Louis Antoine: The 20-Minute King of France

A Sudden Accession

On August 2, 1830, King Charles X of France abdicated during the July Revolution. His son, Louis Antoine, Duke of Angoulême, was next in line and briefly became king. However, political turmoil forced his reign to be the shortest in French history.

Reluctantly Abdicating

Facing intense pressure and unrest, Louis Antoine signed his own abdication document just 20 minutes after ascending the throne. This act made way for his nephew, Henry, Duke of Bordeaux, to succeed him, though Henry never fully ruled.

Exile Beckons

After his abdication, Louis Antoine joined his father in exile. They traveled to England and eventually Austria, leaving behind a kingdom in upheaval. His brief reign became a historical oddity, overshadowed by the political shifts of the July Monarchy.

The End of a Royal Line

Louis Antoine lived quietly in exile, never reclaiming the throne. He passed away in 1844, remembered as the man whose reign lasted less than half an hour—a brief chapter in the turbulent history of France’s monarchy.

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