diarrhoea and was greatly mourned by his parents and half sister. He was buried at the Royal Basilica of Saint Denis outside Paris, the traditional burial place of the House of Bourbon. The duchy of Valois reverted to his father (died 1660), after whose death the duchy of Orléans reverted to the Crown. The previously mentioned Duke of Anjou became the Duke of Orléans and it is from him the present House of Orléans descends.

Ancestors

Family of Jean Gaston, Duke of Valois

16. Charles de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme               8. Antoine de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme                       17. Françoise of Alençon               4. Henry IV of France                             18. Henry II of Navarre               9. Jeanne III of Navarre                       19. Marguerite of Navarre               2. Gaston, Duke of Orléans                                   20. Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany               10. Francesco I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany                       21. Eleonora di Toledo               5. Marie de' Medici                             22. Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor               11. Johanna of Austria                       23. Anna of Bohemia and Hungary               1. Jean Gaston d'Orléans                                         24. Francis I, Duke of Lorraine               12. Charles III, Duke of Lorraine                       25. Christina of Denmark               6. Francis II, Duke of Lorraine                             26. Henry II of France               13. Claude of Valois                       27. Catherine de' Medici               3. Marguerite of Lorraine                                   28. Johann VII, Count of Salm               14. Paul, Count of Salm                       29. Claude de Stainville               7. Christina of Salm                             30. Tanneguy Le Veneur, comte de Tillières               15. Marie Le Veneur                       31. Madeleine Hélie de Pompadour

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

• 17 August 1650 – 10 August 1652 His Royal Highness the Duke of Valois (Monseigneur le duc de Valois)