List of French monarchs

Kings ruled in France from the Middle Ages to 1848. They appointed the Great officers of the crown.

Related Topics:
France - Middle Ages - 1848 - Great officers of the crown

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The following list of French monarchs is one of several Wikipedia lists of incumbents.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Most medieval historians would argue that the existence of France proper did not begin until the advent of the Capetian Dynasty in 987, or, at the very earliest, with the establishment of the Kingdom of Western Francia at the Treaty of Verdun in 843. This view is somewhat problematic in layman's terms, however, in part due to the existence of centuries-old tradition that considers the beginnings of France to lie in the Merovingian Frankish kingdom established under Clovis I. This kingdom was founded in the 5th century, and its rulers deposed in the 8th century. This tradition itself is based in part on the need of the post-Carolingian Capetian kings to strengthen their claims to the throne. Thus, the foundation of France is often traditionally dated to its unification by Clovis in 486.

Related Topics:
Medieval - Capetian Dynasty - 987 - Treaty of Verdun - 843 - Layman - Merovingian - Frankish - Clovis I - 5th century - 8th century - Carolingian - 486

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, the relevance of such traditional outlooks on the origins of modern nations is historically dubious (see below for recent studies). In light of these recent trends, this list begins with the creation in 843 of Charles the Bald's Kingdom of Western Francia, the state which would directly evolve into modern France. For earlier Frankish monarchs, see List of Frankish Kings.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After the July Revolution in 1830, the style "King of the French" was used instead of "King of France". It was a constitutional innovation known as popular monarchy which linked the monarch's title to the people, not to the territory of France.

Related Topics:
July Revolution - 1830 - Style - Popular monarchy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Names of regents are included for convenience's sake, though they are of course not actually French monarchs. Note that Charlemagne (768-814) is usually considered to be "Charles I of France", and his son Louis the Pious is numbered as Louis I.

Related Topics:
Regents - Charlemagne - Louis the Pious

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In addition to the monarchs listed below, the Kings of England and Great Britain from 1422 to 1801 also claimed the title of King of France. Initially, this had some basis in fact - Henry VI of England had been recognized by his grandfather Charles VI as heir to the French throne under the terms of the 1420 Treaty of Troyes, and most of Northern France was under English control until 1435. By 1453, however, the English had been expelled from all of France save Calais (and the Channel Islands), and Calais itself fell in 1558. Nevertheless, English monarchs continued to claim the title until the creation of the United Kingdom in 1801. Various English kings between 1337 and 1422 had also claimed the title of King of France, but only intermittently.

Related Topics:
Kings of England and Great Britain - 1422 - 1801 - Claimed the title of King of France - Henry VI of England - Charles VI - 1420 - Treaty of Troyes - 1435 - 1453 - Calais - Channel Islands - 1558 - United Kingdom - 1337

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~