French Monarchy

Review/Preview

Valois Dynasties1328 - 1589

Valois directPhilip VI, 1328–1350John II, 1350–1364Charles V, 1364–1380Charles VI,1380–1422Charles VII, 1422–1461Louis XI, 1461–1483Charles VIII, 1483–1498

Valois-OrléansLouis XII, 1498–1515Valois-AngoulêmeFrancis I – 1515–1547, Henry II – 1547–1559Francis II – 1559–1560Charles IX – 1560–1574Henry III – 1574–1589

Charles VII• Inherited the throne with much of France under English control• Joan of Arc helped him win back France and become King of a victorious France in the 100 Years War•Quarreled with son Louis XI

Louis XI

•Called the Universal Spider because of his web of conspiracies•Struggled with Burgundy for the 1st half of his reign until finally subduing them •Turned attention to Italy where he bagan French involvement in Italian affairs

Charles VIII

•Through marriage combiened France with Brittany• Invaded Italy setting off the Italian Wars•Very complicated war ensued, but Charles was eventually pushed out by large alliance

Louis XII

•Married cousin Charles’ widow• Invaded Italy for the 2nd time and 3rd time•Became the Duke of Milan as a result

Francis I

• Initiated the French Renaissance•Financed exploration of the Americas•Began persecution of Huguenots•Allied with Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottomans against Charles V in the Italian Wars•Famously captured during war

Henry II

•Continued the policies of his fatherin art, war, and religion•Married to Catherine de Medici and raised three sons that will become King and Mary Queen of Scots•Died in a jousting accident• Invented patents

Francis II

• Influenced heavily by Catholic Guise family•Ruled only for a year•Married to Mary Queen of Scots•Anti-protestant views led to French Civil Wars•Scottish Rebellion against his rule as well

Charles IX•Massacre of Vassy led to all out war- Protestants vs. Catholics•Arranged marriage between sister and Henry of Navarre to attempt appeasement•Mother instigated St. Bartholamew’s Day massacre

Henry III

•Due to being 4th son, he was perfect candidate to become King of Poland and Lithuania•War of the Three Henrys over succession and religious issue•Forced to team up with Henry IV•Assassinated by Catholic fanatic

Bourbon Dynasty1589 - 1848

Henry IV, (1589–1610)Louis XIII (1610–1643)Louis XIV (1643–1715)Louis XV (1715–1774)Louis XVI (1774–1792)

French RevolutionLouis XVI (1792–1793)Louis XVII (1793–1795)Louis XVIII (1795–1824)Charles X (1824–1830)Louis-Philippe (1830–1848)

Henry IV•Convereted to Catholicicsm before taking throne• Issued Edict of Nantes, granting Huguenots freedoms and ending civil wars•Assassinated after 12 unsuccessful attempts

Louis XIII•Entered the 30 Year’s War on the side of the Protestants in order to weaken the Hapsburgs •Relied heavily on Cardinal Richelieu•By end of reign, was an absolute Monarch•Started wig craze in Europe

Louis XIV•Ruled from age 4 to 76•Became Absolute Monarch utilizing the Palace of Versailles • Involved France in 4 wars that gained them relatively little, yet drove them into debt•Revoked the Edict of Nantes with the Edict of Fontainebleau

Louis XV•Louis XIV’s Great Grandson•Ruled from age 5 to 64•Entered the War of Austrian Succession and lost•Lost the Seven Year’s War against Britain• Increased the amount of debt with no real plan to remove the debt

Louis XVI•Attempts to reform France was met with fierce resistance from the Nobility•Aided the American Revolutionaries•Dithering led to the French Revolution•Ultimately beheaded during the 2nd stage of the revolution

Louis XVII•Claimed the throne, but was never crowned•Died shortly after his father while in Prison

Napoleon I•Military genius that conquered most of Europe• Issued the Napoleonic Code•Exiled and escaped from Elba•Served another 100 days before final defeat at Waterloo

Louis XVIII•Brother of Louis XVI•Accepted terms of the Congress of Vienna•Ruled as a constitutional monarch•Was in exile for 23 years during the Revolution and Napoleon’s reign•Had no children

Charles X•Brother of Louis XVI and XVIII• Invaded Algeria during his reign•Attempts to suspend constitution•Overthrown in the July Revolution in 1830

Louis-Philippe I•Known as the July Monarchy after the revolution•Dominated by wealthy bourgeoisie and numerous former Napoleonic officials•Abdicated as a result of the Revolution of 1848• Immortalized by Victor Hugo

Napoleon III•President of the Second Republic•Became Emperor just like uncle•Reconstructed Paris•Disastrous foreign policy•Lost the throne as a result of the Franco-Prussian war