Condé, Henri-Jules de Bourbon, 5e prince de. Article #12. Vol 3, pg 520.
It’s guys like this that explain the French revolution. Henri-Jules lived from 1643-1709 and was the 5th Prince of Condé, a royal title held by members of the House of Bourbon in France. Henri-Jules held his title from 1686 to 1709.
All of this is well and good. Henri-Jules is only the first of many Bourbons that we’ll run into. What’s a little scary is how he is described. In addition to being a military failure, he was “eccentric, given to malicious practical jokes, and a terror to his wife and children”. Ouch.
Just what sort of malicious practical jokes does a 17th century French nobleman engage in? Pulling the pins out of somebody else’s armor? Setting up a family guillotine? Insisting that your family is of Irish descent?
“Condé, Henri-Jules de Bourbon, 5e prince de.” Encyclopedia Britannica. 15th ed. 2010. Vol 3, pg 520.
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