Philippe, Duke of Anjou

Philippe de France, fils de France, Duke of Anjou (30 August 1730 – 7 April 1733) was a French Prince and second son of king Louis XV of France and Marie Leszczyńska. He was the Duke of Anjou from birth.

Philippe de France was born at the Palace of Versailles to the King and Queen of France 30 August 1730. He was the second son and fifth child to be born to the royal family. A member of the House of Bourbon and son of a king, he held the rank of a son of France; this entitled him to the style of Royal Highness; in his short lifetime, he was the third most important male at court after his father Louis XV and his oldest brother, Louis, Dauphin of France.

Named Philippe, that was the traditional name of the second son - the first being called Louis. He was created the Duke of Anjou at birth, this title was associated with the second son. The last duke of Anjou had been his father while a child during the reign of Louis XIV.

He was the favourite child of his mother Marie Leszczyńska.

The little Philippe grew up at Versailles with his brother the Dauphin and their twin sisters Madame Élisabeth "Madame de France" (future Duchess of Parma) and Madame Henriette "Madame de Navarre". In March 1732, Philippe saw the birth of the future Madame Adélaïde. The next year his older sister Marie Louise de France died at Versailles on 19 February 1733 of a Common cold. She had been known as Madame Louise and named after her parents.

Always a sickly child, Philippe was cared for by a group of female attendants, as royal children were cared for by women until the age of 5. As part of their intensely superstitious beliefs, the women mixed in earth from the grave of Saint Medard with his food; the child was given so much earth that his organs failed.

As a result, Philippe died at Versailles on 7 April 1733 at the age of 2, two months after Madame Louise. He was buried at the Royal Basilica of Saint Denis outside Paris.

Doctors reported that large amounts of earth were found in his intestines.

Titles and styles

• 30 August 1730 – 7 April 1733: His Royal Highness The Duke of Anjou (Son Altesse Royale Monseigneur le duc d'Anjou)