ORLEANS. The name borne by a eadet branch of the Valois and Bourbon houses of France. Philip. the fifth son of Philip VI. of France, was created Duke of Orleans in 1344. After his death, without issue, the duchy was be stowed (1392) on Louis. Count of Valois, the younger brother of Charles VI.. who thus became the founder of the house of Orleans-Valois. Louis was a man of exceptional gifts and great vices and played an important ride during the tragic period of the Hundred Years' War. when the for tunes of France under its mad King. Charles VI., were at their lowest. He strove with Philip the Bold of Burgundy for the control of the King, and with his wire, 1 alentina Visconti, was sus pected of pleitting for the throne. After the death of Philip, Louis was for ?0111/2 time without a rival in the kingdom. enjoyed, the favor of Queen 1sabea II, but rendered himself unpopular by his extravagance and the licentiousness of his chimteter. The contest against him was renewed by Philip's son. John the Fearless, whose wife Louis had seduced. A reconciliation between the
two took place in November. 1407, and three days later Louis was assassinated at the instiga tion of John. Ile had eight children by Valentina Visconti and an illegitimate son, Dunois the celebrated bastard of Orleans. Louis's eldest son, Charles. Count of Angoulc•me and Duke of Orleans (1391-1405), carried on the struggle against the House of Burgundy as head of the party of the Armagnaes. Ile was taken prisoner by the English at Agincourt and spent twenty live years in captivity. Ile was noted as a poet. (See CHARLES OF OuLEANs.) Ilk son Louis as cended the French th Mlle as Louis XII. (q.v.), and reunited the Duchy of Orleans to the Crown. It was subsequently held by the younger sons of Francis I. and of Henry 11. until 1574, when Henry. Duke of Anjou, the last male scion of the House of Valois, ascended the throne of France. Of the bearers of the title belonging to the House of Bourbon the following are the most important: