Cellamare Conspiracy

The Cellamare conspiracy of 1718 ((French) Conspiration de Cellamare) was a conspiracy against the then Regent of France, Philippe d'Orléans (1674–1723). Concocted in Spain, the plot was the brainchild of Antonio del Giudice, Prince of Cellamare.

Antonio del Giudice was named the Spanish Ambassador to the French Court in 1715 during the reign of Louis XIV of France; Louis XIV died in September that year and his successor, Louis XV of France, aged five, was put under the care of the Duke of Orléans who was a nephew (as well as son-in-law) of the late Louis XIV. Antonio del Giudice went to France during the Regency of Philippe d'Orléans.

At the instigation of Guillaume Dubois, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, France formed the Quadruple Alliance between England, Holland and the Holy Roman Empire in order to combat the possible personal union between France and Spain, should the five-year-old Louis XV die; Spain was then ruled by Louis XV's uncle, Phillip V, who had been king of Spain since the death of Charles II in 1700. The War of the Spanish Succession had resulted in the Treaty of Utrecht of April 1713; that treaty underlined that neither Philip nor his descendants could inherit the French throne, he having agreed to this previously.

The Prince of Cellamare and his embassy wanted to try to depose Philippe d'Orléans from power and make Philip V the Regent for his nephew. The plan was greatly supported by some of Philippe d'Orléans most notorious enemies, namely the duke and duchess du Maine, Louis Auguste de Bourbon and his wife, Louise Bénédicte de Bourbon, who had entered into correspondence with the Spanish Prime Minister Giulio Alberoni - a favourite of Queen Elisabeth Farnese.

...
Wikipedia