Orléanism

Orléanism is a political movement in France that advocates for the restoration of the Orléans branch of the House of Bourbon to the French throne. This movement emerged in the 19th century, primarily after the July Revolution of 1830, which brought Louis Philippe I, a member of the Orléans branch, to power as "King of the French." Orléanism distinguished itself from Legitimism, which supported the senior Bourbon line, and Bonapartism, which favored the House of Bonaparte.

The core tenets of Orléanism typically involve a constitutional monarchy, emphasizing a balance of power between the monarch and a representative parliament. Orléanists often embrace liberal principles, supporting individual liberties and a degree of social reform, while also valuing tradition and order. Throughout the Second and Third Republics, Orléanist pretenders continued to assert their claim to the throne, though their influence waned over time. While no longer a significant political force today, Orléanism represents a historical strand of French monarchist thought that sought a middle ground between absolute monarchy and republicanism.