The son of Philippe II, duc d'Orléans [1674-1723] and Françoise-Marie de Bourbon, legitimatized daughter of Louis XIV, Louis was governor of Dauphiné, commander of infantry, and chief of the Conseil d'Etat. After the death of his wife, Auguste-Marie-Jeanne, princess of Bade, in 1726, Louis retired to a religious life in the Abbey of Sainte-Geneviève. Philippe II was the son of Philippe I, duc d'Orléans [1640-1701, younger brother of Louis XIV] and Elizabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate. Philippe II became regent for the five-year old Louis XV upon the death in 1715 of Louis XIV. During his regency, Philippe endeavored to secure his own secession over that of Philip V of Spain, Louis XIV's grandson, if the sickly Louis XV were to die. In 1716 he concluded an alliance with Great Britain ensuring the latter's support against Philip V's claim of secession. France and Great Britain went to war with Spain in 1719, and in 1720 Philip V was forced to renounce his claims and recognize Philippe II as Louis XV's heir. Philippe II's machinations to secure his secession turned out to be for naught; his Regency ended when Louis XV came of age in 1723, and Philippe II died the following year. [Compiled from sources and references recorded on CMS]