Princess Isabelle of Orléans (1878–1961)
Princess Isabelle of Orléans (Isabelle Marie Laure Mercédès Ferdinande; 7 May 1878 – 21 April 1961) was a member of the French Orleanist royal family and by marriage Duchess of Guise.[1]
| Princess Isabelle | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duchess of Guise | |||||
 Duchess of Guise in 1935 | |||||
| Consort of the Orléanist pretender to the French throne | |||||
| Pretendence | 28 March 1926 – 25 August 1940 | ||||
| Born | 7 May 1878 Eu, France | ||||
| Died | 21 April 1961 (aged 82) Larache, Morocco | ||||
| Burial | |||||
| Spouse | |||||
| Issue | Princess Isabelle, Countess of Harcourt Françoise, Princess Christopher of Greece and Denmark Princess Anne, Duchess of Aosta Prince Henri, Count of Paris | ||||
| |||||
| House | Orléans | ||||
| Father | Prince Philippe, Count of Paris | ||||
| Mother | Infanta Maria Isabel of Spain | ||||
.svg) Coat of arms Princess Isabelle of Orléans | |||||
Biography
editEarly life
editIsabelle was born at the Château d'Eu in Eu, France, the third daughter and fifth (fourth surviving) child of Prince Philippe, Count of Paris and Infanta Maria Isabel of Spain. In 1886, when she was eight years old, a law was promulgated by the Third Republic that effectively exiled all dynasties who formerly ruled France, whereupon she and her family moved to England.[2][3]
Marriage and issue
editAs a young woman, Isabelle had many suitors, chief among them being the future King Albert I of Belgium. Albert, however, was forced to end the courtship under pressure from his uncle King Leopold II, who feared that a marriage to the daughter of an exiled pretender to the French throne would result in backlash from the republican government in Paris.[4][5][6]
On 30 October 1899, Isabelle married her first cousin Prince Jean, Duke of Guise. Jean was the son of prince Robert, Duke of Chartres and Françoise d'Orléans.[7] Upon the death of her brother, Philippe of Orléans, Duke of Orléans, claimant to the throne of France as "Philip VIII", the Duke of Guise became, at least for his Orleanist supporters, titular king of France as "Jean III".[8] The title was disputed by members of the Spanish Anjou branch of the family, descended from Louis XIV.
The couple had four children:
- Princess Isabelle of Orléans (27 November 1900 – 12 February 1983). First married in 1923 to Bruno, Count of Harcourt (1899–1930) and then to Prince Pierre Murat in 1934.
- Princess Françoise of Orléans (25 December 1902 – 25 February 1953). Married to Prince Christopher of Greece and Denmark in 1929. He was the son of King George I of Greece and Olga, Queen of Greece. They were parents of Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark.
- Princess Anne of Orléans (5 August 1906 – 19 March 1986). She married Prince Amedeo of Savoy, 3rd Duke of Aosta in 1927.
- Henri, Count of Paris (5 July 1908 – 19 June 1999). He married Princess Isabelle of Orléans-Braganza in 1931.
Princess Isabelle died in Larache, Morocco, on 21 April 1962 at age 82.
Ancestry
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References
edit- ↑ "Isabella of Orleans (1878–1961) | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
- ↑ The Book of Kings: The royal houses. Garnstone Press. 1973. ISBN 978-0-900391-19-4.
- ↑ The Sketch: A Journal of Art and Actuality. Ingram brothers. 1904.
- ↑ Voir Pierre Daye, Léopold II, Fayard, 1934, p. 462
- ↑ "ISABELLE OF ORLEANS MAY WED; Figaro Says She Is to be Betrothed to Prince Albert of Belgium". The New York Times. 1897-07-19. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
- ↑ Pietrantonio, Valeria (2023-05-07). "The charming Isabelle d'Orléans, Duchess of Guise". Quello che piace a Valeria. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
- ↑ "ORLEANS PRINCESS MARRIED.; Prince Jean of Orleans Espouses the Princess Isabelle". The New York Times. 1899-10-31. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-05-06.
- ↑ "THE ROYAL PRETENDER OF FRANCE". The New York Times. 1933-02-12. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-05-06.