Louis Alexandre of Bourbon

Louis Alexandre of Bourbon , count de Toulouse (1681), duke of Penthièvre (1697), from Arc, Châteauvillain and Rambouillet (1711), was born with Versailles the June 6th 1678 and died in Rambouillet on February 1st 1737.

Biography

Wire naturalness of Louis XIV and Madam de Montespan, it was legitimated and made count de Toulouse in 1681, then duke of Penthièvre in 1697 and duke of Rambouillet in 1711. It accepted in 1683, at the five years age, the load of Admiral de France, and was made colonel of a regiment of infantry to her name in February 1684 then Mestre of camp of a regiment of cavalry in 1693.

At the time of the War of succession of Spain, it was charged to defend the Sicily. In 1704, in front of Malaga, it inflicted very heavy losses with the fleet anglo-Dutchwoman ordered by the admiral George Rooke. It obtained the government of Guyenne in January 1689, which it exchanged against that of Brittany in March 1695.

Fact brigadier on January 3rd 1696 then general lieutenant of the armies of the King on August 3rd 1697, it obtained to the load of Large huntsman of France in March 1714. He was knight of the Orders of the King on February 2nd 1693 then knight of the Golden Fleece in 1704.

It was, known as Saint-Simon, “ an extremely short man, with a reception as gracious as a natural cold, but icy, could allow it; value and desire for making, but by the right tracks, and in which it direction right and right, for the very ordinary one, compensated for the spirit; extremely applied besides to knowing its navy of war and trade and hearing it very well. ”

In 1706, it bought with Joseph Fleuriau d' Armenonville the Château of Rambouillet. It increases the field considerably and made proceed to important embellishments of the castle. By letters patent of May 1711, the marquisat of Rambouillet was then set up in duchy-peerage.

In 1712, it bought with Louis II Phélypeaux of Vrillière the splendid residence located close to the Place of the Victories, known from now on under the name of “Hotel of Toulouse”, and which shelters the Banque de France today, and made it refit by the architect Robert de Cotte.

As his/her brother the duke of Maine an edict of the King of July 1714 declared it ready to succeed the throne following the legitimate princes and the rank of prince of blood gave him. But this edict was broken by the Parlement of Paris in 1717. Contrary to his brother, the count of Toulouse was however not isolated capacity. He entered to the Council of Regency where he was in charge of the navy, until in 1722, date on which he was replaced by same the Fleuriau d' Armenonville with which, a few years before, he had a little forced the hand to buy its field of Rambouillet to him.

In 1723, it made a love match by marrying Marie Victoire de Noailles which gave him a son, Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon (1725 - 1793), duke of Penthièvre, of Rambouillet, of Aumale and Gisors. This marriage, contracted a few months before the death of the Regent in August 1723, was made public shortly after this event.

Louis XV had for the count of Toulouse a great affection, reinforced by their common taste for hunting. In August 1724, the King went for the first time to drive out the stag in Rambouillet where it slept. It there went back as of the next month and consequently took the practice to go there very regularly.

Fallen in disgrace, it was withdrawn in its Château of Rambouillet where it died in 1737 of the continuations of an operation. It is buried, like its family, in the royal Chapelle of Dreux.

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