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PHILIP II, DUKE OF ORLEANS, SUPPORT OF THE ARTS
ST URBAIN, Ferdinand de: France, 1716, Bronze, 42 mm
Obv: Bust of Philip PHILIPPVS DVX AVRELIANENSIS (Philip, Duke of Orleans)
Rev: Peace and the Arts facing PACE. VBIQVE. PARTA. ALIT. ARTES (A Shared
Peace Everywhere Will Nourish the Arts).
Exergue: M.DCC.XVI.
Signed: S.V.
From the Medallic Series of the Regency of the Duke of Orleans.
Ref: Forrer V, p. 310 #58
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.
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 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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