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Orleans (PHILIPPE DUKE OF only brother)

PHILIPPE, DUKE OF, only brother of Louis XIV. of France, and founder of the house of Bourbon- Orleans, which for a short time held the throne of France; born Sept. 21, 1640.

In his 21st year he married Henrietta of England, sister of Charles II. The great esteem which the king showed for this princess excited the jealousy of his brother, and her sudden death was attributed to poison, to the administration of which the duke was suspected of being accessory. His jealousy seems not to have been unfounded. The second marriage of the duke, with the Princess Elizabeth of the Palatinate (1671), was arranged by Louis to secure the neutrality of the Elector Palatine in the approaching war against Holland. In this war the duke distinguished himself in spite of his effeminacy. He died June 9, 1701. ORMONDE and died in Paris, in December of the same year.