Louis François Joseph | |||||
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Prince of Conti | |||||
Tenure | 2 August 1776 - 13 March 1814 | ||||
Predecessor | Louis François | ||||
Successor | Title extinct | ||||
Born |
Hôtel de Conti, Paris, France |
1 September 1734||||
Died | 13 March 1814 Barcelona, Spain |
(aged 79)||||
Burial | 2 April 1844 Royal Chapel, Dreux, France |
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Spouse | Princess Maria Fortunata d'Este of Modena | ||||
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House | House of Bourbon | ||||
Father | Louis François | ||||
Mother | Louise Diane d'Orléans | ||||
Religion | Roman Catholicism | ||||
Signature |
Full name | |
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Louis François Joseph de Bourbon |
Louis François Joseph de Bourbon (1 September 1734 – 13 March 1814) was the last Prince of Conti, scion of a cadet branch of the Bourbon dynasty, senior branches of which ruled France until 1848. His title was honorary and did not carry any territorial jurisdiction.
Born at the Hôtel de Conti in Paris on 1 September 1734 and baptised in the presence of the king and queen, he succeeded his father Louis François de Bourbon as head of the most junior branch of the House of Bourbon in 1776. His mother was Louise Diane d'Orléans, youngest daughter of Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, regent of France during the minority of Louis XV.
From birth he was known as the comte de La Marche. His mother died 26 September 1736 giving birth to a later child who did not survive. After her death, his father retired from the court to the château de L'Isle-Adam, pursuing his love of hunting, although he would later emerge to have a distinguished military career.
On 17 May 1750, La Marche was made a knight of the Order of the Holy Spirit at Versailles. During the Seven Years' War (1756–1763), La Marche took part as a maréchal de camp in the Battle of Hastenbeck in July 1757 and in the Battle of Krefeld in June 1758.
He married his first cousin, Maria Fortunata d'Este, (1734–1803), fourth daughter of Francesco III d'Este, Duke of Modena and his wife, Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans, who was his mother's older sister; as such Louis François Joseph was the first cousin of Philippe Égalité.