Felicitous Facts About Philip V, The Melancholy King
Sometimes a royal gets there through a lot of luck and happenstance. That was precisely the case for Philip V of Spain, who despite his regal bloodline was never meant to rule over any throne.
Somehow, he wound up not only ruling, but becoming the longest-reigning King of Spain who ever lived. There were poor decisions and wise ones, and a lot of puppeteering along the way. But one thing is certain, his chapters in history are memorable.
1. He Had A Legacy To Live Up To
Philip V was born on December 19, 1683, at the Palace of Versailles in France. His parents were Maria Anna Victoria of Bavaria, and Louis, Grand Dauphin, heir apparent to the French throne. His grandparents were Louis XIV and Maria Theresa of Spain. Certainly, there were grand connections in his tree, but nothing could prepare Philip for the tragedy that would find him early in his youth.
2. He Got Shuffled Around
At the age of seven, Philip lost his mother. She was only 29 at the time of her passing and this left the family reeling.
Throughout his youth, Philip and his two brothers were under the care of royal governess, Louise de Prie de La Mothe-Houdancourt. He spent the rest of his childhood jumping from one caretaker to another.
Indeed, he had a sad and lackluster start in life, but a lot more was on the way for him.
3. There Were No Expectations
At birth, Philip became known as the Duke of Anjou, a traditional title for younger sons in the French royal family. His older brother, Louis, Duke of Burgundy, was second in line for the throne after their father.
As such, nobody anticipated that Philip—or the family’s youngest son, Charles, Duke of Berry—would ever see a kingdom.
But the game of thrones was rampant in his era, and a lot could change very quickly.
4. He Received A Plot Twist
In 1700, King Charles II of Spain passed without any children of his own. So, things got a little complicated. The next heir ideally should have been the son or first-born grandson of the King’s half-sister, Maria Theresa. There was just one problem. But both of these men (father and older brother to Philip V) were already slated to inherit the French throne one day.
To maintain order, King Charles II selected the next in line, our friend Philip, to succeed him on the Spanish throne.
