Louis Philippe was known to the French as the “citizen king” as he owed his throne to the people. He was a cousin of Charles X and supported the revolution of 1789 in his youth. The King saw eye to eye with the liberal bourgeoisie and filled his government with liberal politicians; consequently, under his rule the bourgeoisie prospered. Philippe’s other administration also favored the middle class at the expense of the workers. He extended suffrage to the wealthier citizens in France; nevertheless, the vast majority of the French population could not yet vote.
