The Dynastic Branches: Valois and Bourbon

The Dynastic Branches: Valois and Bourbon

Blog Article

As the Capetian dynasty continued, it split into several branches, the most notable being the House of Valois and the House of Bourbon.

• The House of Valois (1328–1589): The Valois branch began after the death of Charles IV, the last direct Capetian king, in 1328. Because Charles IV died without a male heir, the throne passed to his cousin, Philip VI of Valois, who became the first monarch of the Valois dynasty. The Valois period was marked by significant events such as the Hundred Years' War (1337–1453) with England, which greatly affected France’s territorial integrity and political stability.
  
  


• The House of Bourbon (1589–1792): The Bourbon family became the ruling house of France after Henry of Navarre, a Protestant, inherited the throne as Henry IV in 1589. The Bourbons remained the ruling family of France until the French Revolution in 1792. The reign of Louis XIV (1643–1715), the "Sun King," is particularly notable for the expansion of the French monarchy’s power, the establishment of absolutism, and the construction of the lavish Palace of Versailles.
  
  

 Capetians and the French Revolution

The reign of the Capetians, particularly the Bourbon branch, ended with the French Revolution in 1792. King Louis XVI, a member of the Bourbon dynasty, was executed, and France was declared a republic. This marked the end of over 800 years of Capetian rule in France. However, the legacy of the Capetian dynasty remained influential in Europe, as many European monarchies were either directly or indirectly descended from this great royal house.

The Capetians’ emphasis on centralizing power and the development of the monarchy set the stage for the eventual emergence of the modern nation-state, although the revolution ultimately dismantled their legacy in France. shutdown123

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