# Philippe d'Orléans — The Vicomte de Bragelonne character guide > Philippe d'Orléans in The Vicomte de Bragelonne by Alexandre Dumas. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Monsieur, the Duke of Orléans, Philip **First appearance:** 0216-211-the-patterns ## Snapshot The king's younger brother, Monsieur lives in the shadow of a throne he will never occupy, and the shadow is slowly poisoning him. ## Who they are Philippe d'Orléans — Monsieur — is brother to Louis XIV, a prince whose rank is immense and whose power is nil, a position that breeds both resentment and a taste for petty intrigue. His marriage to Henrietta places him at the center of the court's most dangerous flirtation, and his jealousy is a force the king must manage as carefully as any foreign enemy. He matters because the royal family's private fractures are the fault lines along which the novel's political drama runs. ## In the story ### [Part I: The Vicomte de Bragelonne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/part-i-the-vicomte-de-bragelonne) Mentioned as the Duke of Orléans, residing at Blois, around whom the courtly life revolves. ### [The Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/1-the-letter) Referred to as Monsieur, he is the prince of Blois, depicted as melancholy and listless after returning from a morning hunt. ### [The Messenger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/2-the-messenger) Receives the letter from Condé with caution and anxiety, then expresses gratitude. ### [In Which the Unknown of the Hostelry of Les Medici Loses His Incognito](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/9-in-which-the-unknown-of-the-hostelry-of-les-medici-loses-his-incognito) Mentioned as Monsieur, who escorts the cardinal with a flambeau. ### [Mazarin's Gaming Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/39-mazarin-s-gaming-party) Admires himself in a mirror, recalls past hardships, and discusses dress with the Chevalier de Lorraine. ### [An Affair of State](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/40-an-affair-of-state) The brother of Louis XIV, proposed as the groom for Henrietta of England. ### [The Recital](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/41-the-recital) Shows youthful enthusiasm, clapping and expressing admiration for the heroic deeds described. ### [In Which Mazarin Becomes Prodigal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/42-in-which-mazarin-becomes-prodigal) Referred to as the Duc d'Anjou; he joyfully accepts the money from Mazarin and reveals it is a wedding present for his marriage to Charles II's sister. ### [The Portrait of Madame](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/82-the-portrait-of-madame) Monsieur, found admiring himself and comparing his looks to Henrietta's portrait; grants the appointment for La Vallière. ### [Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/86-night) Referenced indirectly as the husband whose position is threatened by the attentions of the two men toward his wife. ### [An Account of What the Chevalier de Lorraine Thought of Madame](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/88-an-account-of-what-the-chevalier-de-lorraine-thought-of-madame) Monsieur, the Duke of Orléans, is manipulated by the Chevalier de Lorraine into suspecting his wife's fidelity. ### [Monsieur Becomes Jealous of the Duke of Buckingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/91-monsieur-becomes-jealous-of-the-duke-of-buckingham) Monsieur, the king's brother, is jealous of the Duke of Buckingham's visits to his wife and seeks his mother's counsel. ### [Forever!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/92-forever) Mentioned as the jealous husband and second gentleman of France, whose honor the queen seeks to protect. ### [Sword-Thrusts in the Water](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/94-sword-thrusts-in-the-water) Approaches Buckingham with feigned politeness, expressing regret at his impending departure. ### [105: Threefold Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/105-threefold-love) Monsieur, feeling neglected and jealous, disrupts the gathering in Madame's apartments and vents his anger. ### [M. de Lorraine's Jealousy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/106-m-de-lorraine-s-jealousy) The duke is easily swayed by the chevalier's insinuations, becoming jealous and agreeing to surprise Madame at dinner. ### [Monsieur Is Jealous of Guiche](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/107-monsieur-is-jealous-of-guiche) Bursts into Madame's apartments, confronts his wife and Guiche, and later complains to his mother about his jealousy. ### [The Mediator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/108-the-mediator) Monsieur is the source of the marital misunderstanding, though not present in the scene. ### [The Advisers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/109-the-advisers) Monsieur is piqued by the king's defense of Madame and retains his ill-humor. ### [Fontainebleau](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/110-fontainebleau) Monsieur, neglected and jealous, confronts the queen mother about the king's attentions to Madame, then flies into a violent rage. ### [The Bath](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/111-the-bath) Monsieur is notably absent, reported to be asleep, and is the subject of courtiers' gossip. ### [The Butterfly-Chase](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/112-the-butterfly-chase) Mentioned as being jealous of the king and complaining to the queen-mother. ### [What Was Caught After the Butterflies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/113-what-was-caught-after-the-butterflies) Monsieur's jealousy is the driving force behind the need for dissimulation. ### [The Ballet of the Seasons](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/114-the-ballet-of-the-seasons) Observes the ballet from his box, restless and unable to comprehend the underlying intrigues. ### [The King's Secret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/118-the-king-s-secret) Monsieur, who triumphantly informs Madame of the king's new passion. ### [Courses de Nuit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/119-courses-de-nuit) Monsieur retires in good humor, sings ballet airs, inspects costumes, and distributes presents, showing satisfaction. ### [Happy as a Prince](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/130-happy-as-a-prince) In a cheerful mood after bathing, he teases de Guiche about his exile and reveals a whimsical plan to become a model husband and retire with Madame to Villers-Cotterets. ### [Story of a Dryad and a Naiad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/131-story-of-a-dryad-and-a-naiad) Arrives splendidly dressed; comments on Saint-Aignan's understanding of the Dryads' language. ### [Royal Psychology](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/133-royal-psychology) Monsieur is referenced as the husband of Madame, whose marriage the king had previously sought to undermine. ### [Madame's Four Chances](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/139-madame-s-four-chances) Monsieur, the king's brother, is mentioned as a possible winner of the bracelets, with Madame joking he would give them to the Chevalier de Lorraine. ### [How de Wardes Was Received at Court](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/152-how-de-wardes-was-received-at-court) Welcomes de Wardes with marked favor, treating him as a novelty and showing infidelity to old friends. ### [Showing the Advantage of Having Two Strings to One’s Bow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/160-showing-the-advantage-of-having-two-strings-to-one-s-bow) Mentioned in the context of past scenes with the Duke of Buckingham. ### [The Journey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/162-the-journey) Monsieur refuses to ride, claiming his skin would peel, and remains immobile in the carriage. ### [183: An Interview with the Queen-Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/183-an-interview-with-the-queen-mother) Mentioned as Monsieur, who joined the king for a hunting-party. ### [The False King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/231-the-false-king) Bewildered, turning his head between the two identical kings. ### [Epilogue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/chapters/epilogue) Monsieur is briefly addressed by the king, who tells him they will go somewhere shortly, and the king smiles to sweeten the bitter draught he has given him. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/characters/philippe_d_orleans - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_vicomte_de_bragelonne_se/characters