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 (), as the first king of France. However, most 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.
Titles
The kings used the title "King of the Franks" () 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. 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.
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.
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.
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)
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. 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.
Portrait / coinNameReignSuccessionLife detailsCharles II "the Bald"Louis the Pious and Charlemagne are both enumerated as "Louis I" and "Charles I" in the lists of French and German monarchs. 10 August 843 – 6 October 877()Son of Louis the Pious and grandson of Charlemagne; recognized as king of West Francia after the Treaty of Verdun13 June 823 – 6 October 877(aged 54)King of Aquitaine since 838. Crowned "Emperor of the Romans" on Christmas 875. Died of natural causesPepin II(rival king in Aquitaine)845–852(disputed; 7 years)Son of Pepin I of Aquitaine and grandson of Louis the Pious, claimed Charles' domains in Aquitaine since 838 and later forced him to recognize him as king 823 – 864(aged c. 41)Lost recognition in 848 and was captured in 852. Escaped but was later executedCharles the Child(junior king in Aquitaine)848–863 and 865–866(under Charles II)Son of Charles the Bald847/48 – 29 September 866(aged 19–18)Never held real power; died after a head injuryLouis the German(rival) 858 – June 860(disputed; less than 2 years)Brother of Charles the Bald and King of East Francia (Germany); claimed the throne of the West and invaded his brother's territories 806 – 28 August 876(aged c. 70)Abandoned his claim after a peace treaty.Non-contemporaryCarloman(claimant) 870 – 873(disputed; 3 years)Son of Charles the Bald intended for an ecclesiastical career, rebelled against his father and tried to claim a part of the kingdom 847 – 877(aged 30)Captured and blinded; then fled to Louis the German's kingdom Louis II "the Stammerer"6 October 877 – 10 April 879()Son of Charles the Bald1 November 846 – 10 April 879(aged 32)King of Aquitaine since 867. Died of natural causes.Louis III10 April 879 – 5 August 882()Son of Louis the Stammerer863 – 5 August 882(aged 19)Ruled the North; died after hitting his head with a lintel while riding his horse.Carloman II10 April 879 – 6 December 884()Son of Louis the Stammerer866 – 6 December 884(aged 18)Ruled the South; died after being accidentally stabbed by his servant.Non-contemporaryBosoBosso or Boson(rival king in Burgundy) 15 October 879 – 11 January 887(disputed; 8 years)First non-Carolingian pretender to the Western throne; elected by the nobles as successor to Louis the Stammerer 841 – 11 January 887(aged 46)Was accepted only in Lower Burgundy and Provence; died of natural causesCharles (III) "the Fat"12 December 884 – 11 November 887()Son of Louis II the German, king of East Francia, and grandson of Louis I839 – 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 causes
Robertian dynasty (888–898)
Portrait / coinNameReignSuccessionLife details OdoEudes or Odon 29 February 888 – 3 January 898() Son of Robert the Strong; elected king by the French nobles following the deposition of Charles 858 – 3 January 898(aged approx. 40)Defended Paris from the Vikings; died of natural causes –RanulfRannoux or Ranulph(rival king in Aquitaine)888 – 890(disputed; 2 years)Briefly elected king of Aquitaine by the nobles in opposition to Odo 850 – 5 August 890(aged approx. 40)Supposedly poisonned while on a trip to ParisAnnales Fuldenses a. 888. MGH I, 405.GuyGuido or Wido(rival)February – November 888(disputed; 10 months)Crowned king at Langres in opposition to OdoAlso Emperor and King of Italy (889–894). Abandoned his claim after Odo's second coronationGobry, Ivan (2012). Eudes, 888-898 : Fondateur de la dynastie capétienne. Paris, Pygmalion, coll. « Histoire des Rois de France ».
Carolingian dynasty (898–922) Portrait / coinNameReignSuccessionLife detailsCharles III "the Simple"3 January 898 – 29 June 922()Posthumous son of Louis II the Stammerer; proclaimed king in opposition to Odo in January 89317 September 879 – 7 October 929(aged 50)Deposed by Robert's followers; later captured by Herbert II, Count of Vermandois. Died in captivity
Robertian dynasty (922–923) Portrait / coinNameReignSuccessionLife details Non-contemporary Robert I 29 June 922– 15 June 923() 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 battle
Bosonid dynasty (923–936)
Portrait / coinNameReignSuccessionLife details RudolphRodolphe or Raoul 15 June 923– 14 January 936() Son of Richard, Duke of Burgundy and son-in-law of Robert I 890 – 14 January 936(aged approx. 45)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 Germany
Carolingian dynasty (936–987) Portrait / coinNameReignSuccessionLife detailsLouis IV "from Overseas"19 June 936 – 10 September 954()Only son of Charles the Simple, recalled to France by Hugh the Great after being exiled to England921 – 10 September 954(aged 33)Died after falling off his horseNon-contemporaryLothairLothaire10 September 954 – 2 March 986()Son of Louis IV941 – 2 March 986(aged 44)Died of natural causesNon-contemporaryCharles(rival)late 978 – 980(disputed; around 2 years)Revolted against his brother with the help of the German king Otto the Great 953 – after 992(aged approx. 40)Abandoned his claim after being beaten by his brother and Hugh CapetRiché, Pierre (1983). The Carolingians; A Family Who Forged Europe, trans. Michael Idomir Allen. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 279.Non-contemporaryLouis V "the Do-Nothing"2 March 986 – 22 May 987()Son of Lothair967 – 22 May 987(aged 20)Last carolingian ruler in West FranciaDied in a hunting accident
Capetian dynasty (987–1792)
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 him. 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)
The House of Capet are also commonly known as the "Direct Capetians".