Medieval People

Rulers
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Kings of France (768 .. 1547)

Early Middle Ages

Carolingains (751 - 987)

The Carolingains get their name from Charlemagne, but the dynasty was founded by Charlemagne's father Pepin the Short who ended the Merovingian dynasty by proclaiming himself King of the Franks after removing Childeric III from the throne. The kingdom was subdivided several times but the Carolingains managed to maintain control for almost 150 years until the reign of Louis V came to an end.

From
Date		 Ruler Relationship to Predecessor To
Date		 Comments
751 Pepin, the Short - 768 Overthrew Childeric III to end the rule of the Merovingians.
768 Charlemagne Son of Pepin 814  
768 Carloman Son of Pepin 771 Carloman jointly ruled his father's lands until his death, after which Charlemagne ruled on his own.
814 Louis I, the Pious Third son of Charlemagne 840  
840 Charles II, the Bald Son 877  
877 Louis II, the Stammerer Son 879  
879 Louis III Son of Louis II, the Stammerer 882 Ruled the north
879 Carloman II Son of Louis II, the Stammerer 884 Ruled the south
884 Charles III Son of Louis II, the German 887  

Robertians (888 - 897)

From
Date		 Ruler Relationship to Predecessor To
Date		 Comments
888 Odo/Eudes Son of Robert the Strong 898 Count of Paris
898 Charles III, the Simple Son of Louis the Stammerer 922 Deposed
922 Robert, Count of France Brother Son of Odo 923 Killed by Charles III
923 Rudolph of France Son-in-law of Robert, Count of France 936
936 Louis IV of France Son of Charles III 954
954 Lothair of France Son of Louis IV 986
986 Louis V Son of Lothair of France 987 Louis V left no legitimate heirs
Carolingains (768 - 987)
Name:
Pepin, the Short
Reign:
751 to 768
 
Name:
Charlemagne
Reign:
768 to 814
 
Name:
Louis I, the Pious
Reign:
814 to 840
 
Name:
Charles II, the Bald
Reign:
840 to 877
 
Name:
Louis II, the Stammerer
Reign:
877 to 879
 
Name:
Louis III
Reign:
879 to 882
 
Name:
Carloman II
Reign:
879 to 884
 
Name:
Charles III
Reign:
884 to 887
 

High Middle Ages

Capetians (987 - 1328)

Under the rulership of Hugh Capet the real history of France commences. The royal dynasty started by Hugh Capetians ruled France in continous succesion for eight centuries until overthrown by the French Revolution of 1789. Capet reigned for nine years and proved to be a successful monarch. During the early part of his reign Capet had to contend with Charles of Lorraine who attempted to seize the French throne. Charles was captured and died in captivity. At this time Capet did not rule absolutely. Most of France consisted of fiefs belonging to powerful nobles. These nobles did homage to Capet but retained control over their domains. These included Normandy, Burgundy, Aquitaine, Flanders, Champagne and Toulouse. Putting an end to this feudal system was a primary aim of Capet and his successors.

From
Date		 Ruler Relationship to Predecessor To
Date		 Comments
987 Hugh Capet   996
996 Robert II, the Pious Son 1031
1031 Henry I   1060
1060 Philip I   1108
1108 Louis VI, the Fat   1137
1137 Louis VII   1180
1180 Philippe II, Augustus   1223
1223 Louis VIII, the Lion   1226
1226 Louis IX, Saint-Louis   1270
1270 Philippe III   1285
1285 Philippe IV   1314
1314 Louis X Son 1316
1316 John I Son 1316
1316 Philippe V, the Tall Uncle; son of Philippe IV 1322
1322 Charles IV, the Fair Brother 1328
Capetians (987 - 1328)
Name:
Hugh Capet
Reign:
987 to 996
 
Name:
Robert II, the Pious
Reign:
996 to 1031
 
Name:
Henry I
Reign:
1031 to 1060
 
Name:
Philip I
Reign:
1060 to 1108
 
Name:
Louis VI, the Fat
Reign:
1108 to 1137
 
Name:
Louis VII
Reign:
1137 to 1180
 
Name:
Philippe II, Augustus
Reign:
1180 to 1223
 
Name:
Louis VIII, the Lion
Reign:
1223 to 1226
 
Name:
Louis IX, Saint-Louis
Reign:
1226 to 1270
 
Name:
Philippe III
Reign:
1270 to 1285
 
Name:
Philippe IV
Reign:
1285 to 1314
 
Name:
Louis X
Reign:
1314 to 1316
 
Name:
John I
Reign:
1316 to 1316
 
Name:
Philippe V, the Tall
Reign:
1316 to 1322
 
Name:
Charles IV, the Fair
Reign:
1322 to 1328
 

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Late Middle Ages

Valois dynasty

Philippe was the first of the Valois line of kings that reigned until the end of the sixteenth century. Philippe's succession to the throne was not uncontested. The three previous monarchs were the sons of Philippe IV (the Fair) who had died in 1314 and none of them had produced a male heir. Charles IV, the last Capetian king, nominated Philippe, his cousin, as regent and to take the throne. The succession was contested by Joan (daughter of Louis X) and more importantly by Philippe IV's daughter Isabella of France who had married Edward II, the king of England.

From
Date		 Ruler Relationship to Predecessor To
Date		 Comments
1328 Philippe VI Cousin; grandson of Philippe III 1350
1350 John II, the Good Son 1364
1364 Charles V, the Wise   1380
1380 Charles VI, the Fool   1422
1422 Charles VII, the Victorious   1461
1461 Louis XI, the Spider   1483
1483 Charles VIII   1498
1498 Louis XII   1515
1515 Francis I Nephew and son-in-law 1547
1547 Henry II Son 1559
1559 Francis II Son 1560
1560 Charles IX Brother 1574
1574 Henry III Brother 1589 Henry did not have a heir and was the last member of the Valios dynasty.

Bourbon dynasty

From
Date		 Ruler Relationship to Predecessor To
Date		 Comments
1589 Henry IV - 1610
Valois dynasty
Name:
Philippe VI
Reign:
1328 to 1350
 
Name:
John II, the Good
Reign:
1350 to 1364
 
Name:
Charles V, the Wise
Reign:
1364 to 1380
 
Name:
Charles VI, the Fool
Reign:
1380 to 1422
 
Name:
Charles VII, the Victorious
Reign:
1422 to 1461
 
Name:
Louis XI, the Spider
Reign:
1461 to 1483
 
Name:
Charles VIII
Reign:
1483 to 1498
 
Name:
Louis XII
Reign:
1498 to 1515
 
Name:
Francis I
Reign:
1515 to 1547
 
Name:
Henry II
Reign:
1547 to 1559
 
Name:
Francis II
Reign:
1559 to 1560
 

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