Gaston, Duke of Orleans (Paperback)

High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Gaston of France, (French: Gaston Jean-Baptiste de France; 25 April 1608 - 2 February 1660), also known as Gaston d'Orleans, was the third son of the king of France Henry IV and of his wife Marie de' Medici. He was the Duke of Orleans. As a son of the king, he was a Fils de France. As the eldest surviving brother of King Louis XIII, he was known at court by the traditional honorific of Monsieur. Gaston de France, was born at the Palace of Fontainebleau and was given at birth the title of duc d'Anjou. In 1626, at the time of his marriage to the young duchesse de Montpensier, he received in appanage (with their respective titles) the duchies of Orleans and Chartres, and the county of Blois. He had nominal command of the army which besieged La Rochelle in 1628, having already entered upon that course of political intrigue which would occupy the remainder of his life.