The Condé Inheritance, Part I
(Forgive spelling mistakes, Im too tired to continue correcting it all)
A painting of his grandfather hang on the wall in front of him, not that he could see much of it as he sat at his desk. The room was filled with men, young as well as old, all looking towards the Prince who sat in his chair, looking up at them. The Condé inheritance was what the business of the day concerned, with the passing of his wife that now left Condé without any more obligations, at least not in legal terms to any survivors. “With the passing of the Princess, you are here to ensure that the testament that shall be drafted shall be without fault or complain. As such I have hired each of you for a smaller fortune, it is said you are all among the brightest and most respected, and I do pray that you as my lawyers will serve me well and that I shall not be left wanting. Now before you all begin to sound wise, I am naturally aware that my titles cannot pass onto either one of my two children. The main objective in all of your doings is however clear, the unity and continued prosperity of my estates. That they not under any circumstance be split between factions and interests. I also know that my sons will be less than content when they come of age, as one of the two will lose what many of these young empty headed countrymen of ours call equality. However, these worries must not prevent you from finding action and pathway, you must ensure that the estate, which I leave in my will, shall not be fractured after my departure. Too many estates in this fair France falters and die from simple inheritance laws which neither the peasants or nobility can change, thereby forcing all into poverty.”
An older man not that far from Condé’s own age by the name of Cornett, was the leading lawyer from a smaller, highly reputed firm in Paris which dealt with matters such as this. He was slightly overweight with a Whig and cleanly shaven, together with him were a couple of younger men to assist. “Your Serene Highness.” He started out with saying. “It should prove possible, as your Highness lacks proper heirs, to designate your inheritance as you see fit. Though I should make you aware this early on as we have already consulted, that due to the sheer size of your Highness’ inheritance, even if absence of the titles themselves, is the largest in France and as such many, no matter how closely we tie the inheritance, will no doubt attempt to overturn it. The House of Orléans may attempt to claim a part of the inheritance in light of your late wife, though they have no real ground to stand on. But the Duke is a powerful man with a powerful family name and connections. The same could be the case from the Rohan family, due to the alleged marriage of their kinswoman to your son, they likewise has no ground to stand on for the estates themselves, as the marriage has not been proven. They might whoever is entitled to some money depending on what followed upon the Duke d’Enghien’s death, his estates and which benefits she was awarded should evidence emerge to prove her claim.” Cornett sighed before the Prince asked him to continue, “It may prove good to consider returning the estates and palaces of your late wife, it may help to silence the House of Orléans and prevent them from raising a fight over that their former estates go to what is now to be bastards, therefore not descendants of theirs.”
The Prince simply nodded as he looked at all those smart lawyers whom he had bought, “But you believe the Estate can survive this coming cataclysm, intact that is.”
Cornett gave a small nod with his “I believe so, Your Highness, but we can never entirely be sure that some unforeseen circumstance does not develop.”
“And I have hired you to ensure that it does not.” The Prince responded.
“Of course, Your Highness.” Cornett continued “Before the revolution, bastards were barred from receiving gifts or grants, and with our current laws, paragraph 723 it clearly states that legitimate heirs inherits first, followed by natural sons and if none left then the state. So should your Highness, God forbid, pass away tomorrow, then the state and Crown would inherit Your Highness land and property as you have not yet made a new testament in light of the recent events. However, if I may, then Your Highness can make either of his illegitimate sons the legate which as article 1003 dictates:
The general legacy is the testamentary disposition by which the testator gives to one or more persons the entirety of the property which he leaves at this death. As such your sons could inherit, while at the same time Your Highness could return the estates of the House of Orléans if that so be his desire. As article 1006 points out
: When at the decease of the testator there shall be no heirs to whom a portion of his property shall be reserved by the law, the general legatee shall be seised absolutely by the death of the testator.”
Condé simply looked at him, “And what if I wished to save the house, the Condé line and the titles? Tell me, would it at all be possible?”
A slightly younger lawyer than Cornett stepped forward, speaking up “Your Serene Highness if such is the wish, you could partition His Majesty to issue an ordinance which legitimized your sons, or only one if you wish for the estate to remain intact. Another way could be to attempt to push through the Chambers a bill to have either or both legitimized, such cases have been seen in England.”
The Prince had just opened his mouth and was about to speak before a younger man cut him off, with an older one next to him looking quite crossed. “Forgive me Your Highness, but I believe there might be a way.” Ignoring the impudence for now, and the apologetic nature of what appeared to be his superior, the Prince allowed him to continue, curious as to what he had to say as the young men continued, “Your Highness could always adopt.”
“Adopt?” The Prince asked doubtfully, “Adopt my sons? Is that possible?”
The young lawyer shook his head, “No, Your Highness, adopt your grandson. To adopt him you must have taken care of the child during his minority and six years following that, his parents, your son and daughter-in-law would also have to consent.”
“Yet I have no grandchild.” Condé responded.
“No, Your Highness.” The young lawyer replied “But you may eventually have so in time. Also to adopt you must be at least fifty and have no children or legitimate descendants. Now Your Highness does have children, but the case in front of the courts who shall decide upon the adoption, it can be made that as your sons by law are illegitimate and as such as have no right to be your sons in the face of the law, as it of current is there to protect legitimate heirs interests, therefore no legal obligations they shall not be deprived of anything upon your adoption of a son and heir.
Now if this is accepted, then you would be able to adopt your grandson through an illegitimate line, the trick here is laid out in article 350. Which states:
The adopted shall acquire no right of succession to the property of relations of the adopter. Now as Your Highness has no immediate family for which it concerns it remains fairly unimportant, the interesting part is what follows which states:
but he shall enjoy the same rights with regard to succession to the adopter as are possessed by a child born in wedlock. Now this would mean that Your Highness’ adopted son would not only be the sole and clear heir to Your Highness’ estates, but also to that of your titles. The nobility, Crown and courts may argue against this by the virtue that the line is broken and thus the titles are forfeit. Whoever there can be no dispute by law about his status, furthermore then we could argue with a bit of modification out from article 730 which states:
The children of such unworthy person, coming to the succession in their own right, and without the aid of representation, are not excluded by the fault of their father. Now in normal circumstances an unworthy person is either a man who has caused or attempted to cause your death, one who has brought against the defunct a capital charge adjudged calumnious or one who has not denounced a defunct death to the officers of justice after being informed.
We could try to talk out from the basis that your illegitimate sons, by the base of their birth are deemed unworthy in the eyes of the law, as they are by the very law itself deemed unworthy to inherit. Whereas other places within the law, there are articles directly outlining illegitimate heirs, there are none here. Article 350 and 730 forms a strong basis. Though there are no guarantees that the King shall not issue an ordinance in the meanwhile to change the law, or that a change of law does not occur in the chambers while the issue is being settled. It would most probably cause a scandal upon Your Highness’ house, potentially on the Monarchy as well depending on their reaction, but under current law it should prove possible to preserve it all, by Your Highness’ grandchild should you be so fortunate.”
“I see.” Condé said almost quietly, “You have all certainly given me much to think of. I ask you all to return back to your provinces and look into the matter further, and convene with me here once again in three months’ time. I thank you all for your time, I know it cannot be easy with the recent famine. Speaking of which, in light of it I have had the servants prepare some light for you all to eat in the dining room, I hope you shall enjoy it before you leave this Château of mine.” The Prince gave them all a nod before they bowed, leaving the room one by one, thus leaving the Prince to his own thoughts.
Though he was not left for long before his Sophia came into the room, sitting in a chair opposite of him “Our son is to be the richest man in France.” She said happy with herself, and her future life.
“I fear that our son shall not.” Condé simply said short as he took a sip of wine, having not touched the glass before now as he was consumed with listening to the lawyers.
“Is someone else about to outshine your wealth?” She asked intrigued, an eyebrow raised as she hid her smile behind her own glass filled with wine.
The Prince merely sighed, “You mistake me, my son will be, but our son will not.”
And in an instance, her smile vanished, “What do you mean?” She asked as the anger could be heard in her voice, not to even begin mentioning the tone.
“Henri will, but our son will not?” Condé responded.
“Is that so? Do you care nothing of our son, of me, of your family rather than your bastard running around, degrading your family name.” She began, her eyes lit and cheeks red as Louis simply raised his hand.
“It’s no use.” He said, “Our son is too young, by the time that I depart this world he is unlikely to be of age, let alone of maturity to handle such a responsibility or to fight the potential battles that ensure. Henri is already of age, soon to be married, he has been in the chamber and is now in the army. He has the skill and knowledge to fight this battle should it come. I will ensure that our son is taken care of, that he is not left out of the inheritance and that he shall have a future.” Sophia stood up, not really caring as she only saw red as she walked to the doorway. “One more thing.” Condé called out after her. “The Bishop has requested that you should not be present before him during the baptism, as he would consider it disgraceful.” Not that she responded to that, storming out of the room and leaving the old Prince to enjoy the remainder of his wine before he began to write.
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To Louis Philippe, Duke of Orléans (KingHigh - private)
Your Serene Highness,
I write to you today to regretfully inform you of the passing of my wife, your aunt, Bathilde this past morning. I write to you both to pass on my regards and sorrow, but also to personally invite you to the funeral. Your aunt has requested in her will that she be buried in your family crypt and as such I also ask for your permission that she may be buried according to her last wishes.
Best regards,
Louis Henri Joseph, Prince de Condé, Duc de Bourbon, Bellegarde, Buise, Marquis de Graville, Comte de Valery, Seigneur de Beaugé, Chantilly, Château-Chinon, Château-Renault, Montluel, Château d'Écouen, etc., also Prince du Sang
To Henri-Charles Victorin du Bourget, Bishop of Montauban (Eid3r - Private)
Revered Bishop,
I of course know that I live in sin, and as such I attempt to do other virtues so that God, when he calls me to him, in the spirit of forgiveness may look upon my kinder sides so that he can forgive his sinful son. As for your personal request, I will of course accept it. I look very much forward to seeing you once more, and to talk in peace and private.
Louis Henri Joseph, Prince de Condé, Duc de Bourbon, Bellegarde, Buise, Marquis de Graville, Comte de Valery, Seigneur de Beaugé, Chantilly, Château-Chinon, Château-Renault, Montluel, Château d'Écouen, etc., also Prince du Sang.
To Colonel Nathanaël Barrande, Comte de L'Isle Jourdain. (Naxhi - Private)
Your Lordship,
No doubt much is needed to aliavate the effects of the famine, though for what you wish to have us do I know not. We neither as of yet have men, still waiting for the divisions to actually be formed, and neither do we sit on a large food supply. By all regards, if you desire to buy bread for the poor and hand it out then you have my full support. But as of now I see not what you wish for the army to do in this regard. Furthermore then there is little for us to do until we have received orders from General Maison or the Ministry of War.
Now as for your proposal regarding the newspaper. If you wish to write an article then you may do so once your current task is completed, if it is a good article I may even send it further to the ministry of war where they may publish it. However you must remember that when you write an article about this issue and to encourage improvement, that only one in four Frenchmen can read, and most of those would wish to be officers. Something we have plenty of as for the time being as evident by our current lack of troops in our divisions compared to officers.
Louis Henri Joseph, Prince de Condé, Duc de Bourbon, Bellegarde, Buise, Marquis de Graville, Comte de Valery, Seigneur de Beaugé, Chantilly, Château-Chinon, Château-Renault, Montluel, Château d'Écouen, etc., also Prince du Sang.
To Henri-Charles Victorin du Bourget, Bishop of Montauban (Eid3r - Private)
Your most revered Bishop,
I hope that you will forgive me for writing to you, reverence, but His Highness, the Prince of Condé, has informed me that you do not wish for me to be present in your company during the baptism of my son, which I accept, while I also thank you for doing this honour for my son.
Though it is not the only reason I write to you. As the His Highness’ late wife, the Princess of Condé has recently passed away, I write in hopes that you may ensure that my son gets his birthright. With the news of the passing of the Princess it has become clear that my son, due to the date and hour of his birth, is not born into an adulterous union, and as such under French law is natural born. This gives him clear rights to be the Prince’s heir and a different social status in this kingdom. The Prince himself will not admit it, as he fears that should he recognize it that his estates will be put at risk, that his new son, not born in adultery, will be unable to defend his birthright due to his young age should the Prince pass from this world ahead of time. I cannot as a mother let my son be deprived of what is rightfully his, and I ask that you as the bishop who shall baptize him that you may convince the Prince of the right and proper action in front of God and justice. As you are to deliver the birth certificate that you may acknowledge and write his true date of birth even if the Prince will not. Rather than that which his father insists in hopes that his estate may still remain secure in the hands of his older son born in adultery. I beg that you do this out of the kindness of your heart, and if so that you shall always find me and my son to be perfect friends to your person and the Catholic Church.
- Sophia Dawes
