House of Bourbon-Montpensier

The main line was founded by a marriage between John I, Duke of Bourbon and Marie de Valois, comtesse de Montpensier. The title was transferred down the line, mainly by females. The most famous examples of holders of the title of duc de Montpensier were:

1. Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, duchesse de Montpensier (La Grande Mademoiselle)
2. Philippe II d'Orléans, duc d'Orléans, duc de Montpensier
3. Louis Philippe II d'Orléans, duc d'Orléans, duc de Montpensier

This semi royal house was in existence for just over two centuries.

1. Charles de Valois, comte de Montpensier (1362–1382) - son of John de Valois, duc de Berry and Auvergne
2. John of Valois, Count of Montpensier (1363–1401) - brother
3. Marie de Valois, comtesse de Montpensier (1375–1434) - sister of John; she married John I, Duke of Bourbon
4. Louis I de Bourbon, comte de Montpensier (1403–1486) - son
5. Gilbert de Bourbon, comte de Montpensier (1448–1496) - son of Louis I
6. Louis II de Bourbon, comte de Montpensier (1483–1501) - son of Gilbert
7. Charles III de Bourbon, comte de Montpensier (1490–1527) - brother of Louis II

The title Duke of Montpensier has been used as a courtesy title by other members of the House of Orléans:

• Antoine Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Montpensier (1775–1807) second son of Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans
• Antoine d'Orléans, Duke of Montpensier (1824–1890) youngest son of Louis Philippe, King of the French
• Marie-Thérèse of Württemberg, Duchess of Montpensier (born 1934), ex-wife of Prince Henri, Count of Paris, Duke of France

The arms of the House of Bourbon-Montpensier family

The arms of the Dauphin of Auvergne.

The arms of the Duchy of Montpensier

The arms of the Principality of Joinville

Before the title was given to the Orléans Family, the title was the main on used by the holder. By the time of the marriage of Marie de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier and a Prince du Sang, Gaston, Duke of Orléans, a whole collection of titles had been collected and used. These ones were:

• Dauphin of Auvergne
• Sovereign Prince of the Dombes' (Prince du Dombes)
• Lord of Châtellerault
• Duke of Montpensier
• Prince de Luc,
• Prince de la Roche-sur-Yon,
• Prince de Joinville
• Duc de Beaupréau
• Duc de Guise
• Duc de Saint-Fargeau
• Duc de Joyeuse
• Duc de Châtellerault
• Marquise de Méziere
• Comte d'Eu,
• Comte de Mortain
• Comte de Bar-sur-Seine
• vicomte d'Auge
• Vicomte de Brosse,
• Baron de Beaujolais,
• Lord de Champigny-sur-Veude

Note:Most of the titles were used in their feminine forms because most of the holders of the titles were women.

On the death of Marie de Bourbon, duchesse de Montpensier in 1627, less than a month after the birth of her daughter Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, duchesse de Montpensier the family wealth had grown astonishingly. After her mother's death, Anne became the heiress to one of the largest fortunes in, probably, Europe.

Unfortunately she died with no heirs. Even though she could have been Queen of various countries, she was happy being a Princesse du Sang in France and having her various residences at her disposal. She died in 1693 and most of her fortune went to her other royal cousin Philippe de France, duc d'Orléans. Even though some of her titles had gone to Louis-Auguste de Bourbon, the founder of the illegitimate line of Bourbon du Maine, as a result of a scam by his mother Françoise-Athénaïs, marquise de Montespan.

Her vast wealth helped to found the House of Orléans and then the Bourbon-Penthièvre family financially. The latter getting most of it through the death and inheritances from their cousins the du Maines. They went on to be absorbed by the House of Orléans via a marriage and no male heirs.

• House of Bourbon