Bourbon Louis

He was the fourth son of Louis Auguste, Duke of Maine, and his wife, Princess Louise Benedetta of Bourbon: he was bestowed the title of Prince of Dombes at birth, previously assigned to an older brother who died shortly after birth. Unlike his father, the Prince of Dombes demonstrated a remarkable military capability: he served under Prince Eugene of Savoy during the campaign against the Turks in 1717, during the Polish Succession War (1733-1738) and in the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748). Upon the disgraceful death of his father in 1736, he inherited his vast wealth and titles, also becoming Captain of the Swiss Guards, Governor of Languedoc, Grand Huntsman of France, and Count of Eu. About 15 years later, he also became Prince of Anet and Count of Dreux, titles obtained upon his mother's death. He rarely attended the court of his cousin Louis XV of France, preferring to remain at his country residence, the Château d'Anet, which he continued to adorn until his death. Instead, he often visited the Château d'Eu, his hunting reserve in the summer. Louis Auguste remained a bachelor and childless: among the possible brides proposed were his cousins Charlotte Aglaé of Bourbon-Orléans, daughter of Philippe II of Bourbon-Orléans, and Francesca Maria of Bourbon-France (daughter of Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan); Charlotte declined him and later married Francis III d'Este. Another possible candidate was his cousin Louise Anna of Bourbon-Condé (1695-1768), daughter of his paternal aunt Louise Françoise of Bourbon and cousin Louis III of Bourbon-Condé. Louis Auguste died after a duel near the Château of Fontainebleau, and his younger brother Louis Charles of Bourbon-France, Count of Eu, inherited his possessions.