| Philip VIII | |
|---|---|
| |
| King of France | |
| Reign | 8 September 1894 — 28 March 1926 |
| Coronation | 2 November 1894 Reims Cathedral |
| Predecessor | Philip VIII |
| Successor | John III |
| Prime Ministers | See list WIP |
| Dauphin of France | |
| Tenure | 24 August 1883 — 8 September 1894 |
| Predecessor | Prince Philippe of Orléans, Count of Paris |
| Successor | Ferdinand of Orléans, Duke of Montpensier |
| Born | 6 February 1869 York House, Twickenham, United Kingdom |
| Died | 28 March 1926 (aged 57) Palais-Royal, Paris, France |
| Burial | 2 April 1926 Basilica of Saint Denis, France |
| Spouse | Maria Dorothea of Austria (m. 1896) |
| Full name | |
| Louis Philippe Robert d’Orléans | |
| House | Bourbon-Orleans |
| Father | Philip VII |
| Mother | Marie Isabelle of France |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
| Signature | 
|
Philip VIII (born Louis Philippe Robert d'Orléans; 6 February 1869 – 28 March 1926), was King of France from 1894 to 1926.
Born in 6 February 1869, in England, Louis Philippe Robert receve the title of Duke of Orleans by his father, the Count of Paris who was Orleanist pretender to the throne of France. Since 1848, the Orléans family lived in United Kingdom after the abdication and exile of his great-grandfather King Louis Philippe. Three years after his birth, the French Empire fall in 1871, the Orléans House recovering his titles and obligations with the reestablishment of the monarchy in 1873, he followed his father's example with the principle of "Princely Realism", taking to heart his destiny, he become Dauphin of France in 1883 with the ascent to the throne of France of King Philip VII. During the elevens years of reign, the Dauphin Philippe will be in charge of numerous diplomatic missions to the international, he is illustrated in particular in the policy of Franco-Austrian alliance and the rapprochement with Great Britain.
He succeeded his father in 1894, he materialized 30 years of Franco-Austrian rapprochement, by marrying Archduchess Maria Dorothea of Austria in 1896, a purely diplomatic marriage. The reign of Philip VIII will be punctuated by the recomposition of the political field of France: the rise of the socialist forces, the bursting and the loss of influence of the republican forces as well as the rallying of the Bonapartists and Republicans by the Rally. The Sacred Union will be the result of this rallying policy, the Socialists will go as far as to abandon the question of the regime in favor of the principle of national defense. The First World War in 1914 (with the victory of France) and the end of the colonial conquest (Second French colonial empire) will be the milestones of the foreign policy of the Second Philippine France.
The end of reign of Philip VIII will vera the first crisis of succession of the Third Restoration, indeed the couple Philip and Maria Dorothea is childless. The Prince Ferdinand of Orléans, Duke of Montpensier, 37 years old, marries the 3rd marquise of Valdeterrazzo. However, the couple had no children and Ferdinand died, three years later, from a drug overdose. The succession of the throne therefore passes to the brother-in-law of Philip VIII, Jean of Orleans, Duke of Guise future John III.
Titles, styles and arms
Titles and styles
- 6 February 1869 - 24 August 1883: His Royal Highness Louis-Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans;
- 24 August 1883 - 8 September 1894 : His Royal Highness The Dauphin of France Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans.
- 8 September 1894 - 28 March 1926: His Majesty The King of France.
Honours
France:
- Grand Master of the Legion of Honor (1894 - 1926)
- Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Spirit (1894 - 1926)
- Grand Master of the Order of Saint-Michel (1894 - 1926)
- Grand Master of the Royal and Military Order of Saint-Louis (1894 - 1926)
Foreign:
- Austria-Hungary, Knights of 1st class of the Order of the Iron Crown (1894-1926)
- Austria-Hungary, Knight of the Imperial Order of Leopold (1894-1926)
- Russian Empire, Order of St. Andrew (1894-1926)
- Bulgaria, Knight of the Order of Saints Cyril and Methodius (1912 or 1913, renounces this quality in October 1915)
- Bulgaria, Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Alexander (21 February 1907, renounces this quality in October 1915)
- Belgium, Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold (1894-1926)
- Great Britain, Knight of the Order of the Garter (1894-1926)
- Spain, Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
- Spain, Grand cross with white decorations of the Order of Naval Merit
- Spain, Knight of the Royal Riding Society of Seville (1910)
- Portugal, Grand Cross of the Order of Christ
- Portugal, Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz
- Portugal, Grand Cross of the Order of the Immaculate Conception of Vila Viçosa (22 May 1886)
