List of French monarchs

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See also: List of French consorts
Coronation of Louis VIII and Blanche of Castile at Reims in 1223; a miniature from the Grandes Chroniques de France, painted in the 1450s, kept at the National Library of France

The monarchs of France ruled, first as kings and later as emperors (the Bonapartes only), from the Middle Ages to 1870. There is some disagreement as to when France came into existence. The earliest date would be the establishment of the Merovingian Frankish kingdom by Clovis I in 486 with the defeat of Syagrius, the last Roman official in Gaul. That kingdom's rulers were deposed in the 8th century. The Treaty of Verdun established the Kingdom of Western Francia in 843.

In light of these recent trends, this list begins with Charles the Bald and the Kingdom of Western Francia, originating in 843, the state which would directly evolve into modern France. For earlier Frankish monarchs, see List of Frankish Kings.

In addition to the monarchs listed below, the Kings of England and Great Britain from 1340–1360 and 1369–1801 also claimed the title of King of France. For a short time, this had some basis in fact — under the terms of the 1420 Treaty of Troyes, Charles VI had recognized his son-in-law Henry V of England as regent and heir. Henry V predeceased Charles VI and so Henry V's son, Henry VI, succeeded his grandfather Charles VI as King of France. Most of Northern France was under English control until 1435, but by 1453, the English had been expelled from all of France save Calais (and the Channel Islands), and Calais itself fell in 1558. Nevertheless, English and then British monarchs continued to claim the title until the creation of the United Kingdom in 1801. Various English kings between 1337 and 1422 had also claimed the title of King of France, but only intermittently.

The title "King of the Franks" (Latin: Rex Francorum) remained in use until the reign of Philip IV. During the brief period when the French Constitution of 1791 was in effect (1791–1792) and after the July Revolution in 1830, the style "King of the French" was used instead of "King of France (and Navarre)". It was a constitutional innovation known as popular monarchy which linked the monarch's title to the people, not to the territory of France.

See also List of Frankish Kings

The name of France comes from the Germanic tribe known as the Franks. The Merovingian kings began as mere chieftains, the oldest known being Pharamond. Clovis I was the first of these to rise to true kingship. After his death, his kingdom was split between his sons into Soissons (Neustria), Paris, Orleans (Burgundy), and Metz (Austrasia). Various other kingdoms would continue to break apart and be formed as the various Merovingian kings warred with each other.

The Carolingians overpowered the Merovingian kings. First they became their majordomos (mayor of the palace) in Austrasia. Eventually, they united the entire Frankish kingdom for the first time since Clovis. With Mayor Pippin the Younger, the Merovingians were completely phased out. The Carolingian Dynasty would be the first true French monarchy. The great and extended kingdom of Pippin's son, the legendary Charlemagne (Charles I), was split by Louis I (Louis the Pious). In 843, while Louis's son Lothair was in power, the great Frankish kingdom was split. The Eastern Kingdom became Germany, the Middle Kingdom became Lotharingia and later part of the Holy Roman Empire, and the Western Kingdom became France. Charles the Bald was the first ruler of the independent West Franks (France).

Contents

[edit] Carolingian Dynasty (843 to 987)

Odo and Raoul were not from the Carolingian Dynasty but from the rival Robertian Dynasty, named for Robert the Strong (father of Odo and Robert I). The Robertian Dynasty became the Capetian Dynasty with the ascent to the throne of Hugh Capet (son of Hugh the Great, son of Robert I) in 987.


Portrait Name King From King Until Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Charles II the Bald
(Charles II le Chauve)		 843 October 6, 877  • Son of Louis the Pious, grandson of Charlemagne
Louis II the Stammerer
(Louis II le Bègue)		 October 6, 877 April 10, 879  • Son of Charles II
Louis III April 10, 879 August 5, 882  • Son of Louis II
Carloman II April 10, 879 December 6, 884  • Son of Louis II
Charles the Fat
(Charles le Gros)		 885 January 13, 888  • Son of Louis the German son of Louis the Pious
Odo of Paris
(Eudes de Paris)		 February 29, 888 January 1, 898  • Son of Robert the Strong
Charles III the Simple
(Charles III le Simple)		 January 1, 898 June 30, 922  • Posthumous son of Louis II
 • Younger half-brother of Louis III and Carloman II
Robert I
(Robert Ier)		 June 30, 922 June 15, 923  • Son of Robert the Strong
 • Younger brother of Odo
Rudolph
(Raoul de France)		 July 13, 923 January 14, 936  • Son-in-law of Robert I
Louis IV from Overseas
(Louis IV d'Outremer)		 June 19, 936 September 10, 954  • Son of Charles III
Lothair
(Lothaire de France)		 November 12, 954 March 2, 986  • Son of Louis IV
Louis V the Lazy
(Louis V le Fainéant)		 June 8, 986 May 22, 987  • Son of Lothair

[edit] Capetian Dynasty, Direct Capetians (987 to 1328)

The Capetian Dynasty, the male-line descendants of Hugh Capet, ruled France continuously from 987 to 1792 and again from 1814 to 1848. The branches of the dynasty which ruled after 1328, however, are generally given the specific branch names of Valois and Bourbon.

Portrait Name King From King Until Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Hugh Capet
(Hugues Capet)		 July 3, 987 October 24, 996  • Grandson of Robert I
Robert II the Pious
(Robert II le Pieux)		 October 24, 996 July 20, 1031  • Son of Hugh Capet
Henry I
(Henri Ier)		 July 20, 1031 August 4, 1060  • Son of Robert II
Philip I
(Philippe Ier)		 August 4, 1060 July 29, 1108  • Son of Henry I
Louis VI the Fat
(Louis VI le Gros)		 July 29, 1108 August 1, 1137  • Son of Philip I
Louis VII the Young
(Louis VII le Jeune)		 August 1, 1137 September 18, 1180  • Son of Louis VI
Philip II Augustus
(Philippe II Auguste)		 September 18, 1180 July 14, 1223  • Son of Louis VII
Louis VIII the Lion
(Louis VIII le Lion)		 July 14, 1223 November 8, 1226  • Son of Philip II Augustus
Louis IX the Saint
(Saint Louis)		 November 8, 1226 August 25, 1270  • Son of Louis VIII
Philip III the Bold
(Philippe III le Hardi)		 August 25, 1270 October 5, 1285  • Son of Louis IX
Philip IV the Fair
(Philippe IV le Bel)		 October 5, 1285 November 29, 1314  • Son of Philip III
Louis X the Quarreller
(Louis X le Hutin)		 November 29, 1314 June 5, 1316  • Son of Philip IV
John I the Posthumous
(Jean Ier le Posthume)		 November 15, 1316 November 20, 1316  • Son of Louis X
Philip V the Tall
(Philippe V le Long)		 November 20, 1316 January 3, 1322  • Son of Philip IV
 • Younger brother of Louis X
Charles IV the Fair
(Charles IV le Bel)		 January 3, 1322 February 1, 1328  • Son of Philip IV
 • Younger brother of Philip V

Not listed above are Hugh Magnus, eldest son of Robert II, and Philip of France, eldest son of Louis VI; both were co-Kings with their fathers (in accordance with the early Capetian practice whereby Kings would crown their heirs in their own lifetimes and share power with the co-king), but predeceased them. Because neither Hugh nor Philip were sole or senior king in their own lifetimes, they are not traditionally listed as Kings of France, and are not given ordinals.

[edit] Capetian Dynasty, House of Valois (1328-1589)

[edit] Valois (1328-1498)

Portrait Name King From King Until Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Philip VI of Valois, the Fortunate
(Philippe VI de Valois, le Fortuné)		 February 1, 1328 August 22, 1350  • Son of Charles of Valois, who was son of Philip III
John II the Good
(Jean II le Bon)		 August 22, 1350 April 8, 1364  • Son of Philip VI
Charles V the Wise
(Charles V le Sage)		 April 8, 1364 September 16, 1380  • Son of John II
Charles VI the Beloved, the Mad
(Charles VI le Bienaimé, le Fol)		 September 16, 1380 October 21, 1422  • Son of Charles V
Charles VII the Victorious, the Well-Served
(Charles VII le Victorieux, le Bien-Servi)		 October 21, 1422 July 22, 1461  • Son of Charles VI
Louis XI the Prudent, the Universal Spider
(Louis XI le Prudent, l'Universelle Aragne)		 July 22, 1461 August 30, 1483  • Son of Charles VII
Charles VIII the Affable
(Charles VIII l'Affable)		 August 30, 1483 April 7, 1498  • Son of Louis XI

[edit] House of Lancaster (1422-1453)

From 1422 Henry VI of England controlled much of northern France in accordance with the Plantagenet claim to the French crown, although Charles VII held sway over large areas south of the Loire River. Charles was crowned at Reims in 1429 and increasingly extended this dominion. By 1453, Henry had lost all French possessions except Calais, effectively putting an end to the Hundred Years War. (See also main article:The Dual-Monarchy of England and France)

Portrait Name King From King Until Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Henry VI of England
(Henri II de France [1][2][3][4][5][6])		 October 21, 1422 October 19, 1453  • Grandson of Charles VI, succession according to the Treaty of Troyes

[edit] Capetian Dynasty, Valois-Orléans Branch (1498-1515)

Portrait Name King From King Until Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Louis XII Father of the People
(Louis XII le Père du Peuple)		 April 7, 1498 January 1, 1515  • Great-grandson of Charles V
 • Second cousin, and by first marriage son-in-law of Louis XI
 • By second marriage husband of Anne of Brittany, Queen of Charles VIII

[edit] Capetian Dynasty, Valois-Angoulême Branch (1515-1589)

Portrait Name King From King Until Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Francis I the Father and Restorer of Letters
(François Ier le Père et Restaurateur des Lettres)		 January 1, 1515 March 31, 1547  • Great-great-grandson of Charles V
 • First cousin once removed, and by
first marriage son-in-law of Louis XII
Henry II
(Henri II)		 March 31, 1547 July 10, 1559  • Son of Francis I
Francis II
(François II)		 July 10, 1559 December 5, 1560  • Son of Henry II
Charles IX December 5, 1560 May 30, 1574  • Son of Henry II
 • Younger brother of Francis II
Henry III
(Henri III)		 May 30, 1574 August 2, 1589  • Son of Henry II
 • Younger brother of Charles IX

[edit] Capetian Dynasty, House of Bourbon (1589-1792)

Portrait Name King From King Until Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Henry IV, Good King Henry, the Green Gallant
(Henri IV, le Bon Roi Henri, le Vert-Galant)		 August 2, 1589 May 14, 1610  • Tenth generation descendant of Louis IX in the male line
 • Grandnephew of Francis I
 • Second cousin, and by first marriage brother-in-law of Francis II, Charles IX and Henry III
Louis XIII the Just
(Louis XIII le Juste)		 May 14, 1610 May 14, 1643  • Son of Henry IV
Louis XIV the Great, the Sun King
(Louis XIV le Grand, le Roi Soleil)		 May 14, 1643 September 1, 1715  • Son of Louis XIII
Louis XV the Beloved
(Louis XV le Bien-Aimé)		 September 1, 1715 May 10, 1774  • Great-grandson of Louis XIV
Louis XVI the Last
(Louis XVI le Dernier)		 May 10, 1774 August 10, 1792  • Grandson of Louis XV

From January 21, 1793 to June 8, 1795, Louis XVI's son Louis-Charles was the titular King of France as Louis XVII; in reality, however, he was imprisoned in the Temple throughout this duration, and power was held by the leaders of the Republic. Upon Louis XVII's death, his uncle (Louis XVI's brother) Louis-Stanislas claimed the throne, as Louis XVIII, but only became de facto King of France in 1814.

[edit] First Republic (1792-1804)

The First French Republic lasted from 1792 to 1804, when its First Consul, Napoléon Bonaparte, was declared Emperor of the French.

[edit] Bonaparte Dynasty, First Empire (1804-1814)

Portrait Name Emperor From Emperor Until
Napoleon I, the Great
(Napoléon Ier, le Grand)		 May 18, 1804 April 11, 1814

[edit] Capetian Dynasty, House of Bourbon, Restored (1814)

Portrait Name King From King Until Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Louis XVIII, the Desired
(Louis XVIII, le Désiré)		 May 2, 1814 March 19, 1815  • Younger brother of Louis XVI/ uncle of Louis XVII

[edit] Bonaparte Dynasty, First Empire, Restored (The Hundred Days, 1815)

Portrait Name Emperor From Emperor Until Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Napoleon I
(Napoléon Ier)		 March 20, 1815 June 22, 1815

From June 22 to July 7, 1815, bonapartists considered Napoleon I's son Napoleon II as the legitimate heir to the throne, his father having abdicated in his favor. However, the young child's reign was entirely fictional, as he was residing in Austria with his mother. Louis XVIII was reinstalled as king on July 7.

[edit] Capetian Dynasty, House of Bourbon, Restored (1815-1830)

Portrait Name King From King Until Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Louis XVIII July 7, 1815 September 16, 1824  • Younger brother of Louis XVI/ uncle of Louis XVII
Charles X September 16, 1824 August 2, 1830  • Younger brother of Louis XVIII

The elder son and heir of Charles X, the Dauphin Louis-Antoine, is occasionally considered to have legally been the King of France as Louis XIX in the 20 minutes that passed between Charles X's formal signature of abdication and the Dauphin's own signature.
Henri d'Artois, Charles X's grandson, was considered by monarchists to be the titular King of France, as Henry V from August 2, 1830 to August 9, 1830, but his reign remained largely fictional, as he acceeded in a revolutionary context and hence was never recognized by the French State. He is generally not accounted for in lists of official French monarchs.

[edit] Capetian Dynasty, House of Bourbon-Orléans (The Monarchy of July 1830-1848)

Portrait Name King From King Until Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Louis-Philippe I the Citizen King
(Louis Philippe, le Roi Citoyen)		 August 9, 1830 February 24, 1848  • Sixth generation descendant of Louis XIII in the male line
 • Fifth cousin of Louis XVI, Louis XVIII and Charles X

[edit] Second Republic (1848 - 1852)

The Second French Republic lasted from 1848 to 1852, when its president, Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, was declared Emperor of the French.

[edit] Bonaparte Dynasty, Second Empire, Restored (1852-1870)

Portrait Name Emperor From Emperor Until Relationship with Predecessor(s)
Napoleon III
(Napoléon III)		 December 2, 1852 September 4, 1870  • Nephew of Napoleon I

[edit] Government of National Defense (Paris Commune 1870 - 1871)

The transition period between the fall of the Second Empire after the capture of Napoleon III by the Prussians and the assumption of the Third Republic by General Louis Jules Trochu.

[edit] Heads of State following 1871

The chronology of Head of State of France continues with the Presidents of the French Republic and short term interim periods by the Chief of State of the French State (1940–1944), the Chairman of the Provisional Government of the French Republic (1944–1946) and the president of the French Senate (1969 and 1974) during the Fifth Republic.

[edit] Later pretenders

Various pretenders descended from the preceding monarchs have claimed to be the legitimate monarch of France, rejecting the claims of the President of France, and of each other. These groups are:

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Patrick, James, Renaissance and Reformation, (Marshall Cavendish, 2007), 601.
  2. ^ Neillands, Robin, The Hundred Years War, (Routledge, 1991), 263.
  3. ^ Morgan, Kenneth O., The Oxford Illustrated History of Britain, (Oxford University Press, 2000), 200.
  4. ^ Oman, Charles William Chadwick, The History of England, from the Accession of Richard II to the Death of Richard III (1377-1485), (Longmans, Green, and Co., 1906), 316-317.
  5. ^ Hare, Christopher and Mare Andrews, The life of Louis XI, (C. Scribner, 1907), 15-16.
  6. ^ Thackeray, Frank W., Events that changed the world through the sixteenth century, (Greenwood Publishing Group, 2001), 57.

[edit] References


v • d • e
List of French monarchs
Carolingians
(843–888, 898–922, 936–987)
Pepin (751–768) • Carloman I (768–771) • Charlemagne (768–814) • Louis I (814–840) • Charles I (843–877) • Louis II (877–879) • Louis III (879–882) • Carloman II (879–884) • Charles II (885–888) • Charles III (898–922) • Louis IV (936–954) • Lothair (954–986) • Louis V (986–987)
Robertians
(888–898, 922–936)
Odo of Paris (888–898) • Robert I (922–923) • Rudolph (923–936)
House of Capet
(987–1328)
Hugh (987–996) • Robert II (996–1031) • Henry I (1031–1060) • Philip I (1060–1108) • Louis VI (1108–1137) • Louis VII (1137–1180) • Philip II (1180–1223) • Louis VIII (1223–1226) • Louis IX (1226–1270) • Philip III (1270–1285) • Philip IV (1285–1314) • Louis X (1314–1316) • John I (1316) • Philip V (1316–1322) • Charles IV (1322–1328)
House of Valois
(1328–1498)
Philip VI (1328–1350) • John II (1350–1364) • Charles V (1364–1380) • Charles VI (1380–1422) • Charles VII (1422–1461) • Louis XI (1461–1483) • Charles VIII (1483–1498)
House of Lancaster
(1422–1453)
Henry VI of England (1422–1453) (disputed)
House of Valois-Orléans
(1498–1515)
Louis XII (1498–1515)
House of Valois-Angoulême
(1515–1589)
Francis I (1515–1547) • Henry II (1547–1559) • Francis II (1559–1560) • Charles IX (1560–1574) • Henry III (1574–1589)
House of Bourbon
(1589–1792)
Henry IV (1589–1610) • Louis XIII (1610–1643) • Louis XIV (1643–1715) • Louis XV (1715–1774) • Louis XVI (1774–1792) • Louis XVII (claimant, 1792–1795)
House of Bonaparte
First Empire (1804–1814, 1815)
Napoleon I (1804–1814, 1815) • Napoleon II (1815)
House of Bourbon
Bourbon Restoration (1814, 1815–1830)
Louis XVIII (1814–1815, 1815–1824) • Charles X (1824–1830) • Louis XIX (1830) (disputed) • Henry V (1830) (disputed)
House of Orléans
July Monarchy (1830–1848)
Louis-Philippe I (1830–1848)
House of Bonaparte
Second Empire (1852–1870)
Napoleon III (1852–1870)

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