The French people idolized him, and declared that he would some day be to
France what Wellington was to England.

His father was then King, and the Duke induced the King to send him on active service, and for six years he was in various campaigns, always distinguishing himself for his bravery and soldierly qualities.

At the end of this time there was a revolution in France.  The King was deposed, a second republic declared, and the whole Orleans family exiled.

The King and the princes went to England, and purchased some fine property near London, at a place called Twickenham.  Here the Duke lived, devoting himself to literature and study.

The ungrateful French Government, forgetting the services he had done for his country, not content with banishing him with the rest of his family, took from him a famous estate called Chantilly, which had belonged to his ancestors for centuries.

Despite this treatment the Duke’s love for his country never changed.

When the Franco-German war broke out in 1870 he instantly offered his services to France.

Napoleon III., the same Napoleon who sent Maximilian to Mexico, was then Emperor of France.

He declined the help of the Duke d’Aumale, fearing to allow any of the princes of the royal blood to serve in the army, lest they might endeavor to influence the soldiers to bring about a new revolution.

After the battle of Sedan, when Napoleon was taken prisoner, and France once more became a republic, the Duke returned to France and took an active part in the affairs of State, and Chantilly and the greater portion of his lands were restored to him.

The other Orleans princes also returned to France, and remained there until 1883, when the Minister of War, following the policy of Napoleon III., declared it undesirable to have the princes serving in the army.

The Duke’s name was struck off the army-roll by that General Boulanger who made such a stir in France at that time.  All the commissions held by the Orleans princes were cancelled, and the whole family once more banished from France.

A few weeks after the Duke had left France, the French people were somewhat ashamed to learn that this man, whom they had twice hounded out of the country, had returned good for evil, and made a present to the nation, or rather to the Institute of France, of his beautiful chateau of Chantilly.

The Institute laid the matter before the Government, and asked that the decree of exile be revoked.

After some time this was done, and the Duke returned to France to live in Chantilly, which, by the terms of his gift, he was at liberty to use during his lifetime.

The Duke was seventy years of age.  His death was caused by the news that the Duchess d’Alencon, a favorite niece of his, had been burnt to death in a dreadful fire which has just occurred in Paris.

Some charitable ladies organized a bazaar for the benefit of sick women and children.