Burial Eglise, Sceaux, France House House of Bourbon | Name Louis Count Grandparents Louis XIV of France | |
 | ||
Born October 15, 1701
Palace of Versailles, France ( 1701-10-15 ) Father Louis Auguste de Bourbon Mother Louise Benedicte de Bourbon Died July 13, 1775, Chateau de Sceaux, Sceaux, France Parents Louise Benedicte de Bourbon, Louis Auguste, Duke of Maine Cousins Duke of Orleans, Louise Elisabeth d'Orleans Similar People Louis Auguste - Duke of, Louise Benedicte de Bourb, Francoise Marie de Bourbon, Francoise‑Athenais - marquise de Monte, Louis XIV of France | ||
Louis Charles de Bourbon, Count of Eu (October 15, 1701 – July 13, 1775) was a grandson of Louis XIV of France and his maitresse-en-titre Francoise-Athenais, marquise de Montespan. He was the last member of the legitimised house of Bourbon du Maine, a legitimised, cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty
Life
Born at his parents' chateau de Sceaux near Versailles on October 15, 1701, he was the youngest son of Louis-Auguste de Bourbon, duc du Maine, and his wife, Anne Louise Benedicte de Bourbon.
He grew up with his elder brother, Louis Auguste, Prince of Dombes and his younger sister Louise Francoise de Bourbon (1707–1743), known as Mademoiselle du Maine.
Like his siblings he remained unmarried and childless all his life. On his father's death in 1736 he gained the title of Duke of Aumale. He was also made Grand Master of the Artillery. a post that his father had also held.
His elder brother was their father's main heir, but when he was killed in a duel in 1755 Louis Charles inherited his brother's estate. He was given his brother's governorship of Languedoc and inherited his brother's many chateaux.
Like his elder brother he was little seen at court and preferred to hunt on his estate of the Chateau d'Anet.
In March 1762 he exchanged with Louis XV the principality of the Dombes for the dukedoms of Gisors and the estates of Gretz-Armainvilliers and Pontcarre.
Like his cousin, Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, Duke of Penthievre, Louis-Charles was popular as a result of his charitable donations. In 1773 he offered to sell the dukedom of Aumale, countship of Eu and the estate of Anet to Louis XV for 12 million ivres.
Louis Charles died at Sceaux at the age of 73 in October 1775. As he was childless, he made his younger cousin the Duke of Penthievre, son of Louis-Alexandre de Bourbon, comte de Toulouse, his heir.