Here he is, all dashing and terribly sexy, Henri Eugène Philippe Louis d’Orléans, or just Henri d’Orléans, Duc d’Aumale.

Son of Louis-Philippe Ier, “the last King of France” (from 1830 to 1850), Henri inherited at the age of eight a large amount of money, lands and titles from his godfather, the last Prince of Condé.  He is said to have been a very cute child, already, raised in a loving and sheltering family (not that obvious of a royal family).

But he is not only born into a prestigious, wealthy and noble family, he was also an erudite who collected paintings (more than 830 in his Château de Chantilly) and antique, illuminated books. He was the biggest bibliophile and collector of his century.

Being a Fils de France and Prince of the Blood, he has to show his value in battle. That’s what he did and his greatest feat of arms is the battle of the Smala in Algeria. He ended up with the title of General.

Fortune, erudition, prestigious lineage, brave and succesful warrior, he is the heartthrob of le tout-Paris and a real lady’s man. He seduced the most beautiful actresses and socialites of his time.
Though he had to settle down, after his wife’s death, he took back bachelor’s life. 
If you still doubt his roquish side, a sexual position went by the term “à la d’Aumale”.

In 1848 and for the umpteenth time, a political revolution in France drove the whole of the Orléans family to exile. Retired in England and the death of his father, he began his famous collection.

After he lost his son and then his wife,he got engaged again into french Politics. Since he was back, he committed to writing his family history. He declined the presidency and prefered to dedicate himself to his collection and his Château of Chantilly.

Being a member of the French Academy, he bequeathed his large collection to the institution and he retired to Sicily, where he became a gentleman farmer and contributing to the modernisation of the sicilian agriculture. 

He died from a attack in 1872, a few days after he got informed the tragic death of his beloved niece, the Duchess of Alençon (Sissi’s sister). 

Round character, which appeal and physical appearence don’t go on spoiling anything!