Philippe II, Duke of Orleans, Philippe Charles (1674 – 1723) was the Regent of France from 1715 to 1723. He was the Regent of France during the minority of the young King Louis XV who acceded to the French throne when he was just five years old.

History of the Regent Diamond
Myths and legends surround the stone. It is of incredible value. The Regent Diamond originated from India in Golconda where it was mined at the at the Parteal mine. Found by a slave, who was murdered. A suicide followed then the Regent was sold to Governor Thomas Pitt of Fort George, Madras. The diamond gave him no pleasure and it was purchased by the Regent of France and became part of the French regalia, the crown jewels. Owned by French Kings until the bloody French revolution and then owned by the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. France became a republic and the Regent Diamond became a National treasure. The Regent Diamond is currently housed in the Louvre in Paris, France. The lives and the greed of many of the owners and wearers of the Regent Diamond have become part of the history of the Regent diamond.

The History Timeline of the Regent Diamond
The following timeline & history of the Regent details important historical events and dates:

Dates in History of the Regent - Timeline & History of Regent Diamond

1700 - The diamond originated from the Parteal mine, Golconda in India and was stolen by a slave who smuggled it in the bandages of a self-inflicted leg wound and fled to Bombay

1700 - The runaway slave met an English captain who agreed to give passage to the slave and help him to sell the diamond

1700 - The captain murdered the slave and kept the diamond for himself

1701 - The murderous sea captain reached Madras and sold the diamond to an Indian dealer named Jamchund. He spent the blood money and then filled with guilt and remorse he hanged himself

1702 - The dealer, Jamchund, sold the stone to Governor Thomas Pitt of Fort George, Madras. Thomas Pitt was the grandfather of William Pitt famous for his part in the American Revolution

1702 - Governor Thomas Pitt became paranoid about losing the diamond. The diamond had become famous and Pitt was so scared it would be stolen that he never spent more two consecutive nights in the same house

1717 - In 1717 Pitt sold the diamond to the Duke of Orleans, Regent of France - from where the name of the diamond originated. He was the Regent of France during the minority of the young King Louis XV

1722 - The Regent diamond was set in the crown of King Louis XV for his coronation in 1722. The Regent thus became part of the French Regalia (Crown Jewels) Louis XV became a weak and dissolute King. One of his mistresses was Madame de Pompadour and another was the Comtesse Du Barry who was beheaded during the French Revolution

1723 - In 1723 the Regent diamond was removed from the crown and was worn by Queen Marie Leczinska in her hair.

1775 - The Regent was re-set in a new crown for the coronation of King Louis XVI in 1775. Marie Antoinette then used the Regent diamond to adorn a large black-velvet hat

1792 - August - This diamond was, with the rest of the French regalia, seized in August, 1792, and deposited in the Garde-Meuble (Royal Treasury) during the French Revolution

1792 - September - In September the Crown Jewels, including the Regent Diamond  were stolen when the Garde Meuble (Royal Treasury) was stormed by rioters.

1795 - The Regent Diamond was recovered apparently found hidden in the rafters of roof

1795 - 1799 - From November 2, 1795 until November 10, 1799 the Directory (or Directoire) held executive power in France during the later stages of the French Revolution and the Regent Diamond was often used as a security

1799 - The Directory fell in a coup of  and was replaced by the Consulate. During this period Napoleon Bonaparte established himself as First Consul

1804 - In 1804 Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned Emperor He had the Regent Diamond mounted in the hilt of his sword that he carried at his coronation

1814 - Napoleon was forced into exile in Elba. Marie Louisa, his second wife, carried the Regent diamond to Austria. However, her father, Emperor Francis I of Austria, returned it to France and it again became part of the French Crown Jewels

1814 - King Louis XVIII wore the precious gem in the Royal Crown at his coronation

1825 - In 1825 King Charles X wore the stone in the Royal Crown at his coronation

1852 - Napoleon III wore the diamond in the Royal Crown at his coronation and then it was re-set in a Greek diadem designed for Empress Eugenie.

1870 - The Emperor was captured at the Battle of Sedan and was deposed by the forces of the Third Republic in Paris

1887 - In 1887 many of the French Crown Jewels were sold at auction but the Regent was exhibited at the Louvre as one of the national treasures of France. It remains there today

History Timeline of the Regent
The above history timeline of the diamond details important historical events and dates and the legends and myths that surround the diamond.

The Regent Diamond
The above timeline & history details important historical events and dates. Fascinating information about the history of the Regent stone providing comprehensive facts, information and timeline about the history of the famous diamond.

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