LOUIS ARMAND DE BOURBON

louis armand de bourbon, prince de conti (1661-1685), eldest son of the preceding, succeeded his father in 1666, and in 1680 married marie anne, a daughter of louis xiv. and louise de la valliere. he served with distinction in flanders in 1683, and against the wish of the king went to hungary, where he assisted the imperialists to defeat the turks at gran in 1683. after a dissolute life he died at fontainebleau from smallpox. francois louis de bourbon, prince de conti (1664-1709), younger brother of the preceding, was known until 1685 as prince de la roche-sur-yon. naturally of great ability, he received an excellent education and was distinguished both for the independence of his mind and the popularity of his manners. on this account he was not received with favour by louis xiv.; so in 1683 he assisted the imperialists in hungary, and while there he wrote some letters in which he referred to louis as _le roi an theatre_, for which on his return to france he was temporarily banished to chantilly. conti was a favourite of his uncle the great conde, whose grand-daughter marie therese de bourbon (1666-1732) he married in 1688. in 1689 he accompanied his intimate friend marshal luxembourg to the netherlands, and shared in the french victories at fleurus, steinkirk and neerwinden. on the death of his cousin, jean louis charles, duc de longueville (1646-1694), conti in accordance with his cousin's will, claimed the principality of neuchatel against marie, duchesse de nemours (1625-1707), a sister of the duke. he failed to obtain military assistance from the swiss, and by the king's command yielded the disputed territory to marie, although the courts of law had decided in his favour. in 1697 louis xiv. offered him the polish crown, and by means of bribes the abbe de polignac secured his election. conti started rather unwillingly for his new kingdom, probably, as st simon remarks, owing to his affection for francoise, wife of philip ii., duke of orleans, and daughter of louis xiv. and madame de montespan. when he reached danzig and found his rival augustus ii., elector of saxony, already in possession of the polish crown, he returned to france, where he was graciously received by louis, although st simon says the king was vexed to see him again. but the misfortunes of the french armies during the earlier years of the war of the spanish succession compelled louis to appoint conti, whose military renown stood very high, to command the troops in italy. he fell ill before he could take the field, and died on the 9th of february 1709, his death calling forth exceptional signs of mourning from all classes.