Christian de Villeneuve-Esclapon (1852–1931) was a French aristocrat, politician and Félibrige supporter. He served in the National Assembly of France from 1889 to 1893 and published a newspaper called Lou Prouvençau.
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Biography
Early life
Henri Marie Christian de Villeneuve-Esclapon was born on 8 August 1852 in Aix-en-Provence. His father was Jules de Villeneuve-Esclapon (1809–1895) and his mother, Henriette de Fresse de Monval. Upon the death of his father, he became the 10th Marquis de Villeneuve-Esclapon.
Career
He served in the Third Carlist War of 1872–1876 under Carlos, Duke of Madrid (1848–1909).
He embarked upon a career in politics by working as the private secretary of Achille de Vallavieille, the Prefect of Hérault. He then served as a member of the National Assembly of France for Corsica from 6 October 1889 to 14 October 1893.
He was a supporter of Félibrige, and started a newspaper in Aix-en-Provence, Lou Prouvençau. He also served as editor-in-charge of Occitania and wrote articles in Souleiado. Additionally, he wrote about Théodore Aubanel (1829–1886), Romée de Villeneuve (1170–1250) and the Château de Vaugrenier in Villeneuve-Loubet.
Personal life
He married Princess Jeanne Bonaparte (1861–1910), daughter of Prince Pierre Napoléon Bonaparte (1815–1881) and Éléonore-Justine Ruflin, and a great-niece of Napoleon (1769–1821). They had six children:
Jules Pierre Napoléon de Villeneuve-Esclapon (1886–1957). He married Cécile Ernestine Marie de Courtois (1896–1981).
Henriette Marie Jeanne de Villeneuve-Esclapon (1887–1942). She married Lucien Leret d'Aubigny (1876–1945).
Romée Napoléon de Villeneuve-Esclapon (1889–1944).
Lucien Louis Napoléon de Villeneuve-Esclapon (1890–1939). He married Iskouhi-Gladys Matossian (1894–1951).
Marie Roselyne de Villeneuve-Esclapon (1893–1973). She married Bruno de Maigret (1888–1966).
Rolande Anne Mathilde de Villeneuve-Esclapon (1896–1972). She married Antoine de Lyée de Belleau (1898–1978).
He died on 3 April 1931 in Paris.