List of French monarchs

File:Family tree of French monarchs 509–1870.svg

The family tree of Frankish and French monarchs (509–1870)

France was ruled by monarchs from the establishment of the kingdom of West Francia in 843 until the end of the Second French Empire in 1870, with several interruptions.

Classical French historiography usually regards Clovis I, king of the Franks (Template:Reign), as the first king of France. However, historians today consider that such a kingdom did not begin until the establishment of West Francia, after the fragmentation of the Carolingian Empire in the 9th century.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Titles

The kings used the title "King of the Franks" (Template:Langx) until the late twelfth century; the first to adopt the title of "King of France" (Latin: Rex Franciae; French: roi de France) was Philip II in 1190 (r. 1180–1223), after which the title "King of the Franks" gradually lost ground.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> However, Francorum Rex continued to be sometimes used, for example by Louis XII in 1499, by Francis I in 1515, and by Henry II in about 1550; it was also used on coins up to the eighteenth century.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

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" (roi des Français) 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 French people rather than to the possession of the territory of France.<ref name="deploige">Template:Cite book</ref>

With the House of Bonaparte, the title "Emperor of the French" (Empereur des Français) was used in 19th-century France, during the first and second French Empires, between 1804 and 1814, again in 1815, and between 1852 and 1870.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

From the 14th century down to 1801, the English (and later British) monarch claimed the throne of France, though such claim was purely nominal excepting a short period during the Hundred Years' War when Henry VI of England had control over most of Northern France, including Paris. By 1453, the English had been mostly expelled from France and Henry's claim has since been considered illegitimate; French historiography commonly does not recognize Henry VI of England among the kings of France.

Frankish kings (843–987)

Carolingian dynasty (843–887)

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The Carolingians were a Frankish noble family with origins in the Arnulfing and Pippinid clans of the 7th century AD. The family consolidated its power in the 8th century, eventually making the offices of mayor of the palace and dux et princeps Francorum hereditary and becoming the real powers behind the Merovingian kings. The dynasty is named after one of these mayors of the palace, Charles Martel, whose son Pepin the Short dethroned the Merovingians in 751 and, with the consent of the Papacy and the aristocracy, was crowned King of the Franks.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Under Charles the Great (r. 768–814), better known as "Charlemagne", the Frankish kingdom expanded deep into Central Europe, conquering Italy and most of modern Germany. He was also crowned "Emperor of the Romans" by the Pope, a title that was eventually carried on by the German rulers of the Holy Roman Empire.

Charlemagne was succeeded by his son Louis the Pious (r. 814–840), who eventually divided the kingdom between his sons. His death, however, was followed by a three-year-long civil war that ended with the Treaty of Verdun, which divided Francia into three kingdoms, one of which (Middle Francia) was short-lived. Modern France developed from West Francia, while East Francia became the Holy Roman Empire and later Germany. By this time, the eastern and western parts of the land had already developed different languages and cultures.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref>

Portrait	Name	Reign	Succession	Life details
File:Bibliothèque nationale de France - Bible de Vivien Ms. Latin 1 folio 423r détail Le comte Vivien offre le manuscrit de la Bible faite à l'abbaye de Saint-Martin de Tours à Charles le Chauve.jpg	Charles II "the Bald"<ref name=":0" group="lower-alpha">Louis the Pious and Charlemagne are both enumerated as "Louis I" and "Charles I" in the lists of French and German monarchs.</ref>	Template:Circa 10 August 843Template:Efn-lr – 6 October 877 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Louis the Pious and grandson of Charlemagne; recognized as king after the Treaty of Verdun	13 June 823Template:Efn – 6 October 877 (aged 54) King of Aquitaine since 838. Crowned "Emperor of the Romans" on Christmas 875. Died of natural causesTemplate:Sfnm
File:Denier sous Louis II dit le Bègue.jpg	Louis II "the Stammerer"Template:Efn	6 October 877Template:Efn-lr – 10 April 879 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Charles the Bald	1 November 846 – 10 April 879 (aged 32) King of Aquitaine since 867. Died of natural causes.Template:Sfnm
File:Denier sous Louis III.jpg	Louis III	10 April 879Template:Efn-lr – 5 August 882 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Louis the Stammerer	863 – 5 August 882Template:Efn (aged 19) Ruled the North; died after hitting his head with a lintel while riding his horse.Template:Sfnm
File:Denier sous Carloman II.jpg	Carloman II	10 April 879Template:Efn-lr – 6 December 884 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Louis the Stammerer	866 – 6 December 884Template:Efn (aged 18) Ruled the South; died after being accidentally stabbed by his servant.Template:Sfnm
File:Sceau de Charles le gros.jpg	Charles (III) "the Fat"Template:Efn	12 December 884Template:Efn-lr – 11 November 887Template:Efn (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Louis II the German, king of East Francia, and grandson of Louis I	839Template:Efn – 13 January 888 (aged 48–49) King of East Francia since 876; crowned Emperor in 881. Last ruler to control all Frankish territories. Deposed by the nobility, later dying of natural causesTemplate:Sfnm

Robertian dynasty (888–898)

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Portrait	Name	Reign	Succession	Life details
File:Denier de Blois sous Eudes de France.jpg	Odo Eudes or Odon	29 February 888Template:Efn-lr – 3 January 898 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Robert the Strong; elected king by the French nobles following the deposition of Charles. Initially rivaled by Guy III of Spoleto and Ranulf II of Aquitaine	Template:Circa 858 – 3 January 898Template:Efn (aged approx. 40) Defended Paris from the Vikings; died of natural causesTemplate:Sfnm

Carolingian dynasty (898–922)

Portrait	Name	Reign	Succession	Life details
File:Denier sous Charles III le Simple.jpg	Charles III "the Simple"	3 January 898Template:Efn-lr – 29 June 922 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Posthumous son of Louis II the Stammerer; proclaimed king in opposition to Odo in January 893	17 September 879 – 7 October 929 (aged 50) Deposed by Robert's followers; later captured by Herbert II, Count of Vermandois. Died in captivityTemplate:Sfnm

Robertian dynasty (922–923)

Portrait	Name	Reign	Succession	Life details
File:Robert Ier roi des Francs.jpg Non-contemporary	Robert I	29 June 922Template:Efn-lr– 15 June 923 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Robert the Strong and younger brother of Odo	865 – 15 June 923 (aged 58) Killed at the Battle of Soissons against Charles III. Sole king to die in battleTemplate:Sfnm

Bosonid dynasty (923–936)

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Portrait	Name	Reign	Succession	Life details
File:Denier sous Raoul de France.jpg	Rudolph Rodolphe or Raoul	15 June 923Template:Efn-lr– 14 January 936 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Richard, Duke of Burgundy and son-in-law of Robert I	Duke of Burgundy since 921. Died of illness after a reign of constant civil war and viking raids. Lost Lotharingia (Lorraine) to Henry I of GermanyTemplate:Sfnm

Carolingian dynasty (936–987)

Portrait	Name	Reign	Succession	Life details
File:Denier Chinon 954, obverse.jpg	Louis IV "from Overseas"	19 June 936Template:Efn-lr – 10 September 954 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Charles the Simple, recalled to France after being exiled to England	921 – 10 September 954 (aged 33) Died after falling off his horseTemplate:Sfnm
File:Tête de la statue du roi Lothaire fab en 1140 (cropped).JPG	Lothair Lothaire	10 September 954Template:Efn-lr – 2 March 986 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Louis IV	941 – 2 March 986 (aged 44) Died of natural causesTemplate:Sfnm
File:Louis V of France.jpg Non-contemporary	Louis V "the Do-Nothing"	2 March 986Template:Efn-lr – 22 May 987 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Lothair	967 – 22 May 987Template:Efn (aged 20) Died in a hunting accidentTemplate:Sfnm

Capetian dynasty (987–1792; 1814–1815; 1815-1848)

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The Capetian dynasty is named for Hugh Capet, a Robertian who served as Duke of the Franks and was elected King in 987. Except for the Bonaparte-led Empires, every monarch of France was a male-line descendant of Hugh Capet. The kingship passed through patrilineally from father to son until the 14th century, a period known as Direct Capetian rule. Afterwards, it passed to the House of Valois, a cadet branch that descended from Philip III. The Valois claim was disputed by Edward III, the Plantagenet king of England who claimed himself as the rightful king of France through his French mother Isabella. The two houses fought the Hundred Years' War over the issue, and with Henry VI of England being for a time partially recognized as King of France.

The Valois line died out in the late 16th century, during the French Wars of Religion, to be replaced by the distantly related House of Bourbon, which descended through the Direct Capetian Louis IX. The Bourbons ruled France until deposed in the French Revolution, though they were restored to the throne after the fall of Napoleon. The last Capetian to rule was Louis Philippe I, king of the July Monarchy (1830–1848), a member of the cadet House of Bourbon-Orléans.

House of Capet (987–1328)

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The House of Capet are also commonly known as the "Direct Capetians".

Portrait	Name	Arms	Reign	Succession	Life details
File:SceauHuguesCapet (cropped).PNG	Hugh "Capet" HuguesTemplate:Efn		1 June 987Template:Efn-lr – 24 October 996 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Elected king by the French nobles. Son of Hugh the Great and grandson of Robert ITemplate:Efn	Template:Circa 941 – 24 October 996 (aged c. 55) Duke of the Franks since 956. Died of natural causes.Template:Sfnm
File:Sceau de Robert II le pieux.jpg	Robert II "the Pious"		24 October 996Template:Efn-lr – 20 July 1031 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Only son of Hugh Capet	Template:Circa 970 – 20 July 1031 (aged approx. 60) Married thrice, getting excommunicated by the Catholic Church. Incorporated the Duchy of BurgundyTemplate:Sfnm
	Hughes (junior king)<ref name=":1" group="lower-alpha">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.</ref>		19 June 1017 – 17 September 1025 (under Robert II)	Son of Robert II	Template:Circa 1007 – 17 September 1025 (aged approx. 18)Template:Sfn
File:Sceau du roi Henri Ier.jpg	Henry I Henri		20 July 1031Template:Efn-lr – 4 August 1060 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Robert II	Template:Circa 1005 – 4 August 1060 (aged approx. 55) His reign was marked with internal struggle against feudal lordsTemplate:Sfnm
File:Sceau du roi Philippe Ier.jpg	Philip I "the Amorous" Philippe		4 August 1060Template:Efn-lr – 29 July 1108 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Henry I	1052 – 29 July 1108 (aged 56) Ruled under the regency of Anne of Kiev and Count Baldwin V until 1066Template:Sfnm
File:Louis VI of France.jpg	Louis VI "the Fat"		29 July 1108Template:Efn-lr – 1 August 1137 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Philip I	1081 – 1 August 1137 (aged 56) His reign contributed to the centralization of royal power. First king to wage war against the EnglishTemplate:Sfnm
	Philippe (junior king)<ref name=":1" group="lower-alpha" />		14 April 1129 – 13 October 1131 (under Louis VI)	Son of Louis VI	29 August 1116 – 13 October 1131 (aged 15)Template:Sfn
File:Louis 7.jpg	Louis VII "the Young"		1 August 1137Template:Efn-lr – 18 September 1180 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Louis VI	1120 – 18 September 1180 (aged 60) Known for his rivalry with Henry II of England and his military campaigns during the Second CrusadeTemplate:Sfnm
File:Sceau de Philippe Auguste. - Archives Nationales - SC-D157.jpg	Philip II "Augustus" Philippe Auguste	File:Arms of the Kingdom of France (Ancien).svg	18 September 1180Template:Efn-lr– 14 July 1223 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Louis VII	21 August 1165 – 14 July 1223 (aged 57) Regarded as one of the greatest French rulers. First monarch to style himself as "King of France"Template:Sfnm
File:Louis8.jpg	Louis VIII "the Lion"		14 July 1223Template:Efn-lr– 8 November 1226 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Philip II	5 September 1187 – 8 November 1226 (aged 39) Proclaimed king of England in 1216, after which he led an unsuccessful invasionTemplate:Sfnm
File:Saintlouis (cropped).jpg	Louis IX "the Saint"		8 November 1226Template:Efn-lr– 25 August 1270 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Louis VIII	25 April 1214 – 25 August 1270 (aged 56) Ruled under the regency of Blanche of Castile until 1234. Died during the 8th Crusade; only king to be venerated by the Catholic ChurchTemplate:Sfnm
File:Coronation Philip III 02 (cropped).jpg	Philip III "the Bold" Philippe		25 August 1270Template:Efn-lr– 5 October 1285 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Louis IX	3 April 1245 – 5 October 1285 (aged 40) Greatly expanded French influence in Europe. Died of a feverTemplate:Sfnm
File:Philip iv and family 2 (detail crop2).jpeg	Philip IV "the Fair" Philippe	File:Arms of the Kingdom of France & Navarre (Ancien).svg	5 October 1285Template:Efn-lr – 29 November 1314 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Philip III	1268 – 29 November 1314 (aged 46) King of Navarre (as Philip I) since 16 August 1284, following his marriage with Joan I. Remembered for his struggle with the Roman papacy and his consolidation of royal power, which helped to reduce the influence of feudal lordsTemplate:Sfnm
File:Ludvík X.png	Louis X "the Quarreller"		29 November 1314Template:Efn-lr– 5 June 1316 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Philip IV	3 October 1289 – 5 June 1316 (aged 26) King of Navarre (as Louis I) since 2 April 1305. His short reign was marked by conflicts with the nobilityTemplate:Sfnm
File:JeanIposthume.JPG	John I "the Posthumous" Jean		15–19 November 1316 (4 days)	Posthumous son of Louis X	King for the four days he lived; youngest and shortest undisputed monarch in French historyTemplate:Efn
File:Sacre Philippe5 France 01 (cropped).jpg	Philip V "the Tall" Philippe		20 November 1316Template:Efn-lr– 3 January 1322 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Philip IV and uncle of John I	1293/4 – 3 January 1322 (aged 28–29) King of Navarre as Philip II. Died without a male heirTemplate:Sfnm
File:Charles4 mini.jpg	Charles IV "the Fair"		3 January 1322Template:Efn-lr– 1 February 1328 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Philip IV and younger brother of Philip V	1294 – 1 February 1328 (aged 34) King of Navarre as Charles I. Died without a male heir, ending the direct line of CapetiansTemplate:Sfnm

House of Valois (1328–1589)

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The death of Charles IV started the Hundred Years' War between the House of Valois and the House of Plantagenet, whose claim was taken up by the cadet branch known as the House of Lancaster, over control of the French throne. The Valois claimed the right to the succession by male-only primogeniture through the ancient Salic Law, having the closest all-male line of descent from a recent French king. They were descended from the third son of Philip III, Charles, Count of Valois. The Plantagenets based their claim on being closer to a more recent French king, Edward III of England being a grandson of Philip IV through his mother, Isabella.

The two houses fought the Hundred Years War to enforce their claims. The Valois were ultimately successful, and French historiography counts their leaders as rightful kings. One Plantagenet, Henry VI of England, enjoyed de jure control of the French throne following the Treaty of Troyes, which formed the basis for continued English claims to the throne of France until 1801. The Valois line ruled France until the line became extinct in 1589, in the backdrop of the French Wars of Religion. As Navarre did not have a tradition of male-only primogeniture, the Navarrese monarchy became distinct from the French with Joan II, a daughter of Louis X.

Portrait	Name	Arms	Reign	Succession	Life details
File:Phil6france.jpg	Philip VI "the Fortunate" Philippe	File:Arms of the Kingdom of France (Ancien).svg	1 April 1328Template:Efn-lr – 22 August 1350 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Charles, Count of Valois, grandson of Philip III and cousin of Charles IV	1293 – 22 August 1350 (aged 57) His reign was dominated by the consequences of a succession dispute, which led to the Hundred Years' War.Template:Sfnm
File:JeanIIdFrance.jpg	John II "the Good" Jean		22 August 1350Template:Efn-lr – 8 April 1364 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Philip VI	April 1319Template:Efn – 8 April 1364 (aged 45) Captured by the English at the Battle of Poitiers (1356); forced to sign a series of humiliating treatiesTemplate:Sfnm
File:Charles V France.jpg	Charles V "the Wise"	File:Arms of Charles V of France (counter-seal).svg	8 April 1364Template:Efn-lr– 16 September 1380 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of John II; named Dauphin on 16 July 1349	21 January 1337 – 16 September 1380 (aged 43) His reign was marked with internal struggle against feudal lordsTemplate:Sfnm
File:Charles VI de France - Dialogues de Pierre Salmon - Bib de Genève MsFr165f4.jpg	Charles VI "the Mad" "the Beloved"	File:Arms of Charles VI of France (counter-seal).svg	16 Sept 1380Template:Efn-lr– 21 October 1422 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Charles V	3 December 1368 – 21 October 1422 (aged 53) Ruled under the regency of his uncles until 1388. Suffered a long period of mental illness before dying of natural causesTemplate:Sfnm
File:Henry VI of England, Shrewsbury book.jpg	Henry (II) (claimant)	File:Royal Arms of England (1470-1471).svg	21 October 1422Template:Efn-lr– 19 October 1453Template:Efn (disputed; 31 years)	Maternal grandson of Charles VI, recognized as heir after the Treaty of Troyes of 21 May 1420	6 December 1421 – 21 May 1471 (aged 49) King of England since 1 September 1422. Ruled under several regencies until 1437Template:Sfnm
File:Charles VII by Jean Fouquet 1445 1450.jpg	Charles VII "the Victorious" "the Well-Served"	File:Coat of Arms of Charles VII of France (counterseal).svg	21 October 1422Template:Efn-lr – 22 July 1461 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Charles VI and uncle of Henry VI of England, named Dauphin in April 1417	22 February 1403 – 22 July 1461 (aged 58) His reign saw the end of the Hundred Years' WarTemplate:Sfnm
File:Louis XI (1423-1483).jpg	Louis XI "the Prudent" "the Universal Spider"	File:Royal Coat of Arms of Valois France.svg	22 July 1461Template:Efn-lr – 30 August 1483 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Charles VII	3 July 1423 – 30 August 1483 (aged 60) His reign saw the strengthening and expansion of royal power. Nicknamed "the Universal Spider" for the numerous intrigues during his ruleTemplate:Sfnm
File:Portrait of King Charles VIII of France (1470–1498), by anonymous artist, 16th century (cropped) 2.jpg	Charles VIII "the Affable"	File:Coat of Arms of Charles VIII of France.svg	30 August 1483Template:Efn-lr – 7 April 1498 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Louis XI	30 June 1470 – 7 April 1498 (aged 27) Ruled under the regency of his sister Anne until 1491. Started the long and unsuccessful Italian Wars. Died after hitting his head on a lintelTemplate:Sfnm

House of Valois-Orléans (1498–1515)

Portrait	Name	Arms	Reign	Succession	Life details
File:Ludwig XII. von Frankreich.jpg	Louis XII "Father of the People"	File:Royal Coat of Arms of Valois France.svg	7 April 1498Template:Efn-lr – 1 January 1515 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Great-grandson of Charles V. Second cousin, and by first marriage son-in-law, of Louis XI	27 June 1462 – 1 January 1515 (aged 52) Briefly conquered the Kingdom of Naples and the Duchy of MilanTemplate:Sfnm

House of Valois-Angoulême (1515–1589)

Portrait	Name	Arms	Reign	Succession	Life details
File:François Ier Louvre.jpg	Francis I "the Father of Letters" François	File:Lesser Coat of Arms of France 1515-1574.svg	1 January 1515Template:Efn-lr – 31 March 1547 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Great-great-grandson of Charles V. First cousin once removed, and by first marriage son-in-law, of Louis XII	12 September 1494 – 31 March 1547 (aged 52) Remembered as a Renaissance patron of the arts and scholarship. Died of a feverTemplate:Sfnm
File:Henry II of France-François Clouet (altered).jpg	Henry II Henri		31 March 1547Template:Efn-lr – 10 July 1559 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Francis I, named Dauphin in August 1536	31 March 1519 – 10 July 1559 (aged 40) His reign saw the end of the Italian Wars. Died after being accidentally stabbed in a Jousting tournamentTemplate:Sfnm
File:Portrait du roi de France François II.jpg	Francis II François		10 July 1559Template:Efn-lr – 5 December 1560 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Henry II	20 January 1544 – 5 December 1560 (aged 16) King consort of Scotland since 24 April 1558. A weak and sick boy, he remained under the regency of the House of Guise until his premature deathTemplate:Sfnm
File:Portrait of King Charles IX of France (1550–1574), by After François Clouet.jpg	Charles IX		5 December 1560Template:Efn-lr – 30 May 1574 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Younger brother of Francis II	27 June 1550 – 30 May 1574 (aged 23) Ruled under the regency of his mother Catherine until 1563, but remained under her influence until his death. The Wars of Religion began under his reign (1562). Best remembered for the Massacre of VassyTemplate:Sfnm
File:Quesnel Henry III of France in Polish hat.jpg	Henry III Henri	File:COA - Henry III of France.svg	30 May 1574Template:Efn-lr – 2 August 1589 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Younger brother of Francis II and Charles IX; also related to the Bohemian and Polish monarchies	19 September 1551 – 2 August 1589 (aged 37) Initially ruler of Poland–Lithuania.Template:Efn He reigned through the devastating Wars of Religion, which eventually led to his own assassinationTemplate:Sfnm

House of Bourbon (1589–1792)

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The Valois line looked strong on the death of Henry II, who left four male heirs. His first son, Francis II, died in his minority. His second son, Charles IX, had no legitimate sons to inherit. Following the premature death of his fourth son Hercule François and the assassination of his third son, the childless Henry III, France was plunged into a succession crisis over which distant cousin of the king would inherit the throne. The best claimant, King Henry III of Navarre, was a Protestant, and thus unacceptable to much of the French nobility.

Ultimately, after winning numerous battles in defence of his claim, Henry converted to Catholicism and was crowned as King Henry IV, founding the House of Bourbon. This marked the second time the thrones of Navarre and France were united under one monarch, as different inheritance laws had caused them to become separated during the events of the Hundred Years Wars. The House of Bourbon was overthrown during the French Revolution and replaced by a short-lived republic.

Portrait	Name	Arms	Reign	Succession	Life details
File:Château de Beauregard - Cardinal Charles de Bourbon (1523-1590).jpg	Charles X (claimant)	File:Coat of Arms of Charles de Bourbon, archbishop of Rouen.svg	2 August 1589 – 9 May 1590 (disputed; Template:Age in years, months and days)	7x great-grandson of Louis IX. Proclaimed king by the Catholic League in opposition to Henry of Navarre	22 December 1523 – 9 May 1590 (aged 66) Imprisoned by Henry III on 23 December 1588; remained his entire "reign" in captivity. Died of natural causesTemplate:Sfnm
File:Henry IV by Pourbus (cropped).jpg	Henry IV "the Great" "the Good King" Henri	File:Grand Royal Coat of Arms of France & Navarre (1).svg	2 August 1589Template:Efn-lr – 14 May 1610 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	10th-generation descendant of Louis IX; also nephew of Charles (X) and by first marriage son-in-law of Henry II. Proclaimed king on Henry III's deathbed	13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610 (aged 56) King of Lower Navarre (as Henry III) since 10 June 1572. Killed in Paris on 14 May 1610 by Catholic fanatic François Ravaillac.Template:Sfnm
File:LouisXIII.jpg	Louis XIII "the Just"		14 May 1610Template:Efn-lr – 14 May 1643 (33 years)	Son of Henry IV	27 September 1601 – 14 May 1643 (aged 41) Last King of Lower Navarre (as Louis II).Template:Efn Died of natural causes.Template:Sfnm
File:Louis XIV of France.jpg	Louis XIV "the Great" "the Sun King"		14 May 1643Template:Efn-lr – 1 September 1715 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Son of Louis XIII	5 September 1638 – 1 September 1715 (aged 76) Ruled under the regency of his mother Anne of Austria until 1651. Longest reigning sovereign monarch in historyTemplate:Sfnm
File:Louis XV, King of France (1710-1774) edited 2.jpg	Louis XV "the Beloved"		1 September 1715Template:Efn-lr – 10 May 1774 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Great-grandson of Louis XIV	15 February 1710 – 10 May 1774 (aged 64) Ruled under the regency of Philippe II, Duke of Bourbon-Orléans, until 1723Template:Sfnm
File:Antoine-François Callet - Louis XVI, roi de France et de Navarre (1754-1793), revêtu du grand costume royal en 1779 - Google Art Project.jpg	Louis XVI		10 May 1774Template:Efn-lr – 21 September 1792<ref group="lower-alpha">Louis XVI's powers as king became obsolete following the March on Versailles on 5 October 1789, after which he became a hostage of the revolutionary forces.</ref> (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Grandson of Louis XV	23 August 1754 – 21 January 1793 (aged 38) Forced to install a constitutional monarchy after 1789. Formally deposed following the proclamation of the First Republic, executed in publicTemplate:Sfnm
File:Louis Charles of France5.jpg	Louis XVII (claimant)		21 January 1793 – 8 June 1795 (Template:Age in years, months and days; disputed)	Son of Louis XVI; named Dauphin on 4 June 1789	27 March 1785 – 8 June 1795 (aged 10) Imprisoned by the revolutionary forces on 13 August 1792. Remained his entire "reign" in captivityTemplate:Sfnm

Long 19th-century (1792–1870)

The period known as the "long nineteenth century" was a tumultuous time in French politics. The period is generally considered to have begun with the French Revolution, which deposed and then executed Louis XVI. Royalists continued to recognize his son, the putative king Louis XVII, as ruler of France. Louis was under arrest by the government of the Revolution and died in captivity having never ruled. The republican government went through several changes in form and constitution until France was declared an empire, following the ascension of the First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte as Emperor Napoleon I. Napoleon was overthrown twice following military defeats during the Napoleonic Wars.

After the Napoleonic period followed two different royal governments, the Bourbon Restoration, which was ruled successively by two younger brothers of Louis XVI, and the July Monarchy, ruled by Louis Philippe I, a distant cousin who claimed descent from Louis XIII. The French Revolution of 1848 brought an end to the monarchy again, instituting a brief Second Republic that lasted four years, before its President declared himself Emperor Napoleon III, who was deposed and replaced by the Third Republic, and ending monarchic rule in France for good.

House of Bonaparte, First French Empire (1804–1814)

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Portrait	Name	Arms	Reign	Succession	Life details
File:Napoleon in Coronation Robes by François Gérard.jpg	Napoleon I	File:Imperial Coat of Arms of France (1804-1815).svg	18 May 1804Template:Efn-lr – 2 April 1814Template:Efn (Template:Age in years, months and days)	First Consul of the French Republic following the coup d'etat of 19 November 1799; self-proclaimed Emperor of the French	15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 (aged 51) Conquered most of Europe in a series of successful wars; remembered as one of the greatest military commanders in history. Deposed in absentia and forced to abdicate, then exiled to the island of ElbaTemplate:Sfnm
File:Portrait of Napoléon II attributed to Johann Peter Krafft.png	Napoleon II (claimant)		4 – 6 April 1814 (2 days; disputed)	Son of Napoleon I	20 March 1811 – 22 July 1832 (aged 21) Unrecognized by the Coalition and the Senate, only named emperor in Napoleon's will.

House of Bourbon, First Restoration (1814–1815)

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Portrait	Name	Arms	Reign	Succession	Life details
File:Gérard - Louis XVIII of France in Coronation Robes.jpg	Louis XVIII "the Desired"	File:Coat of Arms of the Bourbon Restoration (1815-30).svg	3 May 1814Template:Efn-lr – 20 March 1815 (1st time; Template:Age in years, months and days)	Younger brother of Louis XVI; proclaimed king in June 1795. Had his dynasty restored to the throne with the help of other European royal houses, which had dethroned Napoleon	17 November 1755 – 16 September 1824 (aged 68) Fled France on 21 June 1791, during the Flight to Varennes, and again in March 1815, after the return of NapoleonTemplate:Sfnm

House of Bonaparte, Hundred Days (1815)

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Portrait	Name	Arms	Reign	Succession	Life details
File:Napoleon in Coronation Robes by François Gérard.jpg	Napoleon I	File:Imperial Coat of Arms of France (1804-1815).svg	20 March – 22 June 1815 (94 days)	Restored as Emperor of the French by the French Army following his escape from the island of Elba	15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821 (aged 51) Abdicated in favour of his son following his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo. Exiled to the island of Saint Helena, where he later died of a stomach illnessTemplate:Sfnm
File:Portrait of Napoléon II attributed to Johann Peter Krafft.png	Napoleon II (claimant)		22 June – 7 July 1815 (15 days; disputed)	Son of Napoleon I	20 March 1811 – 22 July 1832 (aged 21) Unrecognized by the Coalition; remained his entire "reign" hidden in Austria, with his mother Marie Louise. Died of tuberculosis several years laterTemplate:Sfnm<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

House of Bourbon, Second Restoration (1815–1830)

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Portrait	Name	Arms	Reign	Succession	Life details
File:Gérard - Louis XVIII of France in Coronation Robes.jpg	Louis XVIII "the Desired"	File:Coat of Arms of the Bourbon Restoration (1815-30).svg	8 July 1815 – 16 September 1824 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Younger brother of Louis XVI; restored to the throne.	17 November 1755 – 16 September 1824 (aged 68) Attempted to rule under a constitutional monarchy. Last French monarch to die while still reigningTemplate:Sfnm
File:Carlos X de Francia (François Gérard).jpg	Charles X		16 September 1824Template:Efn-lr– 2 August 1830 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Younger brother of Louis XVI and Louis XVIII	9 October 1757 – 6 November 1836 (aged 79) Leader of the Ultra-royalists; attempted to return to the Ancien Régime. Abdicated in favour of his grandson Henry after the July Revolution.Template:Sfn
File:Louis-Antoine, Duke of Angouleme - Lawrence 1825.jpg	Louis XIX (?) (claimant)		2 August 1830 (20 minutes; disputed)	Son of Charles X	6 August 1775 – 3 June 1844 (aged 68) Allegedly king for 20 minutes;Template:Efn later legitimist pretender to the throne.Template:Sfnm
File:Portrait, The Duke of Bordeaux, Dubois-Drahonet.jpg	Henry V (claimant)		2–9 August 1830 (7 days; disputed)	Grandson of Charles X	29 September 1820 – 24 August 1883 (aged 62) Later legitimist pretender to the throne. Died in exile several years laterTemplate:Sfn

House of Bourbon-Orléans, July Monarchy (1830–1848)

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The Bourbon Restoration came to an end with the July Revolution of 1830 which deposed Charles X and replaced him with Louis Philippe I, a distant cousin with more liberal politics. Charles X's son Louis signed a document renouncing his own right to the throne only after a 20-minute argument with his father. Because he was never crowned he is disputed as a genuine king of France. Louis's nephew Henry was likewise considered by some to be Henry V, but the new regime did not recognise his claim and he never ruled.

Charles X named Louis Philippe as Lieutenant général du royaume, a regent to the young Henry V, and charged him to announce his desire to have his grandson succeed him to the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the French Parliament at the time, the French equivalent at the time of the UK House of Commons. Louis Philippe did not do this, in order to increase his own chances of succession. As a consequence, and because the French parliamentarians were aware of his liberal policies and of his popularity at the time with the French population, they proclaimed Louis Philippe as the new French king, displacing the senior branch of the House of Bourbon.

Portrait	Name	Arms	Reign	Succession	Life details
File:1841 portrait painting of Louis Philippe I (King of the French) by Winterhalter.jpg	Louis Philippe I "the Citizen King"	File:Coat of Arms of the July Monarchy (1830-31).svg	9 August 1830Template:Efn-lr– 24 February 1848 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Sixth-generation descendant of Louis XIII and distant cousin of Charles X; proclaimed king by the Chamber of Deputies after the abdication of Charles X during the July Revolution	6 October 1773 – 26 August 1850 (aged 76) Styled as King of the French. Formally deposed following the proclamation of the Second Republic. Abdicated in favour of his grandsonTemplate:Sfnm
File:Louis-Philippe II when he was a child.jpg	Louis Philippe II (claimant)		24–26 February 1848 (2 days; disputed)	Grandson of Louis-Philippe	24 August 1838 – 8 September 1894 (aged 56) Chosen by Louis Philippe I to be his successor, however the National Assembly refused to recognize him as king and proclaimed the Second Republic. Later Orléanist pretender to the throne.Template:Sfnm

House of Bonaparte, Second French Empire (1852–1870)

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The French Second Republic lasted from 1848 to 1852, when its president, Charles-Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, was declared Emperor of the French under the regnal name of Napoleon III. He would later be overthrown during the events of the Franco-Prussian War, becoming the last monarch to rule France.

Portrait	Name	Arms	Reign	Succession	Life details
File:Portrait of Napoleon III, Emperor of the French, in Coronation Robes (by After Franz Xaver Winterhalter) - Palace of Versailles.jpg	Napoleon III	File:Coat of Arms Second French Empire (1852–1870).svg	2 December 1852Template:Efn-lr– 4 September 1870 (Template:Age in years, months and days)	Nephew of Napoleon I; elected as President of the French Republic in 1848, made himself Emperor of the French after a coup d'état	20 April 1808 – 9 January 1873 (aged 64) Captured by the German army on 2 September 1870; deposed in absentia following the proclamation of the Third Republic.Template:Sfn

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 one another. These groups are:

• Legitimist claimants to the throne of France: Descendants of Louis XIV through the senior branch of the House of Bourbon, claiming precedence over the House of Bourbon-Orléans by virtue of primogeniture. In 1883, these were split into two factions as Henri V died without heirs, and his successor as head of the House of Bourbon would have a Spanish Bourbon. Earlier, King Philip V of Spain (also of the House of Bourbon) had earlier renounced the throne of France for himself and his descendants in the Peace of Utrecht. One faction were the Unionists, who recognized the Orléanist claimant Philippe as the pretender to the throne of France and disqualifying the Spanish branch from succession; the other were the Blancs d'Espagne, who insisted that claimant to the throne would remain to be from the Spanish branch according to primogeniture, disregarding the Spanish renunciation.
• Orléanist claimants to the throne of France: Descendants of Louis-Phillippe, himself descended from a junior line of the Bourbon dynasty, rejecting all heads of state since 1848. They argue that King Louis Philippe acquired legitimacy via popular sovereignty when the representatives of the French people in the French Parliament recognized him as king, with the Bourbons having already been rejected and dethroned by the French people after two revolutions.
• Bonapartist claimants to the throne of France: Descendants of Napoleon I and his brothers, rejecting all heads of state 1815–48 and since 1870. They argue that the Imperial throne needs to return to the House of Bonaparte, as the monarchs of this house had been chosen directly by the people through referendums, giving them legitimacy to reign via popular sovereignty, and both the Bourbons and the Orléans were rejected and dethroned through revolutions and that the Bonapartes were only dethroned due the interference of foreign enemies, with no popular revolution taking place to overthrow the Bonapartes and that the Third Republic was originally intended to be a provisional regime to return the throne to an Orléans or Bourbon (that never happened).
• English claimants to the throne of France: kings of England and later of Great Britain (renounced by Hanoverian King George III upon union with Ireland in 1800).
• Jacobite claimants to the throne of France: senior heirs-general of Edward III of England and thus his claim to the French throne, also claiming England, Scotland, and Ireland.

Timeline

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DateFormat = yyyy Period = from:843 till:1871 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:100 start:900 ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:25 start:850

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id:valois value:oceanblue
id:lancaster value:red
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bar:Lothair
bar:LouisV
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bar:RobertII
bar:HenryI
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bar:HenryVILancaster
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from:843 till: 877 color:carolingian text:"Charles the Bald"
bar:LouisII
from:877 till: 879 color:carolingian text:"Louis the Stammerer"
bar:LouisIII
from:879 till: 882 color:carolingian text:"Louis III"
bar:CarlomanII
from:882 till: 884 color:carolingian text:"Carloman_II"
bar:CharlesIIIandII
from:882 till: 888 color:carolingian text:"Charles the Fat"
bar:Odo
from:888 till: 898 color:robertian text:"Odo of Paris"
bar:CharlesIII
from:898 till: 922 color:carolingian text:"Charles the Simple"
bar:RobertI
from:922 till: 923 color:robertian text:"Robert I"
bar:Rudolph
from:923 till: 936 color:bosonid text:"Rudolph"
bar:LouisIV
from:936 till:954 color:carolingian text:"Louis of Outremer"
bar:Lothair
from:954 till:986 color:carolingian text:"Lothair"
bar:LouisV
from:986 till:987 color:carolingian text:"Louis V"
bar:Hugh
from:987 till:996 color:capet text:"Hugh Capet"
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from:996 till:1031 color:capet text:"Robert II"
bar:HenryI
from:1031 till:1060 color:capet text:"Henry I"
bar:PhilipI
from:1060 till:1108 color:capet text:"Philip I"
bar:LouisVI
from:1108 till:1137 color:capet text:"Louis VI"
bar:LouisVII
from:1137 till:1180 color:capet text:"Louis VII"
bar:PhilipII
from:1180 till:1223 color:capet text:"Philip II Augustus"
bar:LouisVIII
from:1223 till:1226 color:capet text:"Louis VIII"
bar:LouisIX
from:1226 till:1270 color:capet text:"Louis IX"
bar:PhilipIII
from:1270 till:1285 color:capet text:"Philip III"
bar:PhilipIV
from:1285 till:1314 color:capet text:"Philip IV"
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from:1314 till:1316 color:capet text:"Louis X"
bar:JohnI
from:1316 till:1316 color:capet text:"John I"
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from:1316 till:1322 color:capet text:"Philip V"
bar:CharlesIV
from:1322 till:1328 color:capet text:"Charles IV"
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from:1328 till:1350 color:valois text:"Philip VI"
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from:1350 till:1364 color:valois text:"John II"
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from:1364 till:1380 color:valois text:"Charles V"
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from:1380 till:1422 color:valois text:"Charles VI"
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from:1422 till:1461 color:valois text:"Charles VII"
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from:1422 till:1453 color:lancaster text:"Henry (II) (Disputed)"
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from:1498 till:1515 color:valois text:"Louis XII"
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from:1559 till:1560 color:valois text:"Francis II"
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from:1560 till:1574 color:valois text:"Charles IX"
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from:1574 till:1589 color:valois text:"Henry III"
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from:1589 till:1610 color:bourbon text:"Henry IV"
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from:1589 till:1590 color:bourbon text:"Charles (X)" (Disputed)
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from:1610 till:1643 color:bourbon text:"Louis XIII"
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from:1643 till:1715 color:bourbon text:"Louis XIV"
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from:1715 till:1774 color:bourbon text:"Louis XV"
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from:1774 till:1792 color:bourbon text:"Louis XVI"
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from:1792 till:1795 color:bourbon text:"Louis XVII (Disputed)"
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from:1815 till:1815 color:bonaparte text:"Napoleon I"
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from:1815 till:1815 color:bourbon
from:1815 till:1825 color:bourbon text:"Louis XVIII"
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from:1815 till:1815 color:bonaparte text:"Napoleon II (Disputed)"
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from:1824 till:1830 color:bourbon text:"Charles X"
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from:1830 till:1830 color:bourbon text:"Louis (XIX) (Disputed)"
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from:1830 till:1830 color:bourbon text:"Henry (V) (Disputed)"
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from:1830 till:1848 color:orleans text:"Louis Philippe I"
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from:1848 till:1848 color:orleans text:"Louis Philippe II (Disputed)"
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from:1852 till:1870 color:bonaparte text:"Napoleon III"

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from: 843 till: 888 color:carolingian text:Carolingian
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from: 888 till: 898 color:robertian text:Robertian
from: 898 till: 922 color:carolingian
from: 922 till: 923 color:robertian
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from: 923 till: 936 color:bosonid text:Bosonid
from: 936 till: 987 color:carolingian
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from: 987 till: 1328 color:capet text:Capet
from: 1328 till: 1589 color:valois text:Valois
from: 1589 till: 1792 color:bourbon text:Bourbon
from: 1792 till: 1804 color:republic
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from: 1804 till: 1814 color:bonaparte text:Bonaparte
from: 1814 till: 1815 color:bourbon
from: 1815 till: 1815 color:bonaparte
from: 1815 till: 1830 color:bourbon
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from: 1830 till: 1848 color:orleans text:Orléans
from: 1848 till: 1852 color:republic
from: 1852 till: 1871 color:bonaparte
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</timeline>

See also

• Family tree of French monarchs
• Family tree of French monarchs (simplified)
• English claims to the French throne
• Fundamental laws of the Kingdom of France
• List of French royal consorts
• List of heirs to the French throne
• List of presidents of France
• Style of the French sovereign
• Succession to the French throne

References

Main bibliography

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• Jacquin, Emmanuel (2000), Les Tuileries, Du Louvre à la Concorde, Editions du Patrimoine, Centres des Monuments Nationaux, Paris. (Template:ISBN)
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Secondary bibliography

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Further reading

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