Valois

A cadet branch of the Capetians, the Valois came to the throne in 1328 after the extinction of the direct Capetians. Their reign was marked by the Hundred Years’ War, the Renaissance and the Wars of Religion. Henry III, the last of the Valois, was assassinated in 1589. Charles V and Du Guesclin won back much of the kingdom, Charles VII prevailed with the help of Joan of Arc, and Francis I brought the Italian Renaissance to France. The St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre (1572) marked the height of the Wars of Religion.

Figures of this era

  1. Philippe VI de Valois (1328-1350) — First king of the Valois dynasty, cousin of Charles IV, start of the Hundred Years’ War (1337)
  2. Jean II le Bon (1350-1364) — King of France, taken prisoner at the battle of Poitiers (1356), died in captivity in London
  3. Charles V le Sage (1364-1380) — King of France, restored the kingdom after the defeats with the help of Bertrand du Guesclin
  4. Charles VI le Fou (1380-1422) — King of France stricken by bouts of madness, reign marked by the civil war between Armagnacs and Burgundians
  5. Charles VII le Victorieux (1422-1461) — King of France anointed at Reims thanks to Joan of Arc, reconquered the kingdom from the English (end of the Hundred Years’ War)
  6. Louis XI (1461-1483) — The “prudent king” (the spider), subdued the great feudal lords, notably Charles the Bold
  7. Charles VIII (1483-1498) — King of France, husband of Anne of Brittany, launched the Italian Wars
  8. Louis XII (1498-1515) — The “Father of the People”, continued the Italian Wars, married Anne of Brittany
  9. François Ier (1515-1547) — Renaissance king, victor of Marignano (1515), rival of Charles V, taken prisoner at Pavia (1525)
  10. Henri II (1547-1559) — King of France, husband of Catherine de’ Medici, died from a lance wound sustained in a tournament (1559)
  11. François II (1559-1560) — King of France, husband of Mary Stuart, brief reign dominated by the Guise family
  12. Charles IX (1560-1574) — King of France, reign marked by the Wars of Religion and the St Bartholomew’s Day massacre (1572)
  13. Henri III (1574-1589) — Last Valois king, murdered by a fanatical monk in 1589

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