Orléanistes

The Orléanistes were a political faction in France that supported the claim to the throne of the House of Orléans. This lineage descended from Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, the younger brother of Louis XIV. Throughout the 19th century, the Orléanistes were a significant force, particularly during periods of monarchical restoration and instability. They advocated for a constitutional monarchy, drawing inspiration from the July Revolution of 1830, which brought Louis Philippe I, a member of the House of Orléans, to the throne as "King of the French."

The Orléanist movement represented a moderate form of royalism, distinct from the more absolutist Legitimists who supported the senior Bourbon line. While the July Monarchy (1830-1848) was their period of greatest influence, Orléanist sentiment persisted even after the establishment of the Third Republic. They often sought alliances with other monarchist factions and Republican conservatives, hoping to restore a monarchy that would guarantee stability and traditional values while embracing some modern governmental structures. The ultimate failure of these efforts to restore a monarch to France meant the Orléaniste cause gradually faded as a distinct political force.