Francois Louis de Bourbon, Prince
de Conti, (1664-1709)
son of Armand de Bourbon, Prince de Conti
and Anna Maria Martinozzi
Born 30 April 1664 Paris
Died 22 February 1709 Paris
Married 29 June 1688 Versailles
Marie Therese de Bourbon-Conde
Mademoiselle de Bourbon
Born 1 February 1666 Paris, Hotel de Conde
Died 22 February 1732 Paris, Hotel de Conti
With great ability and having received an excellent education, he was
distinguished for his independence of mind and the popularity of his manners---all
reasons why he was not received with favour by Louis XIV. In 1683 while
serving the Emperor in Hungary, he wrote some
letters referring to Louis XIV as 'the theatre king', for which on
return to France he was banished to Chantilly. He was a favourite of his
uncle "le Grand Conde", whose granddaughter he married. In 1689 he took
part in the campaign to The Netherlands and shared in the French victories
at Fleurus, Steenkerken and Neerwinden.
He further antagonised Louis XIV by being well-informed, deliberately
charming and sexually ambivilant, ingratiating himself with the Dauphin.
To get rid of him, Louis XIV sponsored his
candidature for the Polish crown and, in June 1697, he was elected.
He started rather unwillingly and, when reaching Danzig, found August,
Elector of Saxony, had taken possession of the Polish crown and so the
Prince de Conti returned to France.
The poor performance of the French army in the early years of the War
of the Spanish Succession forced Louis XIV to appoint the Prince de Conti
to command the troops in Italy. However, he fell ill before sexes.
Source: Leo van de Pas
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