Christian de Villeneuve-Esclapon


Christian de Villeneuve-Esclapon was a French aristocrat, politician and Félibrige supporter. He served in the National Assembly of France from 1889 to 1893 and published a newspaper, Lou Prouvençau.

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 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.
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, Romée de Villeneuve and the Château de Vaugrenier in Villeneuve-Loubet.

Personal life

He married Princess Jeanne Bonaparte, daughter of Prince Pierre Napoléon Bonaparte and Éléonore-Justine Ruflin, and a great-niece of Napoleon. They had six children:
He died on 3 April 1931 in Paris.