Capetians

The Capetians reigned uninterrupted from 987 to 1792: almost 800 years of monarchy. Descended from Hugh Capet, they gradually built up the kingdom of France, expanded the royal domain and founded lasting institutions. This Capetian “longue durée” made France one of the most stable monarchies in Europe.

Figures of this era

  1. Hugues Capet (987-996) — Founder of the Capetian dynasty, elected king of the Franks in 987
  2. Robert II le Pieux (996-1031) — King of the Franks, excommunicated for his marriage to Bertha of Burgundy
  3. Henri Ier (1031-1060) — King of the Franks, married to Anne of Kiev, reign marked by the power of the great feudal lords
  4. Philippe Ier (1060-1108) — King of the Franks, enlarged the royal domain (French Vexin, Gâtinais), excommunicated for his remarriage
  5. Louis VI le Gros (1108-1137) — King of the Franks, strengthened royal power against the lords, adversary of Henry I of England
  6. Louis VII le Jeune (1137-1180) — Crusader, husband then separated from Eleanor of Aquitaine (annulment in 1152), rival of Henry II Plantagenet
  7. Philippe II Auguste (1180-1223) — Greatly enlarged the royal domain, victor of Bouvines (1214), first king to regularly use the title of “king of France” in royal charters
  8. Louis VIII le Lion (1223-1226) — King of France, led the Albigensian Crusade
  9. Louis IX (Saint Louis) (1226-1270) — King of France, crusader, canonised in 1297, embodies the justice and piety of the “century of Saint Louis”
  10. Philippe III le Hardi (1270-1285) — King of France, son of Saint Louis, enlarged the kingdom (county of Toulouse)
  11. Philippe IV le Bel (1285-1314) — The “Iron King”: Estates General, conflict with Pope Boniface VIII, trial and destruction of the Knights Templar
  12. Louis X le Hutin (1314-1316) — King of France, his death left a posthumous son, John I, whose death a few days after his birth opened the succession crisis of the direct Capetians
  13. Jean Ier le Posthume (1316) — King of France at birth, died a few days later
  14. Philippe V le Long (1316-1322) — King of France, set aside his niece Joan in the succession, establishing the precedent of excluding women from the throne, confirmed in 1328
  15. Charles IV le Bel (1322-1328) — Last direct Capetian king, his death without a male heir in 1328 opened the succession dispute between Philip of Valois and Edward III of England

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